UAE confirms 1,234 new COVID-19 cases, 1 death

Tourists get a medical screening upon arrival at Terminal 3 at Dubai airport, in the UAE. (File/AFP)
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Updated 03 November 2020
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UAE confirms 1,234 new COVID-19 cases, 1 death

  • 5 UAE scientists get 2.5m dirhams grant for COVID-19 research
  • Kuwait records 759 cases and 4 deaths

DUBAI: The UAE on Monday recorded 1,234 new COVID-19 cases and one death.
The Ministry of Health and Prevention said the total number of cases since the pandemic began has reached 135,141, with the death toll at 497.
The ministry added that 1,516 people recovered over the previous 24 hours, bringing the total number of recoveries to 132,024.
Dubai’s economic authority said for the second consecutive day, no establishments were closed and no fines or warnings issued regarding adherence to anti-COVID-19 measures.
Meanwhile, the Mohammed bin Rashid Medical Research Institute of the Al-Jalila Foundation awarded 2.5 million dirhams ($680,652) in financial grants to five Emirati medical researchers in support of COVID-19 research and to help enhance the UAE’s capacity to address this and other viral diseases.

The grants in the fields of genetics, therapies and diagnostics are the first of their kind to be offered through the foundation, a member of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum Global Initiatives, a charitable institution dedicated to improving the lives of individuals through education and research in the medical field.
“At a time when the world is racing against time to find solutions for eradicating the virus, well-funded research efforts are critical to mitigate current and future health and economic challenges,” said Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, chairman of the board of trustees of the Al-Jalila Foundation.
In the emirate of Ajman, the Crisis, Disaster and Emergency Team announced that it is relaxing a ban on weddings and other social events in hotels, halls and houses from Nov. 1.

It is permitting up to 200 people in hotels and halls, and a maximum of 50 people in homes, but social distancing measures and other preventive guidelines must be implemented.
Elsewhere, Kuwait recorded 759 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total to 127,293. The death toll reached 786 after four new fatalities were registered.

Oman’s Health Ministry said the total number of cases had reached 116,152, with the death toll at 1,256.

In Bahrain, one death was reported, bringing the death toll to 322, while 210 new infected cases were confirmed.


UN chief condemns Israeli law blocking electricity, water for UNRWA facilities

Updated 01 January 2026
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UN chief condemns Israeli law blocking electricity, water for UNRWA facilities

  • The agency provides education, health and aid to millions of Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres condemned on Wednesday a move by Israel to ban electricity or water to facilities owned by the UN Palestinian refugee agency, ​a UN spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said the move would “further impede” the agency’s ability to operate and carry out activities.
“The Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations remains applicable to UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East), its property and assets, and to its officials and other personnel. Property used ‌by UNRWA ‌is inviolable,” Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the ‌secretary-general, ⁠said ​while ‌adding that UNRWA is an “integral” part of the world body.
UNRWA Commissioner General Phillipe Lazzarini also condemned the move, saying that it was part of an ongoing “ systematic campaign to discredit  UNRWA and thereby obstruct” the role it plays in providing assistance to Palestinian refugees.
In 2024, the Israeli parliament passed a law banning the agency from operating in ⁠the country and prohibiting officials from having contact with the agency.
As a ‌result, UNRWA operates in East Jerusalem, ‍which the UN considers territory occupied ‍by Israel. Israel considers all Jerusalem to be part ‍of the country.
The agency provides education, health and aid to millions of Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. It has long had tense relations with Israel but ties have deteriorated ​sharply since the start of the war in Gaza and Israel has called repeatedly for UNRWA to ⁠be disbanded, with its responsibilities transferred to other UN agencies.
The prohibition of basic utilities to the UN agency came as Israel also suspended of dozens of international non-governmental organizations working in Gaza due to a failure to meet new rules to vet those groups.
In a joint statement, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom said on Tuesday such a move would have a severe impact on the access of essential services, including health care. They said one in ‌three health care facilities in Gaza would close if international NGO operations stopped.