TRENDS Research and Advisory Center has released the third issue of the Strategic Trends Series, titled “The UAE and the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Model in Crisis Management and Achieving Sustainable Recovery, written by Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS.
The first section of the study states that the UAE has become a model in the management of the Covid-19 crisis and the mitigation of its repercussions. The UAE followed a proactive approach and applied gradual measures as the situation changed. At the same time, it evaluated all international efforts and practices and used lessons learned to help determine the best course of action to take. As such, the UAE has dealt efficiently with all aspects of the crisis, especially in terms of protection, prevention, economy, international cooperation, and media. It also promoted community awareness of the dangers of the pandemic and the need to adhere to precautionary measures to prevent its spread.
The second section of the study dealt with the measures taken by the UAE in its comprehensive response to the Covid-19 pandemic. This response included taking preventive and precautionary measures to protect the community and vaccinating the population to achieve immunity. The UAE also took measures to deal with the economic consequences of the crisis. These included providing incentives and facilities to support the banking sector and enable it to continue its lending and financing operations, thereby helping maintain monetary and financial stability. The charges imposed on the tourism and hospitality sectors were also reduced, along with many other measures aimed at supporting the economy and mitigating the negative effects of the pandemic on companies and individuals. Furthermore, the UAE provided health and medical aid to many countries worldwide to help them deal with the repercussions of the pandemic.
The study noted that the UAE was the main channel for the logistical operations of international organizations whose strategic warehouses are located in the International Humanitarian City (IHC) in Dubai. The IHC is a leading responder to global crises, especially in terms of Covid-related aid. The volume of aid sent by the World Health Organization through its warehouses at IHC to affected countries account for more than 80% of the volume of the international response. The UAE has also entered the global race to develop medicines and vaccines to treat and prevent Covid-19, and has made significant scientific achievements in this regard.
The third section of the study looked at the experience of the UAE in its management of sustainable recovery from Covid-19, noting that the UAE was among the first countries in the world to recover from the repercussions of Covid-19. It took several important measures, including the adoption of remote working and the provision of government services online to keep pace with the emerging challenges and new realities created by the pandemic, as well as the implementation of precautionary and preventive measures aimed at protecting the community, and the development of a crisis management system to ensure a rapid response to potential adverse developments in relation to the pandemic.
The study concluded that through its management of the Covid-19 crisis, the UAE has proven to be a role model in containing the effects of crises and emergencies on both domestic and external fronts. Domestically, it took preventive steps and precautionary measures that strengthened health and food security for its population. At the external level, the UAE has proven to be an active contributor to international efforts aimed at confronting the pandemic. This is a reflection of its moral responsibility, based on the belief that international cooperation and solidarity are key for facing such crises that represent a threat to all humanity.
