What is the COVID-19 situation in the UAE now?

How have Dubai and the UAE handled the COVID-19 pandemic?

At the beginning of March 2020, during the early stages of the global pandemic, the UAE’s National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (NECMA) quickly put in place travel restrictions, large-scale testing, quarantine requirements and other measures to contain the spread of the virus. 

A strict stay-at-home order on 23rd March 2020, lasted for approximately one month, after which the lockdown was gradually eased in stages. A second full lockdown has not been required. Schools in Dubai have been physically open without interruption since September 2020, with the option of online learning also available. 

Balanced restrictions currently remain in place to safeguard public health while maintaining continuity of educational and economic activity.

Advanced clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccines began in the UAE in July 2020, with approval for emergency use of the vaccine for frontline workers in September 2020 and a roll-out to adult citizens and residents from December 2020.

What is the COVID-19 situation in the UAE now? 

Since the start of the pandemic until 5th May 2021, there have been 529,220 total cases of COVID-19 and sadly a total of 1,601 people have died in the UAE.

Daily detected new cases are on a general downward trend and were 1,954 on 5th May.

A total of 45.06 million tests for COVID-19 have been carried out, for a population of around 9.2 million.

Which vaccines are available in the UAE?

There are four vaccines currently available in the UAE: Sinopharm, Pfizer-BioNTech, Sputnik V and Oxford-AstraZeneca.

Who is eligible for vaccination?

Vaccines against COVID-19 are available free of charge for all medically eligible citizens and residents in the UAE. The minimum age for vaccination has been lowered from 18 to 16 years. Some vaccine types are reserved for priority groups at certain times, according to announcements by the UAE’s health authorities.

How many doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been given so far?

10,834,453 vaccine doses have been administered in the UAE up until 5th May 2021. This equates to vaccination of approximately 70% of over 16-year-olds and 78% of over 60-year-olds, with the majority of these receiving 2 doses.

How does the UAE vaccination rate compare to other countries?

The United Arab Emirates is among the top 5 countries in the world for rates of vaccination against COVID-19.

What else is the UAE doing in the fight against COVID-19?

Preparations are underway to manufacture a COVID-19 vaccine, Hayat-Vax, within the UAE under a joint venture between Sinopharm and Abu Dhabi-based technology company Group 42 (G42).

Humanitarian organisations in the UAE are working to provide and distribute essential aid and medical supplies to many countries affected by the pandemic.

As a global transport and logistics hub, the UAE is playing a critical role to facilitate and accelerate the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines to developing countries in an effort to increase equitable access to vaccines.