UAE allows entry of residents fully vaccinated with WHO-approved vaccines from Nigeria & other restricted countries

This is good news!

The National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (NCEMA) and the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) have announced permitting return of fully vaccinated residents with World Health Organisation-approved vaccines - coming from previously restricted countries, starting from September 12, 2021. The decision covers passengers coming from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Namibia, Zambia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Liberia, South Africa, Nigeria and Afghanistan, the two authorities said in a joint statement today. 

How to apply Arriving passengers must apply via the website of the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA), and complete the vaccination application in order to get the necessary approvals, in addition to presenting the approved vaccination certification upon departure for the UAE.

#NCEMA & ICA: Permitting to return of fully vaccinated with #WHO approved vaccines- holders of valid UAE residence visa coming from the countries previously on the suspended list, starting from 12 September 2021. pic.twitter.com/BgkJ8yT0GX

— NCEMA UAE (@NCEMAUAE) September 10, 2021

A negative PCR test result, done within 48 hours before departure at an approved lab that has a QR code, must also be presented before departure. 

They must also undertake a rapid PCR test before boarding and another PCR test on the fourth and eighth day of arrival while complying with all precautionary measures in place, are also required. Children under 16 years old are exempt from these procedures. 

Those who are fully vaccinated with any WHO-approved vaccine and who have been staying in one of the countries on the suspended list for more than six months - since the travel suspension decision was issued - for each country, can return to the UAE under a new entry permit, and rectify their status after entry. 

 All other previously announced precautionary measures for unvaccinated people coming from those countries remain in place.

Photos: Lionel Messi breaks Pele's South American goal record

Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick in Argentina's World Cup qualifier 3-0 win.

Messi became the top international goal scorer in South American history with a hat-trick in Argentina's World Cup qualifier on Thursday, overtaking Brazil's Pele. 

The 34-year-old netted all the goals at Argentina's 3-0 win against Bolivia in World Cup qualifying, and now has 79 for the national team. 

Messi recorded his tally in 153 caps for Argentina, while Pele netted his 77 in 92 official matches for Brazil. Messi couldn't hold back his tears as he celebrated Argentina's Copa America win after the game.

Video of the day. Leo Messi crying tears of joy after finally celebrating Copa America with Argentinian people. 🇦🇷🏆 #Messi

…and yes, it’s even more beautiful than his great hattrick scored tonight, becoming best South American scorer in history.pic.twitter.com/28Hbl7LBEZ

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 10, 2021

 

Photos: And we now have a Special Expo 2020 Dubai Passport

A special Expo 2020 Dubai passport will help visitors 'travel' around the world and explore over 200 participating pavilions.

Priced at Dh20, the passport is now available for purchase. The mega event will begin its six-month run in just over 20 days. The passport will help visitors see as many pavilions as possible during the 182-day event. It will allow them to look back and relive the memories of their experiences. 

The special passport was first launched at the 1967 World Expo in Montreal. 

Since then, it has become one of the most popular Expo souvenirs for visitors as it gets a stamp from every pavilion they visit. 

“The Expo 2020 version (of the passport) is inspired by the UAE’s heritage, linking the past with the present. Shaped like an official passport, the 50-page booklet contains designs and pictures of the three Thematic Pavilions (Mission Possible – The Opportunity Pavilion, Alif – The Mobility Pavilion and Terra – The Sustainability Pavilion), as well as Al Wasl Plaza – the crown jewel of the Expo site – plus other Dubai landmarks, such as the city’s iconic skyline, and other elements relating to the UAE,” the Expo team said on Thursday. 

The yellow, customisable passport also comes with its own enhanced security features: A unique number, an area to include a passport-sized photo, personal details and hidden watermarked images on each of its pages, ensuring that no two documents are alike. 

With the UAE celebrating its Year of the 50th, the passport pays homage to the nation’s founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. It contains a special page stamped in gold foil, and a photograph dating from 1971, when the UAE celebrated the birth of the nation. On December 2, visitors to the Expo will also receive an exclusive stamp in commemoration of the UAE’s 50th anniversary. 

Running from October 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022, Expo 2020 will unite more than 200 participants, including 191 countries, as well as businesses, multilateral organisations and educational institutions. The most diverse World Expo ever will invite millions of visitors from across the planet to join the making of a new world during a six-month celebration of human ingenuity, innovation, progress and culture. 

Expo 2020 Dubai tickets to go on sale at Zoom stores otherwise you can purchase it HERE AND NOW! 

Photos: Pamela Uba, An African wins Miss Ireland, the first black woman to be crowned in 74 years!

From Africa with love!

A frontline worker has become the first black woman to be crowned Miss Ireland in the competition's 74-year history. 

Medical scientist and part-time model Pamela Uba, from Galway, came to Ireland as an asylum seeker from Johannesburg, in South Africa, when she was aged just seven. 

The eldest of six siblings, she grew up in direct provision - a system of asylum seeker accommodation used in Ireland - and is now a 'very proud' Irish citizen. She was crowned the winner of the beauty pageant - which has been running since 1947 - in an outdoor ceremony in Cavan on Sunday night, reported The Irish Times. 

But sadly, she has already been trolled over her historic win and took to her Instagram stories yesterday to hit back at 'hurt people trying to hurt people' - after admitting: 'It's sad to say I did expect this type of behaviour'. Speaking about her win, she said: 'It means so much to me. I am so grateful I can show girls that colour is not something that holds you back and it doesn't matter where you come from, the world is your oyster.' 

Pamela worked on the frontline during the pandemic at Galway University Hospital, observing the inflammatory process in Covid-19 patients to determine how serious the infection was for each person.

She's pretty! 

Congratulations to her, South Africa and Ireland!!

Swedish pop group ABBA releases #Voyage, their first album in 40 years!

Great news for ABBA fans like Toyeen B and family!

ABBA star Benny Andersson's son Ludvig has revealed that the band didn't show 'any nerves' during the first recordings for their new album Voyage, with the project quickly 'snowballing' as soon as they reunited. The band made up of Agnetha Fältskog, 71, Björn Ulvaeus, 76, Benny, 74, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, 75, are releasing their first new songs for 40 years in the form of a studio album and will play a 'greatest hits' tour as digital characters. 

In a new interview Ludvig, 39, - who will help produce the upcoming shows - said that 'it was as if they'd just walked out the door from 1979' when they reunited following their four-decade-long hiatus. Speaking alongside fellow show producer Svana Gisla about the first recordings, the pair told The Mirror: 'They were just incredible... 'They were doing it for themselves, because they thought that if they didn't like it at the end of the day, they wouldn't play it to anyone. 'I didn't see any nerves. 

It was as if they had just walked out the door from 1979 and back in 40 years later.' Ludvig added of their shock reunion: 'There was never a moment where they actually said, "Okay, we're never doing this again."'

Photos: Heard of UAE's new 'green visa' & freelance visa? SUPER!!

This is so welcoming!

Students aged 15 and above will soon be allowed to work in the UAE under a temporary visa scheme. This came as Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE's Minister of State for Foreign Trade, spoke to reporters on the sidelines of the UAE Projects of 50 event, which was held to announce the first set of plans under the initiative. 

The new provision for students will allow them to gain some experience, while adding value to the UAE economy. 

Earlier, the minister also announced the launch of a 'green visa' and a freelance visa. 

Green visas are work permits with residency for pioneers, entrepreneurs and other professionals. 

Freelance visa will help people work independently. 

Green visa holders can sponsor their sons' visas till they turn 25. 

Usually, sons can be sponsored only till they turn 18. Green visa holders can also sponsor their parents. 

This came as ministers and top officials got together in Dubai to announce the first set of 50 new projects that will usher in the next phase of growth for the country.

4 African countries to receive donated COVID-19 vaccine doses from the United States

Four African countries will receive a combined 1.2 million vaccine doses from the United States.

Vaccines were shipped to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Guinea and Seychelles on Friday, a White House official confirmed to Reuters. The doses are being donated through COVAX, a program run by the World Health Organization to help create a more equitable distribution of Covid vaccines. 

Africa has lagged sharply behind other regions in vaccinating its citizens, with most countries reporting single-digit vaccination rates, compared with much higher double-digit rates in advanced economies such as the United States.

Another African nation, Rwanda, received 500,000 doses from the United States earlier this summer as well.