Related: UAE threatens to ban private jet operators for selling seats on per person basis
Emirates airline has extended its suspension on passenger flights from India until June 30.
Also, passengers who have transited through India in the past 14 days will not be accepted to travel from any other point to the UAE.
UAE citizens, holders of UAE Golden Visas and members of diplomatic missions are exempt from the restrictions but must comply with revised Covid-19 protocols.
The suspension will last two months at least and the decision is subject to review.
A number of Indians, however, have managed to enter Dubai on charter flights, despite the ban.
But last week the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority threatened to prohibit private jet operators from pooling charter flights between passengers, although family groups would still be allowed to hire jets.
Flights from India to the UAE were initially stopped on April 24 after a massive surge in Covid-19 cases in the subcontinent and the rise of the new B1617.2 variant.
The speed of coronavirus transmission in the country now seems to be receding, with India on Sunday recording its lowest daily rise in new cases in 46 days.
In the previous 24 hours, 165,553 cases were reported, while deaths rose by 3,460.
More than 27.9 million people in India have now had the virus, and 325,972 have died, according to health ministry data.
Emirates has advised passengers with tickets to India to rebook their flights.
Covid-19 latest in India - in pictures
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Police at a traffic intersection wearing headgear themed on the Covid-19 coronavirus urge people to adopt safety protocols during an awareness drive in Hyderabad. AFP -

A health worker inoculates a woman with a dose of the Covishield vaccine against Covid-19 during a special vaccination programme at a government school in Hyderabad. AFP -

People wait to receive food during a lockdown imposed against the spread of Covid-19, at Saint Marys Basilica in Secunderabad, the twin city of Hyderabad. AFP -

A girl carries food distributed for people in need during a coronavirus lockdown, at Saint Marys Basilica in Secunderabad, India. AFP -

Circles on the ground delimit physical distancing as people wait to register for a special vaccination programme against Covid-19 at a government school in Hyderabad. AFP -

A doctor passes a banner in Hyderabad announcing a special vaccination programme against Covid-19. AFP -

Volunteers Akshaya, 22, right, a law student, and Esther Mary, 41, a lecturer, carry the body of a Covid-19 victim for burial at a cemetery in Bengaluru, India. Reuters -

Family members of Vijay Raju, who died because of Covid-19, at his cremation in Giddenahalli village on the outskirts of Bengaluru, India. Reuters -

A patient receiving treatment at a free Covid-19 centre in New Delhi displays a placard asking for help from volunteers. The centre is run by a Sikh voluntary organisation. AP Photo -

A health worker checks the body temperature of a traveller at a train station in Mumbai, India. AP Photo -

People maintain physical distancing protocols while waiting to register for a vaccination programme against Covid-19 in Hyderabad. AFP
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More from Aya Iskandarani
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
While you're here
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While you're here
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
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Profile
Name: Carzaty
Founders: Marwan Chaar and Hassan Jaffar
Launched: 2017
Employees: 22
Based: Dubai and Muscat
Sector: Automobile retail
Funding to date: $5.5 million
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AndhaDhun
Director: Sriram Raghavan
Producer: Matchbox Pictures, Viacom18
Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Tabu, Radhika Apte, Anil Dhawan
Rating: 3.5/5
UAE squad
Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I






