When there was an outbreak of COVID-19 in March 2020, the UAE Government took several steps as a primary measure to control its spread. Measures included closing schools and higher education institutions and starting distance learning, suspending prayers in all places of worship, closing shopping centres and entertainment destinations, suspending the issuance of new UAE visas, suspending flights and enabling working from home.
In line with the efforts to contain the spread of the new coronavirus (COVID-19), Ministry of Education announced a four-week closure of all public and private schools and higher education institutions across the UAE starting 8 March 2020. The Ministry also suspended the services for nurseries operating in the UAE until further notice.
Learn more about the schools and higher education break, and the suspension of nurseries services through the following links:
National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority and General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments temporarily suspended prayers in all places of worship across the nation from 16 March 2020. The suspension will be in effect for four weeks.
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On 22 March 2020, Ministry of Education started educating students of schools and higher education institutes through distance learning. Learn more about distance learning initiative.
The federal and local governments in the UAE adopted a remote working system in a bid to ensure the health and safety of its employees and customers. The UAE has a coherent technical infrastructure and advanced technological systems to enable employees to complete their tasks while working remotely, and participate in meetings and discussions with their teams and partners.
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National Media Council has decided to stop temporarily the distribution of all print newspapers, magazines and marketing material with effect from 24 March 2020.
Regular subscribers of the publications and large outlets in shopping centres are exempted from this, provided all the health and safety precautions are adhered to. This is part of the preventive measures taken to contain the spread of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).
The decision includes banning the distribution of printed materials including advertisements in residential complexes, restaurants, hotels, health centres and clinics, waiting halls in public sector and private sector services centres and other places where several people are likely to use the same printed materials. The ban does not apply to awareness publications approved by the health authorities.
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The UAE Government has decided to close all commercial centres, shopping malls along with fish, meat and vegetables markets from 25 March 2020 for a renewable period of two weeks. The decision excludes pharmacies, food retail outlets, cooperative societies, grocery stores, supermarkets and fish, meat and vegetables markets dealing with wholesalers. Under the decision, restaurants will not be allowed to receive customers. Instead, their services will be limited to deliveries only.
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UAE government to close shopping centres for two renewable weeks – WAM
On 15 March 2020, the UAE Football Association has postponed the main sport competitions in the UAE with immediate effect and until further notice.
On 19 March 2020, the General Authority of Sports (GAS) suspended all sports activities including tournaments and competitions across all sports.
The UAE government has called upon the public to stay at home unless it's absolutely necessary such as: to get essential supplies, food and medicine or perform essential jobs. The public is also urged to use their own cars with a maximum of three individuals seated in each vehicle. They are also advised not to visit public places and maintain social distancing protocols during family gatherings as a precaution to ensure public health and safety.
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Local governments closed entertainment destinations as part of the precautionary measures taken nationwide to curb the proliferation of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Violating such measures may expose establishments to fines.
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The UAE has suspended, effective March 17, 2020, all visas to all foreigners, with the exception of diplomatic passport holders. The decision did not apply to those who already had their visas issued prior to the aforementioned date.
Federal Authority For Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (then ICA) noted that the additional precautionary decision will be valid until a mechanism for medical examination has been established in the countries of departure as part of other global measures taken for the common good of all nations to curb further spread of the coronavirus.
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General Civil Aviation Authority announced the suspension of all inbound and outbound flights from/to a number of countries including China, Italy, Lebanon, Turkey, Syria and Iraq. The move is part of the country's proactive precautionary and preventive health measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).
Later on 23 March 2020, the government decided to suspend all inbound and outbound passenger flights and the transit of airline passengers in the UAE for two weeks from 25 March 2020, as a precaution to curb the spread of the COVID-19.
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Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has suspended the entry of GCC citizens, starting from 12:00 AM, 21 March 2020, until a pre-check mechanism involving COVID-19 is approved.
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