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Category: UAE News

  • Do not travel: US travel advisory for UAE

    Do not travel: US travel advisory for UAE

    The UAE on Monday announced 2,040 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of recorded cases in the country to 628,976….reports Asian Lite News

    The government has updated its COVID 19 travel advisory for the UAE to “level 4 – do not travel,” the State Department said on Monday.

    “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 4 Travel health Notice for United Arab Emirates due to COVID-19, indicating a very high level of COVID-19 in the country,” the Bureau of Consular Affairs of the Department of State said in a travel advisory.

    The advisories for Liberia, Mozambique, Uganda and Zambia were also raised to level 4 – do not travel, the State Department said in a statement.

    The UAE on Monday announced 2,040 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of recorded cases in the country to 628,976.

    According to the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP), the infected individuals are from various nationalities, are in a stable condition, and receiving the necessary care.

    The ministry also announced six deaths due to COVID-19 complications, bringing the total number of deaths in the country to 1,802.

    It called on all members of the society to cooperate with health authorities, adhere to the instructions and physical distance to ensure the health and safety of all.

    It also noted that an additional 1,988 individuals had fully recovered from COVID-19, bringing the total number of recoveries to 607,606.

    ALSO READ: T20 World Cup shifted to UAE: Ganguly

  • Etihad extends flight suspension to India

    Etihad extends flight suspension to India

    On Sunday, Dubai’s flagship carrier Emirates said that expects to resume its flights from India from July 7….reports Asian Lite News

    The Abu-Dhabi based Etihad Airways on Tuesday said that suspension of flights from India to the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) capital city has been extended till July 21.

    In a reply to a query on Twitter, Etihad said: “We were expecting some updates regarding the travel ban extension which we just received few moments ago. I can confirm that the ban is not lifted yet and has been extended until 21st of July. Our website will be updated shortly.”

    The UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) had earlier clarified that passenger flights between the Gulf nation and India will remain suspended until further notice, reports the Khaleej Times.

    On Sunday, Dubai’s flagship carrier Emirates said that expects to resume its flights from India from July 7.

    But said that it was waiting for exact travel protocols and relevant permits from the government authorities.

    The Dubai-based airline had announced the suspension first on April 24 as a devastating second wave of the pandemic hit India, leading to record high number of daily cases and deaths.

    In May, it had extended the suspension till at least June 14.

    ALSO READ: T20 World Cup shifted to UAE: Ganguly

  • Abu Dhabi approves use of EDE scanners to detect Covid-19

    Abu Dhabi approves use of EDE scanners to detect Covid-19

    With more than 20,000 people tested, the results showed a high degree of effectiveness in using EDE scanners to detect a positive Covid-19..reports Asian Lite News

    The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi has approved the use of EDE scanners to detect Covid-19 infections, after studying the results of the pilot trial conducted at various locations in the emirate, including the Ghantout entry point, select public locations on Yas Island, and entry/exit points in the Musaffah area.

    With more than 20,000 people tested, the results showed a high degree of effectiveness in using EDE scanners to detect a positive Covid-19 infection. The results showed 93.5 per cent sensitivity, reflecting the accuracy of identifying infected individuals, and 83 per cent accuracy in the specificity of the test, reflecting the accuracy of identifying non-infected individuals.

    Dr Jamal Mohammed Al Kaabi, Undersecretary at Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, said: “Abu Dhabi has adopted an integrated strategy to combat the Covid-19 pandemic, based on increased testing to ensure safe entry into the emirate, vaccination and the continued implementation of precautionary measures.

    “The use of the EDE scanning system is part of this strategy and reflects the leadership’s vision in harnessing modern technology to create solutions that turn challenges into opportunities. We are pleased to add EDE scanning technology made in Abu Dhabi to the precautionary measures, helping to create safer areas and maintain public health. The EDE scanners will be used alongside other approved testing methods, such as PCR and DPI.”

    The scanning system was developed by EDE Research Institute Abu Dhabi under the International Holding Company (IHC). The technology can detect a possible Covid-19 infection by measuring electromagnetic waves, which change when the RNA particles of the virus are present in the person’s body, therefore providing an immediate result.

    ALSO READ: Abu Dhabi announces resumption of cruise liners

  • Falaj Water Channel: Celebration of Zayed’s Green Legacy

    Falaj Water Channel: Celebration of Zayed’s Green Legacy

    The Founder’s Memorial introduces visitors to the illustrious life of the Founding Father through narrating his inspiring journey, his deep appreciation of history….reports Asian Lite News

    The Falaj Water Channel at the Founder’s Memorial is a remarkable symbol of the UAE’s efforts to showcase and preserve the country’s extensive cultural heritage.

    This contemporary water feature pays rich tribute to the impressive green legacy of the Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and chimes with the timeless values that drive the country’s progress since its formation.

    The Founder’s Memorial introduces visitors to the illustrious life of the Founding Father through narrating his inspiring journey, his deep appreciation of history and the ancestors authentic cultural heritage. It also signifies his persistence in spearheading the country’s comprehensive development to provide a decent livelihood for his people.

    This story will also provide visitors with the opportunity to gain deep insight into Sheikh Zayed through a series of immersive multimedia experiences that comply with rarely seen footage, images, and testimonials from people that knew Sheikh Zayed personally.

    The Falaj Water Channel is located in front of the Constellation at the Founder’s Memorial. Its unique design tells the history of the ancestors, their persistence to overcome the challenging environment and creativity in securing water for their agricultural lands using simple techniques.

    Falaj was an innovative irrigation system that was used by people in the Arabian Peninsula to bring water from its source, which mostly originated from the foothills of mountains. They used this system to irrigate their farms from the water flowed through a water channel based on the force of gravity, which indicates an ingenious engineering.

    Official photo of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Ruler of Abu Dhabi from 1966 to 2004 and First President of the United Arab Emirates from 1971 to 2004.(wikipedia)

    Offering a glimpse into the country’s rich cultural heritage, the Falaj Water Channel is a testimony to the Founding Father’s grand vision and efforts to preserve the legacy of ancestors. Since the very beginning of his leadership, the late Sheikh Zayed realised the importance of water as a vital source of development. During his rule of Al Ain city in 1946, he ordered the provision of water to citizens for free since its cost was too high for farmers.

    He also launched special programmes to maintain water resources, especially the Falaj channels.

    The Water Channel’s location next to the Heritage Garden symbolises the Founding Father’s passion for nature and his role in protecting the UAE’s natural resources thanks to his wise vision. The late Sheikh Zayed developed plans to protect the environment and its sustainability and to inculcate environmental awareness in people’s minds. This was evident through his efforts to turn the desert into green fields and more hospitable to human life.

    As a result, farming areas were expanded, millions of trees were planted in the desert, and endangered species were saved. These efforts reflect a visionary and determined leader who was keen on providing the best ways to develop agriculture despite the challenging desert environment.

    His role in achieving the sustainability of natural resources articulates his vision that made the UAE a global model in protecting natural resources and one of the most influential countries in dealing with environmental challenges.

    The Founder’s Memorial was inaugurated in February 2018 in line with the country’s celebrations of the Year of Zayed that marked the 100th birth anniversary of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan who established an inspiring model for tolerance, development, and coexistence in the UAE.

    ALSO READ: UAE Ministry of Defense delegation visits Lockheed Martin’s Centre

  • T20 World Cup shifted to UAE: Ganguly

    T20 World Cup shifted to UAE: Ganguly

    The mega-event is to be held in October-November….reports Asian Lite News

    Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Sourav Ganguly on Monday announced that the T20 World Cup scheduled to be held in India has been shifted to the UAE owing to the health safety concerns posed by COVID-19.

    “We have officially intimated the ICC that the T20 World Cup can be shifted to the United Arab Emirates. The details are being chalked out,” Ganguly was quoted as saying in reports.

    The mega-event is to be held in October-November.

    Meanwhile, BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla said the decision to move the T20 World Cup to the UAE was taken as nobody can predict what will happen regarding the COVID-19 situation.

    “As far as T20 World Cup is concerned, today was the deadline as we had to inform the ICC about our decision so today there was a conference call between BCCI President Sourav Ganguly, Secretary Jay Shah, Treasurer Arun Dhumal, me and the Joint Secretary. We looked at the COVID-19 situation and nobody is sure what is going to happen after two-three months, looking at everything, it has been decided that Secretary Jay Shah and President Ganguly will inform the ICC to move the tournament to the UAE,” Shukla told ANI.

    T20 World Cup

    “UAE is an ideal venue after India. We all wanted to host it in India, but you know it is an international tournament and that too of big size, so it was very hard to predict what is going to happen with the COVID situation, after due consideration, now the BCCI has decided to move the T20 World Cup to the UAE,” he added.

    When asked when the tournament will begin, Shukla said: “The dates are going to be the same, immediately after the IPL, the tournament will start. The format for the World Cup has already been decided by the ICC, qualifiers may take place in Oman and Muscat. The rest of the matches will be in the three grounds — Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah.”

    Earlier, BCCI Secretary Jay Shah confirmed on Monday that the 2021 edition of the T20 World Cup will be shifted to the UAE. “We will inform ICC today that we are shifting the T20 World Cup to UAE. The dates of the tournament, the ICC needs to decide,” the BCCI Secretary told ANI.

    Earlier, the ICC had clarified that BCCI would keep the hosting rights of the tournament even if it is moved out of India. Meanwhile, the Indian Premier League (IPL)’s 14th edition will also be completed in the UAE. The IPL is set to get underway on September 19 and the final is to be played on October 15. (with ANI report)

    ALSO READ: T20 World Cup set to be played in UAE from Oct 17

  • Emirates likely to resume India flights from July 7

    Emirates likely to resume India flights from July 7

    The airline’s social media handles have been buzzing ever since authorities announced a few days ago that flights from India to Dubai would resume starting June 23…reports Asian Lite News

     UAE flag carrier Emirates has announced that it expects to resume its Dubai-India flights from July 7 after operations have remained suspended in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic situation in the South Asian country.

    “We’re expecting to resume our flights from India to Dubai as from July 7… We’re waiting for the exact travel protocols and relevant permits from the government authorities. We hope to have more details soon,” the airline said in response to query from a passenger on its Twitter account on Sunday.

    The airline’s social media handles have been buzzing ever since authorities announced a few days ago that flights from India to Dubai would resume starting June 23, the Khaleej Times reported.

    Later that day however, Emirates informed that flights from India to Dubai would remain suspended until further notice.

    The Dubai-based airline had announced the suspension first on April 24 as a devastating second wave of the pandemic hit India, leading to record high number of daily cases and deaths.

    In May, it had extended the suspension till at least June 14.

    The UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority, meanwhile, has clarified that passengers from India to the Gulf nation may have to wait longer as inbound travel has been suspended until further notice.

    ALSO READ: UAE Ministry of Defense delegation visits Lockheed Martin’s Centre

  • Emirates expands IATA Travel Pass to 10 cities

    Emirates expands IATA Travel Pass to 10 cities

    Partners with Alhosn to offer its customers greater convenience and smoother journeys, reports Asian Lite News

    Emirates, one of the first global airlines to pilot the IATA Travel Pass in April, is offering the IATA Travel Pass solution to customers flying to 10 cities and plans to extend it to all routes across its network in the coming weeks.

    Emirates has also partnered with Alhosn, the official UAE app for Covid-19 related contact tracing and health documentation, to offer its customers greater convenience and smoother journeys.

    Emirates customers flying between Dubai and the following cities: London, Barcelona, Madrid, Istanbul, New York JFK, Moscow, Frankfurt, Charles De Gaulle, and Amsterdam; can now use IATA Travel Pass to access the latest Covid-19 related travel information including the location of PCR test labs, and manage their Covid-19 travel documentation such as vaccination and latest PCR test results.

    Passengers on these flights will receive an SMS and email with the activation code and instructions on downloading the IATA Travel Pass app.

    The airline is progressing on plans to roll out the IATA Travel Pass solution across its global network.

    Adel Al Redha, Emirates’ Chief Operating Officer, said, “Over the past months, we have really accelerated our biometric, contactless and digital travel verification projects to provide our customers with even greater convenience and assurance when they fly with Emirates.”

    ALSO READ: T20 World Cup set to be played in UAE from Oct 17

    He added that this project delivers multiple benefits from better customer experiences to the reduced use of paper, and improved efficiency and reliability in travel document checks.

    The IATA Travel Pass app is now available to both iOS and Android users, and can also be used by customers with non-biometric passports.

    From July, Emirates will integrate the Alhosn app with its check-in systems, expanding on its existing integration with the Dubai Health Authority (DHA). This enables customers travelling from the UAE to benefit from the quick and convenient digital retrieval and verification of Covid-19 medical records, regardless of where in the UAE they had completed their vaccination, or Covid-19 PCR and antigen tests.

    Customers who opt to allow access to their Covid-19 related health information via the Alhosn app for travel purposes can rest assured that once check-in formalities are completed, information related to their Covid-19 medical records will be immediately discarded from the Emirates systems.

    The IATA Travel Pass is a digital solution developed by the airline industry body, the International Air Transport Association (IATA). It aims to provide governments, airlines, laboratories and passengers with up-to-date information on Covid-19 related regulations, and facilitate the secure flow of necessary information amongst all stakeholders.

    ALSO READ: UAE-based Indian national sanctioned for smuggling Iranian oil

  • UAE Ministry of Defense delegation visits Lockheed Martin’s Centre

    UAE Ministry of Defense delegation visits Lockheed Martin’s Centre

    Major General Al Jabri noted the wise UAE leadership’s dedicated efforts to empower national cadres with opportunities to continue competing in the high-tech global economy…reports Asian Lite News

    A delegation from Ministry of Defense, headed by Major General Dr. Mubarak bin Ghafan Al Jabri, Assistant Under-Secretary for Support and Defense Industries at the Ministry of Defense, visited Lockheed Martin’s Centre for Security Solutions and Innovation (CISS) – located in the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi.

    Robert Bob S. Harward, Lockheed Martin’s Chief Executive in the Middle East, received the delegation and expanded on the Emiratisation and human capital development efforts undertaken by the company to develop highly skilled UAE engineers.

    During the visit, Major General Al Jabri received a detailed briefing by Hala Al Zargani, Lead Engineer and the first Emirati employed by the CISS, on the progress of Lockheed Martin’s efforts to develop Emirati talent and help build sovereign capabilities within the UAE’s defense and space industry.

    Major General Al Jabri noted the wise UAE leadership’s dedicated efforts to empower national cadres with opportunities to continue competing in the high-tech global economy, including the defense sector. He pointed out that continued training and mentoring of young engineers to run and operate advanced defense-related systems will serve as vital elements for the UAE defense and aerospace industry’s future.

    Efforts are currently underway to onboard the summer cohort for Lockheed Martin’s CISS internship programme for UAE university students. The merit-based internship programme complements the UAE’s human capital development goals, by offering talented Emirati students the opportunity to focus on key defense industry imperatives, such as operations analysis, unmanned systems, and artificial intelligence.

    Since 2017, Lockheed Martin’s CISS has trained more than 100 Emirati engineers, developing their skills through specialised training programmes. The programmes provide training in artificial intelligence development and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle design, defense simulation exercises, business administration skills, software development and IT networking, allowing students to work on real-world projects that positively impact the industry.

    ALSO READ: Political dialogue only viable solution to Libyan crisis: UAE

  • Two Kerala Ayurveda docs get UAE Golden Visa

    Two Kerala Ayurveda docs get UAE Golden Visa

    A Golden Visa enables foreigners to live, work and study in the country without the need of a national sponsor and with 100 per cent ownership of their business on the UAE mainland…..reports Asian Lite News

    Two Ayurveda doctors, who are originally from India’s Kerela state and now based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), have received the Gulf nation’s coveted Golden Visa, according to a media report on Saturday.

    A Golden Visa enables foreigners to live, work and study in the country without the need of a national sponsor and with 100 per cent ownership of their business on the UAE mainland.

    They are issued for five or 10 years and are renewed automatically.

    Both Shyam Vishwanathan Pillai and Jasna Jamal were granted the Golden Visas by the UAE’s Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA).

    Vishwanathan, CEO of Vaidyashala at the Burjeel Day Surgery Centre in Abu Dhabi, received it under the medical professionals and doctors category on June 17.

    “My sincere gratitude to the rulers and policymakers of UAE for the kind support to Ayurveda and Ayurveda practitioners,” said Shyam, from Kollam.

    “I truly appreciate their vision in integrating the Ayurveda for the wellbeing of UAE residents and at the same time keeping in place strong measures to ensure the quality delivery of Ayurveda practice,” he added. Shyam came to Dubai in 2002.

    A resident of Al Mamzar in Dubai, Jamal, from Thrissur, was given the Golden Visa on June 24. She moved to the UAE 12 years ago soon after getting married.

    With over 16 years of experience in Ayurveda, Jamal established her own Ayurveda clinic in Al Mamzar.

    ALSO READ: T20 World Cup set to be played in UAE from Oct 17

  • Ban on flights from India, Pakistan to continue

    Ban on flights from India, Pakistan to continue

    Under the new changes, entry of UAE citizens from India and South Africa will be allowed only if the individual is fully vaccinated with a UAE-approved shots…reports Asian Lite News

    The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will continue to ban entry from India and 13 other countries, the federal aviation authority announced on Sunday. Cargo flights, business and charter flights will be exempted from this ban.

    In a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) on Sunday, the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority said flights from India, Pakistan, Liberia, Namibia, Sierra Leone, Democratic Republic Of Congo, Uganda, Zambia, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, and South Africa will remain suspended due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

    UAE’s National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Emergency Management Authority (NCEMA) authority had suspended all flights from India on April 24 when the country was in the throes of a brutal second wave of coronavirus. However, UAE citizens and diplomats were exempted from the ban.

    UAE consists of seven emirates that have been setting their individual travel policies since the pandemic started. Dubai is scheduled to reopen its borders to foreign visitors from July, while Abu Dhabi requires arrivals from most countries to quarantine.

    Dubai, the most popular tourist and business hub among the seven emirates, announced on June 19 that restrictions on arrivals from India, South Africa, and Nigeria will ease from June 23. Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management tweeted an updated travel protocol on June 19 for inbound passengers from South Africa, Nigeria and India.

    Under the new changes, entry of UAE citizens from India and South Africa will be allowed only if the individual is fully vaccinated with a UAE-approved shot, and entry from Nigeria will be allowed those who have tested negative for coronavirus in the past 48 hours, reported Reuters.

    ALSO READ: UAE joins Central American Integration System