How Dubai beat COVID-19

Various departments join forces to battle the pandemic and ensure the smooth functioning of the city

Sharmila Dhal | UAE Editor

Schools have reopened. Flights have resumed. Offices, malls and restaurants are running to full capacity. And yes, EXPO 2020 Dubai is about to start. The transition to normalcy with robust public health safety measures in place may signal a COVID-19 endpoint in the UAE, but the journey is what matters.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, recently told a Cabinet meeting that the worst is behind us. “The UAE worked as one team during the pandemic, making the country among the best globally in the fight against COVID-19,” he said.

Now that is precisely what made the difference.

An entire community pulled together to beat an invisible beast. From frontline forces and those at the fringe to everyone in between, residents from different walks of life rose to the occasion. They practised the pause, kept that social distance and wore those masks. They took their vaccines. And above all, they thanked God they were here in Dubai.

Ever since the first case of coronavirus was reported in the UAE on January 29, 2020, the authorities acted swiftly and firmly. This was evident at every stage of the COVID-19 combat: Whether it was the closure of schools and offices; suspension of flights and public transport services; launch of the nationwide disinfection programme; imposition of safety protocols for retailers and public gatherings; setting up of adequate testing, quarantine and isolation facilities; establishment of well-equipped field hospitals; or the introduction of a bouquet of vaccines and their large-scale administration.

When the time was right, the gradual return to normal activities was just as decisive and well-planned. And at no point of the journey was the balance between the yeses and nos lost. Even at the peak of the pandemic, there was no scramble for foodstuffs in the supermarkets, with generous supplies being sent as aid to other affected countries too.

It was nothing short of a miracle. And making this possible were the frontliners from different government departments, besides other entities, all working tirelessly and seamlessly under a unified chain of command.

Gulf News presents an exclusive and first-of-its kind interactive report in which key officials reveal the critical roles they played in Dubai’s fight against COVID-19.

Together, we bring you the Dubai success story.