Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) has made a 20-minute documentary, showing various aspects of the UAE’s proactive response to the COVID-19 pandemic that has affected the lives of billions of people across the world. Titled "Energy of Our Nation", the documentary chronicles UAE's Coronavirus response from the early stages of the pandemic outbreak to complete containment across the country. It narrates how the highest levels of the UAE's leadership worked in combating the spread of the virus.

In the documentary, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, can be seen reassuring the nation's policymakers that the difficult time will pass, but it is important to keep patience.

“Medicine and food will be a red line for the UAE but these two essential necessities will be available infinitely across the nation. Do not worry,” Mohamed bin Zayed reaffirm the people of the nation.

Significantly, the UAE's response to the global healthcare crisis has been rapid and successful. With the mass national disinfection programme and deployment of drones and special vehicles to sanitise public spaces, the UAE leadership ensured the safety and protection of the community from the early days of the outbreak.

The authorities dedicated entire hospitals for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. Speaking to documentary makers, a health official revealed that more than 4,000 beds were added to field hospitals in a very short span of time. In addition, SEHA (Abu Dhabi Health Services Company) erected around 14 screening centres and five field hospitals in just two weeks.

According to a Bloomberg survey, the UAE has emerged as one of the safest countries globally in the post-pandemic era.

Being the third-largest producer of crude in OPEC, the UAE was required to maintain continuity of production and other business activities across its oil field operations. It often required field workers to stay away from their families to ensure their safety and protection during the critical time.

Speaking over the development, ADNOC Group chief executive Dr Sultan Al Jaber asserted that he had faith in the remarks of Sheikh Mohamed that the country will overcome the unprecedented challenge in view of the pandemic.

"When he said ‘Do not worry', in my opinion, it was a quantum leap. It instilled confidence and assurance and the real feeling of security and stability,” Dr Al Jaber said.

Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology Dr Al Jaber also stated that it was crucial for the country to maintain “continuity of operations, especially production”.

In the middle of the pandemic response, the UAE, not only reached 4 million barrels per day of production capacity, but it also participated in a historic agreement to draw down inventories at a time when there was record demand crunch.

In the documentary, Adnan Shaheen, an offshore maintenance planner, has expressed overwhelming emotions as he recounts spending days away from his family in a hotel room during Ramadan in a bid to protect them due to the health crisis.

The documentary also demonstrates how crucial it was for the UAE to meet energy needs for communication, transportation and for the frontline workers who formed the backbone of the nation's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We must find the silver lining in this challenge. We need to be stronger, we need to be healthier and we need to improve more,” Sheikh Mohamed tells policymakers in the documentary.

WAM