Abu Dhabi Will Only Allow Vaccinated People in Some Public Spaces from Aug 20

An Emirati man, wearing a protective mask, walks at al-Barsha Health Center in the Gulf Emirate of Dubai on December 24, 2020. GIUSEPPE CACACE | AFP via Getty Images
An Emirati man, wearing a protective mask, walks at al-Barsha Health Center in the Gulf Emirate of Dubai on December 24, 2020. GIUSEPPE CACACE | AFP via Getty Images
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Abu Dhabi Will Only Allow Vaccinated People in Some Public Spaces from Aug 20

An Emirati man, wearing a protective mask, walks at al-Barsha Health Center in the Gulf Emirate of Dubai on December 24, 2020. GIUSEPPE CACACE | AFP via Getty Images
An Emirati man, wearing a protective mask, walks at al-Barsha Health Center in the Gulf Emirate of Dubai on December 24, 2020. GIUSEPPE CACACE | AFP via Getty Images

Abu Dhabi will only allow vaccinated people in some public spaces, including schools, restaurants, and shopping centers, from August 20, in efforts to fight the pandemic.

The decision doesn’t apply to those who are unvaccinated because of an exemption, nor to children aged 15 and below.

The list of places include shopping centres, restaurants, gyms, museums, resorts, and all other retail outlets, except those selling essential goods such as supermarkets and pharmacies.

Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Committee said Monday that over 93 percent of the target group in Abu Dhabi have already been vaccinated.

The Committee approved earlier a color-coded system on its health app which details testing and vaccination history.

Those who have received their second dose will appear in green on the app; however, they are required to do a PCR test monthly in order to maintain the green light for 30 days.

Those who are unvaccinated will appear in green for three days only after getting a negative PCR test.

The UAE has so far recorded more than 631,000 cases, including 1,807 deaths.

The latest restrictions come as Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, move towards more stringent restrictions on those who have not been inoculated.

The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention on Tuesday reported 2,184 new cases, along with 2,105 recoveries and 5 deaths.

The new cases were detected after conducting 281,000 tests.

The total number of cases in UAE as of June 29 reached 631,160, while the total number of recoveries stood at 609,711.

Also, Kuwait has said it will only allow fully vaccinated foreigners to enter the country and only its inoculated citizens will be allowed to travel abroad from August 1.

In Oman, People aged 18 and above will be eligible for COVID vaccines in all governorates, Oman’s Ministry of Health (MoH) announced on Tuesday.

The wider coverage takes effect on Sunday, the health ministry said in a statement on state media. Previously, people over 45 had been eligible for COVID shots, alongside special categories such as frontline workers and pregnant women.

Media reports have said recently that hospitals nationwide were facing a sharp rise in infections. The country has recorded 266,536 cases and 3,056 deaths in total.

By mid-April, Oman had given at least one dose to around 5 percent of the eligible population. This had increased to 24 percent by June 26, according to health ministry data.

Data shows 854,274 doses have been given in the country of around 4.5 million people.



Saudi Arabia Reiterates Call on Countries to Join Two-State Solution Global Coalition

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the cabinet meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the cabinet meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Reiterates Call on Countries to Join Two-State Solution Global Coalition

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the cabinet meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the cabinet meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)

The Saudi government reiterated on Tuesday its call on countries to join the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, which was launched by the Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee and led by the Kingdom in collaboration with the European Union and Norway.

The cabinet underscored its solidarity with the Palestinian and Lebanese people in overcoming the humanitarian impact of the Israeli war against them.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chaired the cabinet meeting that was held in Riyadh.

The cabinet hailed the outcome of the Extraordinary Arab and Islamic Summit that was held in Riyadh on Monday, which it said will help in strengthening joint action and continuing cooperation with the international community to stop the war on the Gaza Strip to achieve security and stability in the region.

It welcomed the document of the tripartite mechanism to support Palestine signed between the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Arab League and African Union Commission.

Crown Prince Mohammed briefed the cabinet on the letters Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz received from Guinea-Bissau's President Umaro Sissoco Embalo and Comoros’ President Azali Assoumani.

He also briefed them on his telephone talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, and US President-elect Donald Trump, during which he highlighted the Kingdom's keenness to strengthening historical and strategic relations between their countries.

The cabinet reviewed the Kingdom's contributions and initiatives aimed at boosting the effectiveness and speed of international multilateral action in addressing current and future challenges. These efforts are intended to respond to urgent global issues while promoting development and prosperity and strengthening common cultural and social ties.

The cabinet highlighted the Kingdom's emphasis, at recent international meetings, on boosting cooperation with world countries, strengthening coordination in various fields, and endeavoring to continue its humanitarian and development assistance to countries and peoples affected by natural disasters and humanitarian crises.

Moreover, the cabinet reiterated the Kingdom's commitment to fostering cultural communication between diverse cultures worldwide. It expressed gratitude to all those who contributed to the success of the "Arab Week at UNESCO" initiative, launched by the Kingdom at the headquarters of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in Paris, France.

The cabinet praised the Crown Prince's support for national talent, which enables them to become leaders in various fields, out of the belief that individuals are the core and foundation of development. One such talent is the Saudi medical team, which was received by Crown Prince Mohammed after having performed the world's first robotic heart transplant.

The cabinet also lauded the outcome of the 10th Biban24 Forum, held in Riyadh; agreements worth SAR35.4 billion were signed to support entrepreneurship in various sectors and to achieve one of the national goals, which is to increase the contribution of small and medium enterprises to the GDP.