According to a recent study, years of investment in key sectors including infrastructure, health, and education helped the UAE effectively fight the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis. Global business intelligence and advisory firm Oxford Business Group and the University of Manchester Middle East Centre in Dubai collaboratively carried out the research titled "COVID-19 Response Report". In the research, it was found that the long-term approach of the UAE leadership to strengthen the country's services contributed to its rapid response to the rising Coronavirus cases and proved crucial to mitigating the repercussions of the pandemic crisis.

According to the report, the government increased its investment in the healthcare sector from Dh3.83 billion in 2016 to Dh4.84bn this year which helped the UAE to combat the spread of COVID-19.

“Sustained investment in health infrastructure in recent years allowed the UAE to enter the pandemic in a position of considerable strength," the report said,

It also highlighted that the decision taken by the UAE authorities to expand its COVID-19 testing capabilities proved significant to its over objective to contain the spread of the virus. As of Tuesday, the UAE has conducted around 17 million tests since the beginning of the pandemic outbreak.

Speaking over the development, Oxford Business Group's chief executive Andrew Jeffreys asserted that at a time when the UAE was grappling with the challenges posed by the pandemic and lower oil prices, effective efforts taken to maintain a strong and extensive economic foundation ahead of the COVID-19 outbreak helped in its recovery from the crisis.

Both in the Emirates and beyond, businesses expressed concerns about the impact of the COVID-19 crisis and consumer sentiment played a key role in driving the post-pandemic recovery, Mr Jeffreys added

The research also indicated that the UAE's private sector was successful in adapting to the new normal as it benefited from the supportive response of the leadership at the initial stages of the outbreak. The successful response was also driven by the leadership's aim to achieve the goals laid out in the UAE's National Vision 2021 roadmap.

The UAE leadership's early investments in the healthcare facilities helped the sector in overcoming the challenges posed by the pandemic crisis across various indicators, such as doctors, nurses and hospital equipment. The number of hospital beds has significantly increased from 9,000 in 2012 to over 12,000 in 2017.

According to the Ministry of Health and Prevention figures, there were 24,345 doctors in the country in 2019 with 2.53 physicians per 1,000 people. At the same time, in 2018, the UAE had a clinical workforce of 118,121.

Oxford Business Group regional editor Patrick Cooke also noted that the UAE's resilience before the pandemic was strengthened by its sustained efforts to develop an advanced medical ecosystem and diversify its economic infrastructure.

While the UAE robustly responded to the pandemic, there are mixed sentiments among the business community over job security. As per a study conducted by market research company Ipsos in April, it was found that 58 per cent of people in the UAE has concerns about their job security while 32 per cent had said that the COVID-19 crisis posed a severe risk to their business or job.

Another report carried out by American management consulting company McKinsey and Company found out that 61 per cent of Emirati consumers expressed optimism about the UAE's economic recovery from the pandemic in June.

In July, the Oxford Business Group had surveyed 109 chief executives in the region, following which it was found that six out of 10 had hopes that their firms would get back to regular business by September 2020.

At the same time, four in five bosses asserted that the pandemic has indefinitely changed the way communication takes place with their consumers.

According to the report, long-term investment in public and private education infrastructure ensured that schools and universities were equipped with the necessary technology to rapidly shift classes and learning online. UAE schools and colleges moved their classes online in March itself when their closure was announced in line with the efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19.

The report has also projected a rise in demand for part-time learning courses, noting that working professionals are seeking to improve their skills and expertise.

RandaBessiso, Middle East director at the University of Manchester, added that soft skills including creativity, leadership, adaptability and would remain essential in the coming times with the changing diaspora of the business sector. According to her, there can be a surge in creative partnerships between educational institutions, noting that organisations are seeking to add new collective experiences, capabilities, resources and reach.