UAE

01 April 2020; MEMO: Developer Emaar Properties said on Tuesday it had suspended construction of a residential tower in a prime Dubai location near the world’s tallest building, showing how the coronavirus is deepening the emirate’s real estate downturn.

Dubai, a regional tourism, trade, and business hub, has faced a real estate slowdown for most of the past decade as the global financial crisis and weak oil prices burst a price bubble and left the market oversupplied with homes and offices.

DUBAI, Mar 31 (NNN-WAM) – In further contributions from the private sector, to support the UAE’s efforts against COVID-19, CAFU, the region’s first on-demand fuel delivery app, said, it will provide all ambulances operated by the Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services, DCAS, with free fuel for a period of two weeks.

The gesture highlights the collaboration between the private and public sectors, in facing challenges in the current critical environment.

DUBAI, Mar 30 (NNN-WAM) – The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority, RTA, announced that, it has extended the suspension of public transport services across the emirate.

The move comes as part of the National Disinfection Programme, jointly undertaken by the Ministry of Health and Prevention and the Ministry of Interior.

DUBAI (Reuters) - Qatar Airways will have to seek government support eventually, Chief Executive Akbar al-Baker told Reuters on Sunday, warning that the Middle East carrier could soon run out of the cash needed to continue flying.

Several states have stepped in to help airlines hammered by the coronavirus pandemic that has virtually halted international travel, with the United States offering $58 billion in aid.

Qatar Airways is one of few airlines continuing to maintain scheduled commercial passenger services and over the next two weeks expects to operate 1,800 flights.

DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran’s health infrastructure is strong and ready to cope with a possible escalation in coronavirus cases, President Hassan Rouhani said Saturday on state TV.

Iran is among the few countries worldwide severely affected by the pandemic. On Friday, the health ministry reported a death toll of 2,378 and total confirmed infections at 32,332.

ABU DHABI, Mar 28 (NNN-WAM) – The Ministry of Interior has clarified that the National Disinfection Programme, slated for execution over the weekend starting from Thursday, Mar 26, will take place from 8.00 pm to 6.00 am every day.

The movement of traffic and people will go on as usual during the day, but will be restricted during the time of disinfection, and public transport and metro trains will be fully stopped during the disinfection.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Leaders of the world’s most powerful economies will convene virtually on Thursday to try and coordinate a response to the fast-spreading coronavirus, which has shuttered businesses and forced well over a quarter of the world’s population into home isolation.

ABU DHABI, Mar 25 (NNN-WAM) – Rain is expected over different areas of the UAE, as the country will be affected, starting Friday, by an extension of surface trough from the Red Sea, associated with an airflow from the west, which moves clouds from the west in the form of successive waves, with a chance of lightning and thunder, according to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM).

Following is a detailed weather forecast issued by the NCM for the coming few days starting Friday.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The United Arab Emirates, home to the world’s busiest international airport in Dubai, announced early Monday it was suspending all passenger flights and the transit of airline passengers in the country for two weeks to stymie the spread of a new virus.

Dubai’s airport is a vital hub connecting Europe and other Western nations with countries in Asia and Australia. Suspending transit flights there impacts travelers around the world.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran’s supreme leader Sunday refused U.S. assistance to fight the new coronavirus, citing an unfounded conspiracy theory that the virus could be man-made by America.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s comments come as Iran faces crushing U.S. sanctions blocking the country from selling its crude oil and accessing international financial markets.