Two Thirds of Eligible People in Dubai Fully Vaccinated against COVID-19

The skyline of Dubai with Burj Al Arab (R) and Burj Khalifa (L), the world’s tallest building. (AFP file photo)
The skyline of Dubai with Burj Al Arab (R) and Burj Khalifa (L), the world’s tallest building. (AFP file photo)
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Two Thirds of Eligible People in Dubai Fully Vaccinated against COVID-19

The skyline of Dubai with Burj Al Arab (R) and Burj Khalifa (L), the world’s tallest building. (AFP file photo)
The skyline of Dubai with Burj Al Arab (R) and Burj Khalifa (L), the world’s tallest building. (AFP file photo)

About two-thirds of people eligible for inoculation against COVID-19 have now received two doses of the vaccine in Dubai, the tourist and business hub of the United Arab Emirates, Dubai Health Authority (DHA) said.

Dubai is the most populous of the seven emirates that make up the UAE and has one of the world's busiest airports.

For six months the UAE has been running one of the world's fastest vaccination campaigns against COVID-19, initially using a vaccine developed by the China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm) and then adding the Pfizer/BioNTech and AstraZeneca shots and Russia's Sputnik V.

DHA deputy director general Alawi Alsheikh Ali told Dubai Television late on Saturday that 83% of people aged over 16 – or about 2.3 million people - had now received at least one dose of a vaccine and that 64% had received two doses in the emirate.

The UAE recently said nearly 85% of its total eligible population had received at least one dose of a vaccine, without saying how many people had had both doses.

The UAE, which does not break down the number of cases by emirate, has seen a rise in the number of infections in the past month. It recorded 2,281 new cases on Saturday, bringing the total so far to around 596,000 cases. Daily cases peaked at almost 4,000 a day in early February.

DHA said 90% of the COVID-19 patients admitted to intensive care units in Dubai hospitals were unvaccinated, without specifying when that statistic was recorded.



Saudi Arabia Condemns Terrorist Attack on Syria Mosque

A view shows an interior of a damaged mosque after several people were killed in an explosion, as the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) said, in Homs, Syria December 26, 2025. REUTERS/Ali Ahmed al-Najjar
A view shows an interior of a damaged mosque after several people were killed in an explosion, as the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) said, in Homs, Syria December 26, 2025. REUTERS/Ali Ahmed al-Najjar
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Saudi Arabia Condemns Terrorist Attack on Syria Mosque

A view shows an interior of a damaged mosque after several people were killed in an explosion, as the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) said, in Homs, Syria December 26, 2025. REUTERS/Ali Ahmed al-Najjar
A view shows an interior of a damaged mosque after several people were killed in an explosion, as the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) said, in Homs, Syria December 26, 2025. REUTERS/Ali Ahmed al-Najjar

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the deadly terrorist attack that targeted the Imam Ali bin Abi Talib Mosque during Friday prayers in the Syrian city of Homs.

In a statement, the ministry affirmed the Kingdom’s categorical rejection of terrorism and extremism in all their forms, including attacks on mosques and places of worship and the targeting of innocent civilians.

It also expressed the Kingdom’s solidarity with Syria in this tragic incident and its support for the Syrian government’s efforts to uphold security and stability.

The ministry extended the Kingdom’s sincere condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims, as well as to the government and people of Syria, wishing a speedy recovery for the injured and expressing hope for security and peace for Syria and its people.


New Saudi Aid Convoy Arrives in Central Gaza Strip

The aid was received by the Saudi Center for Culture and Heritage in preparation for distribution to the most vulnerable families. SPA
The aid was received by the Saudi Center for Culture and Heritage in preparation for distribution to the most vulnerable families. SPA
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New Saudi Aid Convoy Arrives in Central Gaza Strip

The aid was received by the Saudi Center for Culture and Heritage in preparation for distribution to the most vulnerable families. SPA
The aid was received by the Saudi Center for Culture and Heritage in preparation for distribution to the most vulnerable families. SPA

A new Saudi aid convoy carrying essential food supplies, provided by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), has arrived in the central Gaza Strip as part of the campaign to support the Palestinian people.

The aid was received on Thursday by the Saudi Center for Culture and Heritage, KSrelief’s implementing partner in the Gaza Strip, in preparation for distribution to the most vulnerable families.

This comes amid severe weather conditions that have caused flooding in the tents of displaced persons. In response, the center has set up several camps to shelter affected families and provide for their basic daily needs, aiming to alleviate the impact of the worsening humanitarian situation.

The initiative underscores the Kingdom’s steadfast commitment, through its humanitarian arm KSrelief, to supporting the Palestinian people in times of crisis and hardship.


Saudi Leadership Offers Condolences to Libyan Presidential Council on Death of Chief of Staff

Turkish search and rescue team members arrive to the crash site of a jet carrying Libya's army chief of staff Mohammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad near Kesikkavak village, Türkiye, December 24, 2025. (Reuters)
Turkish search and rescue team members arrive to the crash site of a jet carrying Libya's army chief of staff Mohammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad near Kesikkavak village, Türkiye, December 24, 2025. (Reuters)
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Saudi Leadership Offers Condolences to Libyan Presidential Council on Death of Chief of Staff

Turkish search and rescue team members arrive to the crash site of a jet carrying Libya's army chief of staff Mohammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad near Kesikkavak village, Türkiye, December 24, 2025. (Reuters)
Turkish search and rescue team members arrive to the crash site of a jet carrying Libya's army chief of staff Mohammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad near Kesikkavak village, Türkiye, December 24, 2025. (Reuters)

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud sent on Friday a cable of condolences to President of Libya's Presidential Council Dr. Mohamed Al-Menfi on the death of the Chief of the General Staff of the Libyan Army and his companions following a plane crash in Türkiye earlier this week.

King Salman extended his sincere condolences and sympathy to the president and the families of the deceased.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, sent A-Menfi a similar cable.

Experts have started analyzing the black boxes recovered from the jet crash in Türkiye that killed eight people, including western Libya’s military chief, the Turkish defense ministry said Thursday. The probe was being done in coordination with Libyan officials.

The private jet with Gen. Mohammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad, four other military officers and three crew members crashed on Tuesday after taking off from Ankara, killing everyone on board.

Libyan officials said the cause of the crash was a technical malfunction on the plane.