The United Arab Emirates has swung open its doors to visitors betting that the blistering pace of its coronavirus vaccine rollout means it can keep infections in check while giving its economy a shot in the arm. The UAE case rate is still well below Britain with 574 per million, one of Europe's worst hit countries and now in lockdown, but far higher than its neighbours Saudi Arabia with 7 per million or Oman with 33 per million, even as the UAE boasts the second highest level of vaccinations to population on the planet. The UAE has avoided imposing a new lockdown, while some countries in Europe and elsewhere are on a second or third wave of tough restrictions.
ANALYSIS-Surging cases strain UAE s open for business COVID strategy Reuters 1/21/2021 Daily infections tripled in the past month Dubai s open economy hurt by global virus restrictions
By Lisa Barrington
DUBAI, Jan 21 (Reuters) - The United Arab Emirates has swung open its doors to visitors betting that the blistering pace of its coronavirus vaccine rollout means it can keep infections in check while giving its economy a shot in the arm.
But strains on the strategy have started to show.
New daily cases in the Gulf state of about 9 million people tripled in the past month to about 354 per million this week, according to Oxford University s Our World in Data research programme.