With the global threat of the Coronavirus continuing to adversely affect everything in our daily lives, MAGNiTT wanted to keep our readers updated on any developments that may have an impact on them as founders, investors or pertaining to the startup ecosystem. Below you will see updates daily of news that may be relevant to you or your business:
Sunday 5th April:
- UAE curfew and disinfection programme to continue Read more>
- UAE central bank boosts stimulus to Dh256 billion Read more>
Saturday 4th April:
- UAE proposes new start date for Dubai Expo 2020 Read more>
- Gulf Air says transit open again via Bahrain for international travelers Read more>
Friday 3rd April:
- Emirates gets approval to start flying limited number of passenger flights Read more>
- Bahrain starts disinfection programme across governorates Read more>
Thursday 2nd April:
- Dubai Economy launches Price Monitor to track prices of daily essentials Read more>
- Lebanon's coronavirus lockdown piles pressure on flagging currency Read more>
- Egypt ramps up efforts to fight coronavirus Read more>
Wednesday 1st April:
- Saudi Arabia urges Muslims to defer hajj plans Read more>
- Lab capable of testing tens of thousands of samples a day opens in Abu Dhabi Read more>
- Tourists stranded in UAE given fresh hope as embassies arrange flights home Read more>
Tuesday 31st March:
- Careem CEO launches appeal for 500,000 gig workers across Middle East amid crisis Read more>
- What you can’t do in UAE supermarkets Read more>
- Saudi Arabia to treat Coronavirus patients for free Read more>
Monday 30th March:
- Egypt shuts hospitals and isolates villages to slow outbreak Read more>
- Sheikh Mohamed orders COVID-19 test centres to be set up across UAE Read more>
- All your health questions answered Read more>
Sunday 29th March:
- Saudi Arabia and Oman co-operate with US over repatriations Read more>
- Sheikh Mohamed opens mobile Covid-19 test centre in UAE Read more>
- Dubai launches helpline to report 'price hikes' Read more>
- UAE-based hotel offer rooms for medical staff to rest Read more>
Saturday 28th March:
- UAE extends nationwide disinfection campaign for an additional week to curb the coronavirus outbreak Read more>
- More UAE landlords offer three-month rent-free incentives Read more>
Friday 27th March:
- Dubai’s Expo 2020 Could be Delayed Over Coronavirus Read more>
Thursday 26th March:
- Oman to suspend all flights from Sunday as coronavirus total reaches 99 Read more>
- COVID-19 national sterilisation: Movement of people, traffic restricted from Thursday 8pm to Sunday 6am in UAE Read more>
- 80% Dubai private sector employees must work from home Read more>
- All the numbers you can call in the UAE to get help Read more>
Wednesday 25th March:
- Egypt declares night-time curfew to combat outbreak Read more>
- Oman Air to suspend all passenger flight operations due to coronavirus outbreak Read more>
- Bahrain orders forex firms to sterilise banknotes Read more>
- UAE supermarkets and pharmacies allowed to open 24 hours Read more>
Tuesday 24th March:
- Saudi Arabia declares nationwide coronavirus curfew Read more>
- Kuwait to allow flights to repatriate Egyptians Read more>
- Etihad temporarily suspends all services Read more>
- flydubai suspends its operations Read more>
- UAE visitors unable to leave to be allowed to stay legally Read more>
Monday 23rd March:
- UAE government calls upon public to stay home except for absolute necessity Read more>
- UAE suspends all inbound, outbound passenger flights, transit of airline passengers for two weeks Read more>
- UAE closes malls, fresh food markets for 2 weeks Read more>
- Bahrain bans public gatherings of more than 5 Read more>
- Saudi Arabia & Kuwait impose curfew to fight Covid-19 spread Read more>
Sunday 22nd March:
- Saudi Arabia suspends domestic flights, trains buses, taxis for 14 days Read more>
- UAE to suspend distribution of all print media to contain virus spread Read more>
- Dubai Banks to Offer Virus Relief to Companies, Individuals Read more>
Saturday 21st March:
- Dubai's Al-Futtaim sets up Dh100m rent relief fund Read more>
- UAE shuts public & private beaches, swimming pools, public parks, fitness centres and cinemas Read more>
Friday 20th March:
- Kuwait extends suspension of classes over coronavirus Read more>
- UAE allows GCC citizens to enter country Read more>
- Saudi Arabia suspends public travel from March 21 Read more>
- TRA: Free mobile internet for families who have no home internet to enable distance learning Read more>
Thursday 19th March:
- UAE & Oman ease restrictions on internet calls to contain virus Read more>
- Oman halts public transport over outbreak Read more>
- Saudi Arabia to aid global coronavirus fight Read more>
- UAE temporarily suspends issuing work permits Read more>
- UAE to suspend visa on arrival from March 19 Read More>
- Free 24/7 Coronavirus consultations via video and voice calls in the UAE Read More>
- UAE suspends entry of all residents currently overseas Read More>
Wednesday 18th March:
- Saudi Arabia suspends work in private sectors for 15 days Read more>
- Saudi Arabia closes mosques, calls G20 leaders to meet over coronavirus Read More>
- Jordan announces sweeping new measures to combat coronavirus Read More>
- Emirates suspends flights to five more destinations, taking total to 35 Read More>
Tuesday 17th March:
- The UAE calls on citizens abroad to return home Read more>
- 24 airlines are suspending or severely reducing flights as coronavirus-related travel restrictions shake the industry Read More>
- Egypt to shut airports due to coronavirus Read More>
- Oman to close borders to everyone except GCC residents from Tuesday Read More>
Monday 16th March:
- Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi details how authorities are working to protect the economic stability of the Emirates Read more>
- Holders of all types of visit visas who are inside KSA can now extend their stay Read More>
- Emirates has suspended services to 30 destinations across Europe, the US and Asia Read More>
Sunday 15th March:
- UAE and Saudi launch stimulus packages as coronavirus spread continues Read more>
- Morocco halts flights with 25 more countries. Read More>
- Abu Dhabi's Etihad suspends some flights Read More>
Saturday 14th March:
- The UAE has temporarily suspended all flights to and from Lebanon, Turkey, Syria and Iraq as of March 17, 2020, until further notice. Read more>
- Saudi Arabia suspends international flights for two weeks Read more>
Other interesting links:
- Coronavirus Travel Restrictions, Across the Globe Read More>
- Coronavirus — The Black Swan of 2020 Read More>
- Saudi Arabia’s central bank unveils a 50-billion riyal ($13.3 billion) package to support private businesses as the economy grapples with the impact of coronavirus. Read More>
- Emirates flight updates on response to the COVID-19 outbreak Read More>
- Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launches AED1.5 billion economic stimulus package for the next three months to support companies and the business sector in Dubai. Read More>
- While some people have always, or periodically, worked from home (WFH), businesses will cross a new frontier when entire workforces move to a virtual office and work remotely. Read More>
- As of March 17, the UAE has suspended, all visas to all foreigners, with the exception of diplomatic passport holders. Read More>
- In the midst of escalated concerns over the novelty Coronavirus globally, it is time to discuss the consequences this could have on startups in the region and what precautionary measures founders should take. Read More>
- Morocco halts flights with 25 more countries. Read More>
- Saudi authorities have closed schools and restricted travel to Europe to stop the spread of the coronavirus Read More>
- The Central Bank of the UAE rolled out a comprehensive Dh100 billion economic stimulus package on Saturday to offset the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Read More>
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