Officials of the UAE and the Gulf Countries (GCC) have held a very important emergency meeting on March 4. This meeting was called regarding security and crisis management. In this it was decided how all the countries would face any problem together and how the safety of the general public would be ensured. In view of the recent attacks and tension, this step has been taken so that people get correct information and do not spread panic.
What things were emphasized in the meeting?
Officials from other GCC countries along with UAE participated in this emergency meeting. It was made clear in the meeting that the security of the Gulf countries is interconnected. If there is a threat to any one country, it will be considered a threat to all countries. Apart from this, in view of security in UAE, it is strictly prohibited to take photos or videos of important places (Security Sensitive Locations). Police have warned that action will be taken against those who break the rules. Also, people have been advised to stay in safe buildings and stay away from windows when sirens sound.
What is the impact on school, flights and work?
Keeping security in mind, many big decisions have been taken in UAE which are impacting the common people. Here are some of the main updates:
Schools and Colleges: Online learning (Distance Learning) has been made mandatory in all educational institutions across the UAE from March 2 to 4.
Flights: Around 13,000 flights have been canceled since February 28. Before going to the airport, definitely check the status of your flight.
Stranded passengers: The UAE government will bear the expenses of accommodation and food for the passengers who are stranded due to flight cancellation.
Stock Market: UAE stock markets (ADX, DFM) reopened on March 4, after being closed for two days.
Strong security arrangements and essential services
The UAE Defense Ministry has informed that they have recently destroyed 121 drones and 3 ballistic missiles in the air, which shows how strong the country’s defense system is. The government has also assured that there is no shortage of food and the country has ration for 4 to 6 months. Essential services like electricity, water and internet are running without any interruption. Officials have appealed to the people to trust only government news and avoid rumors spreading on social media.
