UAE

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Dubai built a city of skyscrapers and artificial archipelagos on the promise of globalization, creating itself as a vital hub for the free movement of trade, people and money worldwide — all things that have been disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic.

DUBAI, May 12 (NNN-WAM) – The Ministry of Finance of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), ruled out any plans to raise the value added tax (VAT), following Saudi Arabia’s announcement of increasing the VAT, on Monday.

VAT was introduced in the UAE in 2018, at five percent on several goods and services.

Younis Haji Al Khoori, the finance ministry undersecretary, said, the ministry will reorient the financial resources, to prepare for the future and continued growth, to ensure the security and safety of the communities.

DUBAI (Reuters) - Yemen’s government forces will ‘’confront the armed rebellion’’ of a separatist group who had declared self-rule in the south of the country, the Yemeni embassy in the United States said on Twitter on Tuesday.

The separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC) on April 25 declared self-rule in Aden and other southern regions, threatening to renew a conflict with the Saudi-backed government in Yemen’s multifaceted war.

ABU DHABI, May 11 (NNN-WAM) – The United Arab Emirates sent an aid plane containing seven metric tonnes of medical supplies to Sierra Leone, to bolster the country’s efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19.

The aid will assist approximately 7,000 medical professionals, as they work to combat the virus.

Commenting on the aid delivery, Omar AlMeheiri, Charge d’Affaires of the UAE Embassy in Senegal, said, “The UAE is committed to assisting its partners throughout Africa, in their relentless fight against COVID-19.

ABU DHABI, May 10 (NNN-WAM) – The Ministry of Education said that, distance learning system, for all educational levels, will remain effective, until the end of the current academic year, in accordance with a previous decision.

The Ministry further clarified that, any decision for the academic year 2020-2021, is still under review and will be taken, based on the health situation and precautionary measures.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — As she was treated for COVID-19 in a hospital isolation ward in Kuwait City, Amnah Ibraheem wanted to credit those caring for her. The nurses were all South Asian, the radiologist was African, another of her doctors was Egyptian. The only fellow Kuwaiti she saw, briefly, was a lone volunteer.

Ibraheem pointed this out on Twitter, in a rejoinder to some voices in Kuwait and other parts of the Gulf who have stoked fear and resentment of foreigners, blaming them for the spread of the coronavirus.

DUBAI, May 7 (NNN-WAM) – Within four days of the World’s Tallest Donation Box launch, Burj Khalifa shone bright with 393,000 lights, as donations continue pouring in to support COVID-19-hit communities in the UAE.

The light donations of individuals and companies across the country will secure 393,000 meals to the ’10 million meals’ campaign that aims to provide food support for those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

SHARJAH, May 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Firefighters have brought under control a fire that broke out at a residential tower in Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Tuesday night, Sharjah’s government media office said.

Seven people were treated for minor injuries from the fire in the 48-storey Abbco Tower in Sharjah’s Al Nahda area and taken to hospital for treatment, the media office tweeted.

DUBAI (Reuters) - Firefighters brought under control a fire that broke out at a residential tower in Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday night, Sharjah’s government media office said.

Seven people were treated for minor injuries from the fire in the tower in Sharjah’s Al Nahda area and taken to hospital for treatment, the media office tweeted.

Videos on social media purportedly of the fire showed burning debris falling from a tower engulfed in flames, which local media said was the 48-storey Abbco Tower. Reuters could not immediately verify the footage.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Dubai’s Expo 2020 world’s fair will be postponed to Oct. 1, 2021, over the new coronavirus pandemic, a Paris-based body behind the events said Monday.

The announcement by the Bureau International des Expositions came just hours after police in Kuwait dispersed what they described as a riot by stranded Egyptians unable to return home amid the coronavirus pandemic. The riot was the first reported sign of unrest from the region’s vast population of foreign workers who have lost their jobs over the crisis.