DUBAI: Dubai Airports are ready to resume scheduled flights and transits with renewed safety measures to curb the spread of coronavirus, state news agency WAM reported.
Dubai Airports are an important hub for transits and have been prepared to work seamlessly while also taking into consideration the health and safety of passengers, Deputy CEO Jamal Al-Hai said.
A number of restaurants, cafes and shops will now be available for travelers, he added.
The facilities have been equipped with protective glass at arrival registration and passport controls, body-heat detectors, signs for social distancing and increased disinfection, Al-Hai said.
But reviving the travel industry to pre-coronavirus levels will take some time and will be based on finding a radical solution, he added.
Dubai has recently announced further easing of restrictions, such as opening gyms, entertainment destinations and cinemas following new regulations to protect consumers from the disease.
Business are also now allowed to operate for longer hours allowing free movement from 6 a.m. until 11 p.m.
Dubai Airports confirm readiness to resume scheduled, transit flights
https://arab.news/4yspf
Dubai Airports confirm readiness to resume scheduled, transit flights
- A number of restaurants, cafes and shops will now be available for travelers
- Dubai Airports are an important hub for transits
Hallelujah! This Christmas, join us as we wish for peace across the region
RIYADH: In continuing with a tradition that began in December 2022, Arab News extends a heartfelt Merry Christmas to our Christian readers and all who celebrate. This year’s special edition spotlights Christmas across the Middle East, emphasizing interfaith harmony, resilience and cultural integration. All wrapped with a special, and sincere, message of hope that we see peace spreading across the region in 2026.
Leading our coverage is an exclusive column from renowned scholar Dr. Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, secretary-general of the Muslim World League and president of the Organization of Muslim Scholars. His message clarifies a vital principle: “There is no Shariah text that prohibits congratulating non-Muslims on their religious holidays, including Christmas.” He frames this goodwill not as a dilution of faith, but as its strength; one that affirms human dignity and fosters the social harmony desperately needed today.
This theme of solidarity amid suffering is echoed from Bethlehem, where Palestinian pastor Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac explains that Palestinian Christianity is inseparable from national identity. In response to Gaza’s devastation, his congregation erected a nativity scene from rubble, the infant Jesus wrapped in a keffiyeh. “It was a message of faith,” he states. “Christ stands in solidarity with the suffering ... because he was born into suffering.”
From this depth emerges stories of renewal. In Damascus, festive lights return as Syrians of all faiths embrace a fragile peace. In Lebanon, celebrations pierce through political gloom with moments of joy. Jordan’s public spaces glow with trees and Fairouz’s Christmas hymns, while the UAE’s multicultural diaspora erupts in bustling, festive unity.
The historical and intellectual depth of the region’s Christian heritage is underscored by Dr. Abdellatif El-Menawy, who notes Egypt’s indispensable role in shaping Christianity from a spiritual message into a civilization. This legacy of deep-rooted faith finds vibrant, modern expression.
Here in Saudi Arabia, the festive season is acknowledged with innovative hospitality, as chefs reimagine Christmas menus through a lens of local flavors and creative culinary identity.
This special edition paints a picture far richer than simple seasonal cheer. It reveals a Middle East where different faiths deepen their own roots by extending respect to others, where celebrations are woven with threads of historical endurance, and where the message of Christmas — one of hope, peace and shared humanity — resonates with cheer and confidence.
