Middle East Experience

The UAE officially registered the Chinese-made Sinopharm vaccine on Wednesday after trials suggested it had an 86 percent success rate against COVID-19, reported the official Emirates News Agency (WAM).The Ministry of Health and Prevention granted the vaccine emergency use for frontline workers in September, following Phase III trials of the vaccine on 31,000 people in the country.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.The ministry said it had reviewed Sinopharm’s interim analysis of the trials, which showed that the vaccine had 86 percent efficacy against COVID-19 infection. The results also showed it had a 99 percent “seroconversion rate of neutralizing antibody” and was 100 percent effective in preventing moderate and severe cases of the disease.The analysis also showed no serious safety concerns.The UAE’s official registration of the vaccine is a step toward its roll out to the general population.“The announcement is a significant vote of confidence by the UAE’s health authorities in the safety and efficacy of this vaccine,” said WAM.Read more: Coronavirus: Abu Dhabi to resume all normal activity within two weeksSinopharm vaccineThe Sinopharm vaccine was created by Chinese drugmaker Sinopharm CNBG in colloboration with the research group Beijing Institute of Biological Products.In the UAE, authorities granted it emergency use based on the results of trials on over 31,000 volunteers from 125 nationalities. The trials were run as a partnership between Sinopharm and Abu Dhabi-based artificial intelligence and cloud computing company Group 42 (G42) and theAbu Dhabi Department of Health.Several senior UAE ministers including Dubai's ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid have already received the vaccine.It has also been trialed in other countries across the world, including Bahrain, Brazil, Jordan and Morocco.Bahrain granted emergency approval for the vaccine for frontline workers on Tuesday, the step taken by the UAE back in September.On Tuesday, Morocco announced the vaccine would form the initial part of its ambitious vaccination program, which aims to vaccinate 80 percent of the population for free.The UK began vaccination this week using an alternative candidate, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.The UAE emirate of Abu Dhabi is also testing the Russian-made Sputnik V vaccine with an initial Phase III trial of 500 volunteers.Read more:Coronavirus: Abu Dhabi launches phase-III trials for Russian COVID-19 vaccineCoronavirus: UK rolls out COVID-19 vaccine in global ‘V-Day’ firstCoronavirus: Dubai updates COVID-19 test requirement for Gulf countries
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: UAE approves Sinopharm vaccine for use after trials show 86 pct efficacy

Abu Dhabi will resume all economic, tourism, cultural and entertainment activities within two weeks, announced the Abu Dhabi Media Office on Wednesday.The emirate had achieved its goal of lowering the daily rate of cases, the media office said in a tweet, citing the Abu Dhabi Emergency Crisis and Disasters Committee for COVID-19 Pandemic.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.It means that tourism, entertainment, cultural and economic businesses that were closed or limited due to coronavirus regulations can plan to reopen by Wednesday, December 23, before Christmas."Following the success achieved by implementing precautionary measures to curb the spread of Covid-19 and maintain a low rate of cases, Abu Dhabi Emergency Crisis and Disasters Committee for Covid-19 Pandemic has begun working with authorities to resume all activities in two weeks," tweeted the Abu Dhabi Media Office."All economic, tourism, cultural and entertainment activities in the emirate will fully resume, while precautionary procedures already in place will be enhanced to preserve all health gains achieved," it added.The emirate had imposed various coronavirus restrictions to slow the spread of the pandemic.It was unclear whether the new announcement would affect the testing program currently in place.Anyone entering Abu Dhabi must provide a negative COVID-19 test result at the border that has been taken within the previous 48 hours. Those staying in Abu Dhabi for four or more days must then take a COVID-19 PCR test, followed by a third test on the eighth day in the emirate.Read more: Coronavirus: Abu Dhabi launches phase-III trials for Russian COVID-19 vaccineUAE approves vaccineThe announcement came on the same day that the UAE announced it had approved a Chinese-made vaccine as safe to use.The UAE officially registered the Sinopharm vaccine on Wednesday after trials suggested it had an 86 percent success rate against COVID-19.The ministry said it had reviewed Sinopharm’s interim analysis of the trials, which showed that the vaccine had 86 percent efficacy against COVID-19 infection. The results also showed it had a 99 percent “seroconversion rate of neutralizing antibody” and was 100 percent effective in preventing moderate and severe cases of the disease.The analysis also showed no serious safety concerns.“The announcement is a significant vote of confidence by the UAE’s health authorities in the safety and efficacy of this vaccine,” said the official Emirates News Agency (WAM).Read more: Coronavirus: Dubai updates COVID-19 test requirement for Gulf countriesDeveloping.
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Abu Dhabi to resume all normal activity within two weeks

Some legal experts are questioning the Egyptian Ministry of Religious Endowments’ decision to dismiss a number of imams across Egypt over their ties to the Muslim Brotherhood.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Egypt begins dismissing imams based on Brotherhood ties

In two weeks, Abu Dhabi is set to resume all economic, tourism, cultural and entertainment activities, following an announcement from the Abu Dhabi Media Office.The emirate introduced a slew of measures in May to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, closing tourist attractions, mosques, schools and universities, gyms, spas. Work-from-home measures were introduced, events were also canceled or postponed, and night-time movement restrictions were put in place.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.But now, the emirate is looking to re-open as mass testing and preventative measures have helped lower the daily rate of cases, the media office said in a tweet, citing the Abu Dhabi Emergency Crisis and Disasters Committee for COVID-19 Pandemic.“All economic, tourism, cultural and entertainment activities in the emirate will fully resume, while precautionary procedures already in place will be enhanced to preserve all health gains achieved,” it said.The announcement came on the same day that the UAE announced it had approved the Chinese-made Sinopharm vaccine as safe to use.Here are the updates rules and regulations for Abu DhabiWhat coronavirus regulations are in place in Abu Dhabi?Many restrictions have already been relaxed. Malls reopened at the start of May at 30 percent capacity, which increased over time. Yas Island’s theme parks – Yas Waterworld, Ferrari World and Yas Waterworld – reopened in July. The new rules would suggest that other restrictions – such as live events, spas, public seating areas, and other entertainment venues – could now also be lifted or relaxed.What do the new rules mean?It means that tourism, entertainment, cultural and economic businesses that were closed or limited due to coronavirus regulations can plan to reopen by Wednesday, December 23, before Christmas. While clarification has yet to be determined, this could possibly impact allowed capacity and workplace closures.Which businesses will be affected by the new announcement?This is yet to be determined, but the announcement would suggest any business in the tourism, entertainment, cultural and economic fields.Does the announcement mean the border will be opened?At present, no announcement has been made on any changes to the Abu Dhabi restrictions. Currently, anyone entering Abu Dhabi must provide a negative COVID-19 test result at the border that has been taken within the previous 48 hours. Those staying in Abu Dhabi for four or more days must then take a COVID-19 PCR test, followed by a third test on the eighth day in the emirate.Will testing continue?Yes. The media office has said “the committee and its partners will continue all efforts to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus, which includes active tracing and mass testing across the emirate, proving free tests for communities with high population density an industrial zone workers, and periodically testing all employees in vital sectors such as shopping malls and restaurants every two weeks. The committee will also continue the humanitarian efforts made during this period to stabilize the community and address the needs of all of its members.”For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Will I still have to wear a face mask?Face masks continue to be mandatory UAE-wide when in public places. The Abu Dhabi Emergency Crisis and Disasters Committee for COVID-19 Pandemic have renewed its call to residents to “continue their cooperation and commitment to follow preventative and precautionary measures and to make them a way of life,” a statement from the Emirates state news agency WAM said.Read more:Coronavirus: Abu Dhabi to resume all normal activity within two weeksCoronavirus in UAE: Abu Dhabi implements COVID-19 safety measures as flights resumeCoronavirus: Abu Dhabi vaccine trial participants not required to quarantine
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: What Abu Dhabi’s relaxed COVID-19 rules mean for residents, businesses

There has been no ambassador in either country since May 2018, when Ankara withdrew its envoy over escalating attacks on Palestinians in Gaza and Washington's decision to relocate its embassy to Jerusalem.
Source: Al Monitor
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A family dispute allegedly led to the death of a 15-year-old child bride in Egypt, where suicide rates have increased..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Fifteen-year-old Egyptian child bride commits suicide

Bahaa Hariri, who lives in exile, is reportedly being sued by Hezbollah, whom he accused of being responsible for the Aug 4 blast..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Lebanon's Hezbollah sues PM's brother over blast accusation

Comment: Whether Biden will hold Sisi accountable over human rights abuses remains unclear. But one thing is certain: Sisi's Egypt cannot stay afloat without US support, writes Bahey el-Din Hassan..
Source: Albawaba
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The decision to organise Gitex as an in-person event reflects our determination to overcome the current circumstances, UAE VP says..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Gitex 2020: Sheikh Mohammed tours global tech show in Dubai

Lebanon reports 20 coronavirus deaths, 1,274 cases in 24 hours..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Lebanon reports 20 coronavirus deaths, 1,274 cases in 24 hours