From Foreign Waters

The Dubai Health Authorities(DHA) has decided to slash the prices of COVID-19 detection tests to Dh150 from Dh250. All the DHA testing centres will start testing with the lowered price starting today.  The new reduced rates were announced to all the testing centres as DHA directed circulars to all its testing centres. This is being done with the aim to make the reverse transcript-polymerase chain reaction also known as RT-PCR, more affordable for people so that a larger number of people consider covid testing.  The United Arab Emirates is among the countries with the most number of coronavirus testing per day and even after that, the country is making sure to take necessary precautions and stress on Covid-19 tests to keep the public safe.  In the private hospitals, the cost for conducting the tests will remain unchanged but as far as the government hospitals are concerned in Dubai, the test will be conducted at reduced rates. A phone line number has also been dedicated to the residents

The second wave of coronavirus has started hitting the nations and as a precautionary measure, the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has hinted has a possible shut down as he requested the citizens to work from home and ordered the nars and restaurants to close down early to curb the fast spreading Covid-19.  Experts and scientists have the authorities that without immediate action, not only will the new cases increase but the death rate will also see a steep rise. This escalated tensions among the officials regarding the issue led Johnson to take this call. Unlike a full lockdown, the restrictions will not be as serious as the first one but due to these relaxations this time, the lockdown will last for six months.  "I'm sorry to say that as in Spain and France and many other countries, we have reached a perilous turning point," the PM told the reporters after attending an emergency meeting.  It has not been even a week since he first advised the government office wo

Two cities from the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi and Dubai, have topped the ranking of smartest cities in the region after the capital jumping 14 spots to 42 in the world.  Last year, Abu Dhabi ranked 59 in the world and since then has improved a lot as far as the parameters assessed by the Institute of Management Development’s 2020 smart city index is concerned. These parameters include technological and economic data and also how the residents evaluate the city on how smart it is. Dubai rose by two ranks to 43 this year.  IMD Professor Arturo Bris said that Covid certainly had an impact on the rankings. He added that even though technology is not the solution to covid but it is true that those with better access to tech have fared better in handling the crisis. "Those with better technology manage the pandemic better. Smart cities are not the solution, but technology helps.” The IMD along with the Singapore Institute of Technology and Design released a second edition of the i

The United Arab Emirates has sent help to the Sudanese people by providing them aid yesterday as a part of the Emirates Red Crescent air bridge which comes under the UAE’s humanitarian aid programme.  The aircraft that reached Khartoum to provide aid for the people who are affected by floods in the country carried large quantities of medicines, medical and food supplies and shelter material. UAE advisors from the embassy in Sudan came to receive the aid to the airport and along with him the ERC operation leader in Sudan, Mohammad Salem Al Junaibi was also present to oversee the delivery of the aid to people who are in much need of these resources.  It was revealed by Dr Mohammed Atiq Al Falahi, ERC Secretary-General that the aid was sent to Sudan on the orders of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and the follow-up of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler's Representative in the Al Dhafra Region and ERC Chairman, supports the Suda

The president of the United States, Donald Trump, has been nominated for the Nobel peace prize for his efforts of brokering the deal between the United Arab EMirates and Israel. The White House in its statement has said that the landmark closing of the deal is what results in this achievement and  this ‘hard earned and well-deserved honor.’ The White House further said that the US president has decided to make peace a cornerstone in the efforts made by him with regards ot foreign policy. Trump was nominated by Norwegian lawmaker, Christian Tybring-Gjedde, according to whom this deal will lead to a major step forward in ensuring peace in the Middle East.  Even though the deal was officially announced on August 13, it will be inked on September 15 in the White House . Both the countries have been making efforts to normalise the relation step by step. In a landmark move, the first commercial flight between the UAE and Israel landed in Abu Dhabi on August 31 which carried delegations from

 For those visiting Abu Dhabi from now on will have to follow revised rules to enter the Emirate. The Authorities updated the rules on Friday night which will be implemented from Saturday thi week.  Under the new rules, whoever enters the capital will have to show a negative PCR or DPI test report and only then can they enter the Emirate. The capital city of the United Arab EMirates is trying to take stricketer measures to curb the spread of coronavirus among people and flatten the curve that has been elevating since UAE relaxed the lockdown.  The time duration for a valid PCR or DPI test has also been changed to 48 hours which was 72 hours earlier as per the directives of the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority. This means that laser test, which was earlier accepted as a certification of Covid free being, will not be considered.  In a tweet, the Abu Dhabi government media said, “Starting Saturday, September 5th, residents and visitors can enter the emirate of