Middle East Experience

Dubai will allow shopping malls to partially open, and cafes and restaurants to resume operations during limited hours with a maximum capacity of 30 percent, according to Dubai Media Office.Restaurants will be able to operate, but will not be allowed to serve shisha or buffets, according to a statement released on Thursday.Shopping malls will be able to operate partially from 12 p.m. until 10 p.m.Dubai's shopping centers include Mall of the Emirates, which has its own indoor ski slope, and Dubai Mall, one of the world's largest and lies next to Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest structure.The statement added that Dubai would also resume public transportation services including subways starting Sunday April 26, with preventative measures including wearing facial masks and maintaining appropriate distance between passengers.The United Arab Emirates announced Thursday its nationwide coronavirus curfew would be shortened by two hours to now run daily from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. for the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, according to state news agency WAM.Dubai, one of the Gulf country's seven emirates, had been under a 24-hour curfew since March 26, to help stem the spread of the coronavirus.The UAE has so far recorded more than 8,000 cases of the novel coronavirus, including 56 virus-related deaths.Read more:Coronavirus: Dubai to allow Ramadan family gatherings, exercise outdoorsCoronavirus: 15 countries left in the world that allegedly have no casesRamadan moon sighted in Saudi Arabia, holy month amid coronavirus begins on Friday
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Dubai to allow shopping malls, restaurants to reopen with restrictions

The emirate of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates has reopened malls, cafes, and restaurants and eased lockdown restrictions it initially imposed last month to prevent the spread of coronavirus as the city marked the beginning of Ramadan.The announcement of lifting coronavirus measures on Friday is part of the Dubai government's first phase of easing of restrictions.Below is a visual representation of the places that are either open or closed in the city.The wider UAE also announced on Thursday that its nationwide coronavirus curfew would be shortened by two hours to now run daily from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. for the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.Here are all your questions about the lifting of restrictions answered:Will I be able to leave my home from now on?Yes, individuals across Dubai will be allowed to leave their homes between 6.00 am and 10.00 pm without a permit. The public will be required to strictly follow precautionary measures which include maintaining social distancing from others while wearing a face mask. Those who do not wear a mask will be fined of AED1,000.Will I be allowed to exercise in public?Individuals will be allowed to exercise outside their homes but only within their area of residence and undertake activities such as walking, running, or cycling for only 1-2 hours each time. Only a maximum of three persons can exercise as a group at the same time. People exercising outside must follow preventive measures including ensuring two-meter distance from others at all times while also ensuring they wear a face mask.Will I be able to visit my family and relatives during the day? Can I host an iftar at my house for example?Individuals will be permitted to visit their first- and second-degree relatives at their homes. Family visits will be restricted to no more than five people per gathering. Visiting high-risk individuals above the age of 60 and those with underlying medical conditions should be avoided as a rule. It will be prohibited to hold gatherings in either public or private places.Will I be able to go out and eat at a restaurant?Dine-in customers will be allowed in restaurants and cafes but can only occupy only a maximum of 30% of the outlet’s capacity at any given time. A two-meter social distancing measure will be strictly maintained between individuals while dining and all customers and staff are to wear face masks.Restaurants will be also allowed to provide food delivery services between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. during the nighty curfew lockdown.Can I get a haircut or a mani-pedi?Yes, male and female salons are permitted to re-open from 12 p.m. until 9 p.m. but will be restricted to hair and nail services only. All customers must make prior appointments before heading to the salons.Are shopping malls open? What are the timings, and will I be able to take my whole family?Shopping malls, markets, and commercial outlets will be open daily to the public from 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. All restaurants and shops inside the malls will only accept a maximum of 30 percent capacity during working hours.Malls will only open 25% of the parking spaces to ensure there is no overcrowding in malls.Individuals above the age of 60 and children between three and 12 years of age will not be allowed to enter malls.Read more: Dubai to allow shopping malls, restaurants to reopen with restrictionsWill I be able to use public transport move around?Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) confirmed that the emirate will resume its metro, public buses, and taxi services starting Sunday, April 26. RTA confirmed that ongoing protective health measures for taxi rides will continue such as limiting the number of riders to two at the back seat and maintaining isolators between the driver and passengers. However, water transport, tram, limousine, and car-sharing services will continue to be suspended under the existing guidelines.Read more: Dubai to resume metro, public bus services starting April 26Will I be able to share iftar or suhoor meals with my neighbors this Ramadan?Individuals are prohibited from distributing food except through mass distribution initiatives organized by licensed charity organizations and relevant authorities. Ramadan tents and majlises are also prohibited within homes and in public places.Are mosques reopening as part of the lifting of restrictions? Can I pray Taraweeh with my family inside my home?No. Reopening of mosques has been postponed since close proximity between worshippers can pose risks of infection, according to the Government of Dubai. Group prayers are not authorized to be held in public places and mosques. Group prayers and Taraweeh prayers will be permitted inside homes but the worshippers must be from the same family and residing in the same house.Read more: UAE to continue traditional Ramadan cannon firing without spectators amid coronavirus concernsWill I be able to head back to the office and conduct meetings with colleagues?Employees will be allowed to work in offices but only in absolutely necessary cases. Physical capacity at workplaces will continue to be limited to 30% of the total workforce.Meetings will be allowed inside offices only in absolutely necessary cases and limiting attendees to five people per session. Each person attending a meeting should maintain a two-meter social distance measure from other attendees.
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Dubai eases coronavirus restrictions as it marks Ramadan: 10 questions answered

The Saudi Arabian Supreme Court will implement a directive eliminating the punishment of flogging from the court system, according to a document seen by Al Arabiya English.The General Commission for the Supreme Court issued a directive requiring courts to limit their punishments to jail time, fines, or a mixture of the two, the document shows.The elimination of flogging as a punishment is the latest in a series of steps taken by the Kingdom to modernize the judicial system.In Islamic Law (Sharia), flogging falls under the category of Tazir, meaning punishment dispensed at the discretion of the judiciary or leadership for offenses where punishments are not specified in the Quran or the Hadith – the two main sources for Sharia.
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: In landmark decision, Saudi Arabia to eliminate flogging punishment

The Tradeling platform was created through Dubai Blink, which was announced last year by the Dubai Airport Freezone Authority (DAFZA) as part of the Dubai 10X initiative
Source: Arabian Business
Full Article: New Dubai-based B2B eMarketplace goes live

With the suspension of the Sharia courts’ work due to the confinement in the Gaza Strip, many Palestinian women have been struggling to get their rights to custody and alimony, while many have been separated from their children.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Coronavirus brings more suffering to Gaza’s women

Bahrain has recorded over 1,500 cases of coronavirus, including 7 deaths
Source: Arabian Business
Full Article: Bahrain converts car park into Covid-19 ICU

COVID-19 has put on hold the highly anticipated Dubai Expo 2020; it still is to take place, but most likely not until a year later than planned.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Dubai Expo 2020 likely to be postponed until October 2021

Saudi Arabia reported six new deaths and 1,172 new cases of the coronavirus in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of cases in the Kingdom to 15,102, Ministry of Health spokesman Mohammed al-Abd al-Ali said on Friday.The total number of virus-related deaths in the country is 127, he added.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.The newly discovered cases are 25 percent of Saudi nationals and 75 percent of non-Saudi residents, the spokesman said.A total of 93 cases are in a “critical condition” and are in the ICU, he added.A hundred and twenty-four have recovered from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, making the total of recoveries 2049.Read more:Ramadan under lockdown: How coronavirus is affecting Muslims country-by-country guideDubai eases coronavirus restrictions as it marks Ramadan: 10 questions answeredSaudi Arabia’s Minister of Health Tawfiq al-Rabiah said on Monday that the spike in the numbers of daily reported coronavirus cases this week is due to cases being detected by the expanded field testing programs.Medical teams have been conducting mass coronavirus screenings in neighborhoods across the Kingdom since Friday to ensure that cases are detected early.
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia reports six deaths, 1,172 new cases

Israeli intelligence is unsure whether the pandemic will ease tensions with neighboring countries or do just the opposite.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Israel weighs strategic implications of coronavirus crisis

With Hamas concerned about a coronavirus outbreak in Gaza and Israel concerned about overcrowding in its prisons, the pandemic offers a unique opportunity to reach a prisoner exchange deal.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Concerns over coronavirus in prisons push Israel-Hamas deal forward