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Did the coronavirus give Dubai the evil eye?MENA

Did the coronavirus give Dubai the evil eye?

Coronavirus worries have finally loomed in on Dubai. The recent surge in the number of new daily cases has led to Dubai imposing cautionary measures, including suspension of non-essential surgery for a month and live entertainment in hotels and restaurants until further notice. Wearing masks in public and strict social distancing remain mandatory protocols.

Other countries had recently raised concerns over Dubai’s “c’est la vie” approach to the new norm. Britain, for example, had recently removed the UAE from its travel corridor.

But, residents should have no fear of further restrictions or lockdowns (yet) as Dubai has stepped up its vaccination campaign recently. It is targeting to immunize 70% of its population by the end of 2021. To this day, UAE has approved Pfizer-BioNTech, Sinopharm, and Sputnik V vaccines.

why it matters
The DFM fell by 2% in response to the news, as it indicates concern over the state of current affairs in Dubai. The emirate is in the midst of its peak tourist season, and restrictions on tourism activities (such as live events) will impact tourist spending. We'll have to wait and see if further restrictions are imposed or if the new rules will be lifted sooner than expected. Until then, stay safe, fam!