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Category: UAE News

  • UAE Maritime Week set to return as an in-person event

    UAE Maritime Week set to return as an in-person event

    The Week, organised by Seatrade Maritime, part of Informa Markets, aims to connect maritime markets in the Middle East by bringing together ship owners…reports Asian Lite News

    The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure has announced that the UAE Maritime Week, with its flagship event, Seatrade Maritime Middle East, will be held at Dubai Exhibition Centre as part of Expo 2020 Dubai, from 12th-16th December 2021.

    The Week, organised by Seatrade Maritime, part of Informa Markets, aims to connect maritime markets in the Middle East by bringing together ship owners, industry suppliers and key decision-makers from the region on a common platform to discuss and plan the future of the maritime industry for five days.

    To date, the week includes Seatrade Maritime Middle East; Seatrade Maritime Awards Middle East, Indian Subcontinent & Africa; Maritime Leaders Forum and Experience Maritime. A day will be dedicated to terminal operators and associated industries as part of the global TOC brand, also a part of Informa Markets.

    Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, said, “The UAE has always been at the forefront of bolstering the maritime industry and ensuring the continued progress of the sector with the help of initiatives that guarantee resilience and success of organisations working under its umbrella. This was evident during the outbreak of the pandemic, when economies around the globe entered a phase of financial instability, while the UAE’s Government worked towards preserving normalcy through a series of directives aimed at stabilising and strengthening the nation’s economy and the financial well-being of organisations.”

    He added, “Our ports and logistics operators have showcased grit and determination amid the crisis. In 2020, despite an unstable market, DP World recorded revenue growth of 11 percent. This year in Q1, they recorded a gross container volume increase of 10.2 percent year-on-year. Khalifa Port, Abu Dhabi Ports’ flagship deep-water facility achieved significant progress in the now operational South Quay and the Khalifa Port Logistics (KPL) development. This is testimony to the sector’s success despite unstable markets. Aiding this growth are events that will take place under the umbrella of the UAE Maritime Week that has year after year helped the industry find solutions to pressing concerns. Additionally, this year, what makes the event even more strategic is its placement during Expo 2020 Dubai, which undoubtedly will be a mega event as well as the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) elections, also scheduled to take place during this period.”

    Chris Hayman, Chairman, Seatrade, stated, “We are thrilled that the UAE Maritime Week will be back this year. 2020 was challenging, yet our virtual edition saw great success. Before that, our last in-person event saw the attendance of 7000 plus attendees from over 80 countries. 63 percent of the visitors had direct purchasing authority. We are certain that as businesses are gradually recovering and getting back to normal, the 2021 edition will help the industry continue its upward progression. We are grateful to the wise leadership of the UAE for their constant support for the event and their efforts to boost the development of the maritime sector. “

    Chris Morley, Event Director, Seatrade Maritime, noted, “In support of the UAE Ministry of Economy’s directive to promote SME’s and the government’s great vision for this sector, the event will act as an incubator for local SME’s and entrepreneurs.”

    Over the years, the UAE Maritime Week has established itself as an epicentre for a variety of maritime activities, and a common platform for uniting the maritime industry. Attendees include influential names from key organisations like Abu Dhabi Ports, ADNOC, Al Masaood, Albawardy Damen, Allianz Marine, Bahri, and DP World.

    ALSO READ: India lauds UAE’s inclusion in UNSC

  • Abu Dhabi removes UK from Green List destinations

    Abu Dhabi removes UK from Green List destinations

    Travellers from outside the ‘green’ list can still travel into Abu Dhabi but by following the latest protocols and guidelines….reports Asian Lite News

    The UK has been removed from Abu Dhabi’s updated list of ‘green list’ destinations, with all travellers arriving from Britain required to undergo quarantine in the UAE capital starting from Sunday.

    Passengers arriving from the ‘green list’ destinations are exempt from mandatory quarantine measures after landing in Abu Dhabi and will only be required to undergo PCR testing upon arrival at Abu Dhabi airport.

    Travellers from outside the ‘green’ list can still travel into Abu Dhabi but by following the latest protocols and guidelines.

    Since its last update issued on May 23, the UK and Tajikistan have been removed from the list while Malta has been added to it.

    The list only applies to countries passengers are arriving from rather than citizenship.

    Last month, senior DCT Abu Dhabi officials had revealed plans to lift all quarantine measure for international travellers arriving in the emirate from July 1.

    Media reports indicated the quarantine restrictions will be lifted for passengers from all countries, except India, by July 1.

    Malta, the only destination to be added to the Green List in the latest update, is open to UAE travellers.

    The UAE is listed as amber by Malta, meaning travellers need to have a negative PCR test result taken no more than 72 hours before landing in the country. Children under 5 are exempt.

    There are currently no direct flights from the UAE to Malta, but Emirates said on Thursday that it would resume flights to the country via Larnaca in July.

    Abu Dhabi has last month updated its Green List, which includes countries from where travellers can fly without having to quarantine in the UAE capital.

    Before new restrictions set to come into force on July 1 that will remove Covid-19 quarantine restrictions for most international travellers, six new destinations have been added.

    It’s the first time that the Abu Dhabi Green List has been updated in almost a month. The last update was on Sunday, April 25.

    There are now 29 countries and destinations on the list from where travellers can fly to the UAE without the need to self-isolate. Passengers arriving from these destinations need only to undergo PCR testing on arrival at Abu Dhabi Airport.

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  • India lauds UAE’s inclusion in UNSC

    India lauds UAE’s inclusion in UNSC

    India and the UAE will both be in the Security Council till India’s elected term ends on 31st December next year, reports Asian Lite News

    Describing the UAE as “an important voice in the United Nations,” India has welcomed the country’s election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.

    “India’s bilateral relations with the UAE are at an all-time high. We work closely with the UAE in the UN,” said T S Tirumurti, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, in a statement on the UAE’s election.

    India is currently a non-permanent member of the Security Council. India and the UAE will both be in the Security Council till India’s elected term ends on 31st December next year.

    Tirumurti said India “co-sponsored and strongly supported” the UN General Assembly resolution recently moved by the UAE to observe an International Day of Human Fraternity. “On behalf of India, I was also one of the speakers at an event organised on 4th February by UAE’s Permanent Mission to the UN to mark this day. We will continue such close cooperation in the Security Council as well.”

    Describing the Permanent Representative of the UAE to the UN in New York, Lana Nusseibeh as a “very dynamic Ambassador,” Tirumurti thanked her for having “actively participated and collaborated with India when our Permanent Mission celebrated the International Day of Women in March this year.”

    Tirumurti was India’s senior-most diplomat in charge of relations with the Gulf and Arab countries at the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi before he was posted as Permanent Representative to the UN in New York last year.

    Global recognition of UAE’s principled position

    Nearly 35 years after serving on the Security Council in 1986-1987 for the first time, the UAE is now taking on this responsibility at a time the world is experiencing unprecedented challenges.

    “Following the same steps and principles on which it was founded, the UAE will pursue its efforts to maintain international peace and security in cooperation with the members of the council,” affirmed H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, when the UAE announced its candidacy for this two-year seat last year.

    The scale of the responsibility is great, and the challenges are more complex and urgent. From issues of peace, sustainability, climate change, extremism and terrorism to an unprecedented pandemic that shattered all records.

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    However, the UAE has the expertise and conscious understanding to help find more sustainable solutions to many of these issues that concern the world, based on a great legacy and close relations with all countries and international organisations.

    The slogan “Stronger with our Union” reflected the depth of understanding of the importance of global cooperation and interdependence to build up resilience and enhance international peace and security.

    During its membership in the UNSC, the UAE has a lot to present, foremost among which is its experience in institutionalising gender equality, fostering tolerance and countering terrorism and extremism, addressing climate change issues, prioritising humanitarian relief, tackling global health pandemics, and harnessing the potential of innovation for peace.

    The UAE’s policy, which is inspired by and based on cooperation, dialogue, diplomacy and tolerance, will have a strong presence during this two-year term. The UAE will share its experience with other council members to help maintain peace and security from traditional security threats, as well as from those posed by pressing global challenges such as climate change.

    The 15-nation council has 10 seats for temporary members but is dominated by its five, veto-wielding permanent members: Russia, China, the United States, Britain and France.

    World reacts to UAE’s inclusion

    UAE winning the seat in the UN Security Council reflects their role in consolidating international peace.

    Dr. Yousef bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen, Secretary-General, OIC

    The Sultanate of Oman expresses its support for the UAE government in its duties towards international peace and security issues, and at the same time serving the interests of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and Arab and Islamic issues.

    Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs

    The development is a culmination of the achievements of the UAE under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and their continuous efforts to establish the pillars of security and stability in the region and unswerving support for Arab causes.

    Adel Abdulrahman Al Asoomi, Speaker, Arab Parliament

    We congratulate the UAE leadership and people on this historic diplomatic achievement that reflects the country’s tireless efforts to bring peace and security to the world.

    Bahraini Ministry of Foreign Affairs

    The election reflects the prominent role played by the UAE at the regional and international levels under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

    Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs

    ALSO READ: UAE flight ban extended until July 6, says Air India

  • Dugong, seagrass toolkit among top 25 UAE innovations

    Dugong, seagrass toolkit among top 25 UAE innovations

    It provides an easily accessible online decision-making tool to guide the selection of specific dugong and seagrass research recommendations…reports Asian Lite News

    Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) has announced that an online toolkit to support dugong and seagrass conservation has been selected as one of the 25 most noteworthy innovations in the UAE’s government sector by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Centre for Government Innovation, in collaboration with Sia Partners.

    The Dugong and Seagrass Research Toolkit is an initiative by EAD, the energy company Total and the MoU on the Conservation and Management of Dugongs and their Habitats throughout their Range (Dugong MOU) of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) based in Abu Dhabi.

    It provides an easily accessible online decision-making tool to guide the selection of specific dugong and seagrass research recommendations which can be adopted in specific circumstances.

    The toolkit is available worldwide to members of universities, research institutes, and governmental and non-governmental organisations with mandates for coastal and marine research and conservation.

    It supports researchers in the process of setting and refining their objectives, while considering overall conservation management goals and budgetary restraints. It also factors in elements such as time scale, spatial scale, technical capacity and specific challenges on the ground.

    In addition to collecting information on dugongs and seagrass, the toolkit provides tools and techniques to understand the threats and human community factors that affect dugong and seagrass conservation.

    The interactive approach of the toolkit makes it extremely efficient in providing the right kind of guidance, saving researchers, conservation practitioners and marine management agencies time and resources.

    It is designed to be easily accessible to researchers and practitioners working in developing countries who have limited access to scientific expertise, thus serving as an efficient and cost-effective method to ensure consistent, comparable, and standardized data sets across the dugong range.

    To use the toolkit, a user opens the designated website, presses ‘Launch Toolkit’ and follows a simple process tree that leads to practical recommendations. Since launching in March 2017, the toolkit was reached by 3,200 users from 119 different countries, with a total of over 10,000 page views. It has now also been incorporated into the Dugong and Seagrass Hub. (WAM)

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  • Saving accounts in banks drew AED9.77 bn in 4 months

    Saving accounts in banks drew AED9.77 bn in 4 months

    The new liquidity brings to AED199 bn the cumulative balance of saving accounts in the UAE by the end of April, from AED189.229 bn by December 2020….reports Asian Lite News

    Reflecting an increased trend in saving behaviour among Emiratis and residents alike, the saving accounts in UAE national banks drew AED9.77 bn during the first four months of 2021, statistics by the Central Bank of the UAE have revealed.

    The new liquidity brings to AED199 bn the cumulative balance of saving accounts in the UAE by the end of April, from AED189.229 bn by December 2020.

    Projected to further grow over the coming few months, saving accounts in UAE national banks account for 88 percent of their total balance in all UAE-based banks by the end of the reference period.

    Meanwhile, the Central Bank has issued a new outsourcing regulation and accompanying standards for banks operating in the UAE, as part of its ongoing efforts to introduce robust regulatory frameworks that properly govern and safeguard banking sector.

    The regulation, which comes into effect one month following the date of publication in the official gazette, aims to ensure that banks are appropriately managing the risks when outsourcing certain functions. This includes the requirement for mandatory inclusion of board-approved policies and procedures for outsourcing activity in banks’ governance frameworks.

    CBUAE also seeks through the introduction of this Regulation to ensure that banks’ approaches to managing the risks inherent in outsourcing arrangements are in line with leading international prudent practices to contribute in enhancing financial stability.

    Under the Regulation, banks operating in the UAE must obtain a notice of non-objection from prior to outsourcing any material activity.

    “Our introduction of the Outsourcing Regulation and accompanying Standards is testament to CBUAE’s robust efforts to ensure the integrity of banks’ risk management frameworks and operational stability,” , said CBUAE Governor Khaled Mohamed Balama.

    “The Central Bank prioritises the utmost importance to data protection and risk management by issuing directives that govern and safeguard banks and their consumers, in line with international standards and best practice.”

    A key principle underpinning this regulation is that a bank’s outsourcing arrangements should not impair its ability to fulfil its obligations to its consumers and to CBUAE, nor impede on CBUAE’s supervisory provisions.

    As stipulated by the regulation and accompanying Standards, it must be ensured that banks’ consumers confidential data must not be shared outside the UAE without prior approval from both CBUAE and the concerned consumer. (WAM)

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  • Indian consulate on a mission to upskill workers

    Indian consulate on a mission to upskill workers

    The drive is to collaborate with educational establishments and Indian associations in the UAE in providing upskilling and reskilling for the workers…reports Asian Lite News

    The Consulate General of India here has spearheaded a new drive aimed at upgrading skills and roles of blue-collar workers to the new normal.

    The consulate, in collaboration with Skyline University College (SUC) in Sharjah and Indian Association Sharjah, is organising a two-day training for blue-collar workers, being held from Tuesday to Wednesday at Sharjah Indian School, Gulfnews reported.

    The plan is to collaborate with educational establishments and Indian associations in the UAE in providing upskilling and reskilling for the workers, such as English language and communication skills, basic computer literacy and soft skills, as well as to boost their confidence level, officials said during the launch ceremony at SUC on Tuesday.

    In his address at the ceremony, Aman Puri, Consul General of India in Dubai, said Indian blue-collar workers are highly sought by employers in the UAE owing to their “hard working and law-abiding nature”.

    Indian consulate leads new drive to upskill workers(Twitter)

    More than 3.3 million Indians live and work in the UAE, with some 65 per cent of them estimated to be from the blue-collar category, he added.

    “Therefore, it is imperative that we complement the expectations of our gracious workforce in terms of their skill sets.

    Having the largest working diaspora in the UAE, it is natural that the Indian Consulate is always interested in understanding about the skill sets that can enhance the employability and productivity of the Indian human resources in the UAE,” Puri said.

    “With the rapidly evolving global technological landscape, regional economic conditions, and Covid-19, it is critical for us to keep updated with the requisite future skill sets …

    Indian consulate leads new drive to upskill workers(Twitter)

    The Covid-19 pandemic has brought great challenges for Indians working in the UAE and several sectors were adversely impacted, including construction, aviation, tourism, and hospitality.

    “Several workers have lost their livelihood and had to return to India. Meanwhile, the Covid-19 pandemic has also altered the conventional workspace and has ushered in innovative work environments, and have devised mechanisms to allow employees to work from home. Several of these aspects are likely to stay. It is therefore important that we accept and adjust to the new realities.”

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    Against the backdrop of these developments, the consul general added, the consulate had launched an upskilling programme in January using a Public-Private-Partnership model, by “utilising existing educational infrastructure and generating a win-win situation for all stakeholders involved, through the concept of ‘Uberisation’ of educational infrastructure”.

    Since the upskilling programme was launched earlier this year, the consulate has received interest from several educational institutions and Indian associations who will “gladly volunteer to provide the support for the training of blue collar workers”.

    Indian consulate leads new drive to upskill workers(Twitter)

    Puri said: “We are extremely grateful to universities, schools, Indian associations, and organisations who have collaborated and partnered with the Indian consulate to work on this upscaling model”.

    As part of the collaboration, SUC is providing the training for 245 blue-collar workers, including non-teaching staff of Sharjah Indian School as well as staff of Indian Association Sharjah.

    Speaking at the ceremony, SUC vice-chairman Nitin Anand said upskilling and reskilling is the need of the hour for all categories of employees and even business persons.

    Even the SUC community, for example, had to learn about and adjust to the new virtual working environment brought on by the pandemic, Anand added.

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  • Keralite freed after 6 years thanks to Yusuf Ali

    Keralite freed after 6 years thanks to Yusuf Ali

    Krishna was in jail for the past six years in Abu Dhabi after his vehicle which he was driving, hit a Sudanese boy, who died soon after the accident happened….reports Asian Lite News

    Finally, it was a much awaited and perhaps a walk to freedom by Beks Krishna, when he landed at the Cochin Airport from UAE and this was made possible by none other than billionaire businessman M.A. Yusuf Ali.

    “I never expected that this day would ever dawn,” was his first statement after seeing his wife Veena and son Adwaith, who were present at the airport to receive him, when he arrived in the wee hours of Wednesday.

    Krishna was in jail for the past six years in Abu Dhabi after his vehicle which he was driving, hit a Sudanese boy, who died soon after the accident happened.

    Krishna was taken into custody and was sentenced to death.

    “While being in jail there, I heard about six or seven instances, when similar people accused in cases like mine, where the sentence was executed. Hence I was very tensed,” said Krishna.

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    “But when I heard that Ali Sir had taken up my case, I regained the hope that I lost and it has now become a reality. Will always be grateful to him,” added Krishna.

    Hailing from Thrissur, his relative despite several attempts to make truce with the bereaved Sudanese family, failed to make any headway.


    But things started to change after they got in touch with Ali, who also hails from Thrissur and then things started to shine brightly and in January this year Ali deposited a sum of Rs one crore in the court, there.

    Then it was left to the court which gave the green signal of his release and two days back he got the out pass to leave the country and on Tuesday night Krishna boarded the flight for India.

    Ali has already made his intent clear after first depositing the money in the court, which will go to the Sudanese family and said Krishna can now go and be with his family for some months.

    “I have offered him a job and he can return when he wants to take up the job. His life also has to move on and hence I offered him the job,” said Ali, who is the founder of the Lulu Supermarket chain.

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  • OPEC Fund extends $10mn loan to Bank of Maldives

    OPEC Fund extends $10mn loan to Bank of Maldives

    According to the Fund, the loan will be used for on-lending to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) engaged in tourism and related services…reports Asian Lite News

     The OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) has announced the signing of a US$10 million private-sector loan agreement with the Bank of Maldives.

    According to the Fund, the loan will be used for on-lending to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) engaged in tourism and related services in the Maldives that have been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The Bank of Maldives, as a leading lender to the tourism industry and the largest financial institution in the Maldives, will provide much-needed working capital to benefit businesses in the tourism and related industries.

    Tim Sawyer, Bank of Maldives CEO and Managing Director, commented, “The funding comes at an opportune time as we reinforce resources for our COVID-19 response for the tourism and business sectors severely affected by the pandemic. Early on, we took the lead in mitigating the impact of COVID-19 for businesses and this support from the OPEC Fund will aid our efforts as the country continues on its road to recovery.”

    OPEC Fund Director-General Dr. Abdulhamid Alkhalifa said, “We are pleased to have the opportunity to support the post-pandemic economic recovery in the Maldives. This private-sector lending further builds upon our established framework of cooperation with the Maldives, which dates back to 1977 and has allowed the OPEC Fund to provide public and private sector financing to support critical development projects in the country for decades.”

    “Our loan will help to revive businesses and sustain jobs that are critical for the stability of the local economy,” he noted.

    The OPEC Fund’s loan forms part of syndication led by IFC, a member of the World Bank Group. “Helping Maldives revive tourism is critical for the resilient recovery of the economy hampered by COVID-19,” said Rosy Khanna, Regional Director for Financial Institutions Group for IFC Asia and the Pacific.

    The OPEC Fund has provided public and private sector lending to the Maldives for decades, financing projects in transportation, multi-sectoral, water and sanitation, and financial sectors. This latest loan is aligned with the OPEC Fund’s COVID-19 response package approved last year to assist its partner countries in their impact and recovery efforts.

    OFID was established in January 1976 by the then 13 member countries of OPEC; including the United Arab Emirates. It is the development finance institution established as a channel of aid to developing countries.

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  • ADIB launches biometric authentication for e-commerce transactions

    ADIB launches biometric authentication for e-commerce transactions

    Visa Consumer Authentication Service aims to enhance user experience, as well as mitigate security and fraud risks by replacing traditional verification methods…reports Asian Lite News

    Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) has partnered with Visa to introduce the UAE’s first biometric authentication solution for e-commerce transactions. The solution leverages Visa Consumer Authentication Service to deliver a significant improvement in customer experience and reinforced data security.

    Visa Consumer Authentication Service aims to enhance user experience, as well as mitigate security and fraud risks by replacing traditional verification methods, such as OTP requirements, with biometric authentication using fingerprint and facial biometrics.

    Once the solution is implemented, ADIB customers can authenticate their e-commerce transaction by using their ADIB Mobile application biometric authentication instead of the conventional OTP that is sent by SMS or email.

    Unlike conventional procedures for user authentication, biometrics makes it difficult for intruders to use illegally obtained consumer credentials, allowing for stronger security and a time-efficient experience, even when the customer is travelling.

    “Due to the pandemic, online security and fraud protection has become more essential than ever,” Philip King, Group Head of Retail Banking at ADIB.

    “E-commerce websites have to confront various security issues from online fraud to theft of confidential data. Unlike conventional authentication processes, a biometric identification system uses the physical characteristics of an individual to grant account access, ensuring the security of consumers. Through our partnership with Visa, we aim to continue evolving our approach to using digital solutions to improve our customers’ experience.”

    Shahebaz Khan, Visa’s General Manager for UAE, stated, “Our Consumer Authentication Service is an example of how Visa’s network intelligence can create tangible value for our bank clients and merchants. Because the solution only prompts consumers for verification of the riskiest eCommerce transactions, most consumers will have a streamlined authentication process. Consumers in the UAE are savvy and with more transacting online, Visa’s biometric solution for ADIB offers them the safe and optimal online payment experience they increasingly expect. We are delighted to see ADIB become the first bank in the UAE to launch biometric authentication for eCommerce transactions.”

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  • UAE flight ban extended until July 6, says Air India

    UAE flight ban extended until July 6, says Air India

    Passengers who have booked flights for the affected dates can rebook for a later date, reports Asian Lite News

    Air India Express has told passengers the UAE flight ban from India will run until July 6. The budget carrier said the UAE’s General Authority of Civil Aviation extended the date from June 30 for all inbound passenger flights.

    The suspension does not apply to UAE citizens or diplomats. Passengers who have booked flights for the affected dates can rebook for a later date.

    The UAE had extended the suspension of passenger flights from India till June 30 to combat the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. The ban was initially imposed on April 25, after a surge in Covid-19 cases in India.

    Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has lifted a ban on travellers arriving from 11 countries that it imposed to curb the spread of coronavirus. Travellers from the United Arab Emirates, Germany, the United States, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Switzerland, France and Japan, will be allowed entry.

    India-UAE flights to remain suspended until June 30

    Expatriates stranded in India had been seeking to travel back using charter services or via ‘transit’ stops such as Bahrain or former Soviet states such as Uzbekistan to fulfil the 14-day ‘quarantine’ period outside India.

    Meanwhile, the Indian government had extended the ban on international flights till 30 June, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had said in a circular. However, it said that the Covid-related restrictions will not apply to international all-cargo operations and flights specifically approved by the DGCA.

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    The development comes as India announced that its daily Covid-19 case numbers have fallen to less than 100,000 for the first time in two months.

    The number of people infected in the past 24 hours was 86,498, the lowest in 66 days. The total number of people to have contracted the virus stands at about 28.9 million.

    Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on Monday announced free vaccines for all adults and promised to speed up the nation’s under-pressure inoculation drive.

    UAE-based Indians cancel summer holiday plans

    Several UAE-based Indian expats have either cancelled or put their summer vacation plans on hold in the fear of getting stuck amid Covid-induced travel curbs. The period between June to August are usually peak travel times for Indian expatriates, as they coincide with school summer holidays.

    Raheesh Babu, general manager of Musafir.com, an online travel agency, said: “Peak travels to India are closely tied with school holiday seasons. In this case, the UAE has announced a robust vaccination campaign for students aged 12-15. Parents are concerned that, if they travel over the summer, their children might miss their vaccination schedule. Due to this, there is a high chance that school students may have to return to campus in September. Since the travel situation to India is highly volatile, residents are avoiding the trip because they also fear getting stranded.”

    Babu added that the agency has already received several cancellations on bookings.

    Taking the long route to UAE

    Several expats are stranded in India, with some resorting to 15-day journeys to return to the UAE.

    Afraid of losing their jobs, some expats have been travelling to the UAE via Armenia and Uzbekistan. They spend 15 days in quarantine at those destinations before returning to the UAE.

    Passenger entry from India to the UAE, one of the world’s busiest air corridors, was suspended on April 25. Since then, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka have been added to the list, in addition to Nigeria and South Africa.

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