Since the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak in the UAE, relevant authorities have implemented a large number of precautionary measures and safety protocols with the aim of containing the virus. Notably, the precautionary and preventive measures introduced by the UAE leadership while hosting several events this year and its strategic agenda for the upcoming Expo 2020 Dubai reflect its post-Coronavirus reality.

The UAE implemented several measures to curtail the spread of the virus and accelerate the process of post-pandemic recovery, despite dire circumstances witnessed by many countries across the world. The precautionary measures adopted by the UAE leadership helped the country in identifying potential ways to return to normalcy in several key sectors.

The UAE is experiencing positive outcomes of the proactive response it took against the pandemic, including expanding the scope of beneficiaries of its nationwide vaccination campaign. As of now, the country has vaccinated 78.11 percent of all eligible people and conducted more than 49 million COVID-19 tests across various regions.

The various health and organisational protocols enforced by the UAE authorities covered key sectors including education, health, aviation, and hospitality. The safety restrictions earned global confidence and enhanced the UAE's ability to host major international events in the country. UAE's leading tourism stature in the world contributed to making the country a favourite destination for organising major events across various events.

The UAE hosted several global economic, sports, cultural and artistic events with the flexibility of its visa and residence procedures making the country a preferred destination for a large number of international celebrities.

In the first few months of 2021, the UAE organised many important events such as the International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) and the Naval Defence and Maritime Security Exhibition (NAVDEX), the Gulfood exhibition, Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, and the UAE Tour.

International centres across the country specialise in hosting leading events, including Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) and Expo Sharjah Centre. During these months, they have played a paramount role in strengthening the UAE's capacity to host international events throughout the year.

In March 2021, the UAE ranked first in the Arab region and 11th globally in the Bloomberg index of the most resilient countries that efficiently handled the COVID-19 pandemic by achieving 66.4 points.

The COVID-19 Resilience Ranking utilises a wide range of data and information to understand the management of the pandemic across countries, with the least economic and social disruption from testing and mortality rates to freedom of movement and ease of access to vaccines.

The UAE achieved these leading positions due to its timely management of the health crisis and implementation of strict protocols since the start of the pandemic. It helped in effectively countering the spread of the virus and ensuring minimal disruption of business and social activities in the country. The death rate due to COVID-19 also remained among the lowest in the world. 

WAM