On Thursday, hundreds of Chinese citizens on visit visas to the UAE received Covid-19 vaccine. 200 had registered for Sinopharm vaccine at Safa healthcare centre, Dubai and the vaccination would be done by Dubai Health Authority (DHA). Hend Al Ketbi, DHA’s director of nursing for primary healthcare centres said that capacity to vaccinate over 200 is there for the first day of campaign.

After an agreement was secured on Sunday, Chinese citizens have become first non-residents to receive vaccine against Covid-19 in the UAE. Early arrivals at vaccination centres included dozens of Chinese grandmothers with toddlers. Chinese citizens over 16 years of age without a residency visa and only a short-term visa would be administered two doses of Sinopharm vaccine.

Yang Chongqi, 61, who has arrived from Beijing was beaming with excitement at vaccination centre. Her Egyptian son-in-law Aladdin Essam said that vaccine is a protection for his family. He said, “You cannot imagine how safe we feel that even Chinese visitors can get the vaccine. This has always felt like a second home. You feel that in any emergency you will be taken care of.” Ms Chongqi is in Dubai for past three months to take care of her year old granddaughter.

Yao Zhang, 30, said, “When holding a visit visa, it’s impossible to get a vaccine in any country. I feel extra happy and proud.” Zhang is an office manager in hospitality sector who came to the UAE in January with her husband after they were laid off in US. She hopes to go to her native Guangxi in southern China. She said, “Like this vaccine, there is always hope. I believe there will be opportunities. There is always light at the end of the tunnel.”

China’s Consul general in Dubai, Li Xuhang said that vaccination drive for Chinese citizens highlights “solidarity between the UAE government, Dubai and the Chinese government”. He said, “Our aim is to protect overseas Chinese nationals with the support of Dubai. We highly appreciate the support of the UAE and Chinese nationals feel the friendship here.” Mr. Xuhang spoke to Chinese citizens waiting to get vaccinated. “The vaccine is the only way to make people healthy and safe,” he said.

Alice Zhang, 31, was one of the first to get vaccinated. Before receiving the vaccine. She said, “I’m very excited. I will feel safer.” She added, “I have been waiting for this and hoping to see this process start. Now it is my turn and I feel happy.” Ms. Zhang received a card that displayed she is due for her second vaccine in three weeks and would not have to register for it. She came to Dubai in November and stayed back after her flight back home was cancelled. Like her many Chinese citizens on temporary visas extended their stay in the UAE after their flights back home got canceled after China drastically minimized international flights last year due to pandemic.

At present only few flights operate from the UAE, which has surged one way ticket price to Shanghai over Dh20,000 ($5,445). Ms. Zhang is from Wuhan where first coronavirus cases were reported. She said she has followed strict measures to stay safe while in Dubai. She shares some friends and tourists got infected with Covid-19 but recovered after mild symptoms. She said, “I was worried throughout because, if I was in China, I could have got the vaccines easily. Wuhan was the first city for the vaccines. In Wuhan we have learned a lot. We were taught by the government to protect ourselves. I wear masks always, wash my hands and take Chinese traditional herb tablets.”

Chinese citizens have to enter their passport details, Chinese identity card number and their UAE address for registering with consulate or embassy to get vaccinated with Sinopharm vaccine.

33 year old Beijing resident Wang Lu Lin has registered for vaccine and is now waiting for her appointment. She said of being very proud to receive vaccine overseas. She said, “Thank you homeland.” Ms. Wang has been in Dubai since January and is enrolled in English language courses. A former journalist, Wang hopes to find a job soon in Dubai after learning English language. Currently, she is living with a friend in International City.

Ms. Zhang lives in a hotel apartment in Dubai’s Silicon Oasis and has completed a master’s degree online. She is now researching to start a business. She said, “I came to Dubai looking for business opportunities, but after my flight was cancelled I’m spending time doing research on general trading, real estate and tourism. My plan is that I will find a job or find a partner to start a company. I’m hoping to start a business in tourism or real estate.” 

“The medical system in Dubai is good so my family is not too worried that I am here. Even if I go to a hospital here there are Chinese doctors,” she added. 

New quarantine rules in China require all travellers into China to isolate for 14 days before their flight and take antibody and PCR tests before they board the flight. Passengers are required to enter institutional quarantine for two weeks when they arrive in China. On reaching final destination, some provinces require 14 to 21 days quarantine in a government centre, hotel or at home.

Emirates and Etihad don’t have flights to China for next few months. Flights were suspended due to travel restrictions and government approval, according to call centres of both airlines. Air China is flying once weekly to Beijing.