I was working in Abu Dhabi in March, when COVID-19 began spreading in the United Arab Emirates. Even before the cases hit the hundreds, the combination of both my workplace and the country’s policies resulted in a work from home order. Like many of us, I naïvely assumed it was going to be a temporary situation, for a month at worst. 

This peace of mind took a turn when the Emirate of Abu Dhabi imposed two stricter COVID-19 regulations: all planes were grounded and a mandatory curfew was instated. The curfew was imposed from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., except for emergencies or for people with government permits. Movement during the day was restricted as well. Strict regulations were enforced in public, and most places, except essential places such as hospitals and supermarkets, were closed. 

My only outings were to buy groceries twice a month, a swift affair because of both COVID-19 paranoia and the discomfort of wearing a mask and gloves – a sentiment shared by many.

The curfew was extended to 10 p.m. during Ramadan before it ended on June 25. When it was lifted, online forums went wild. It was as if the whole Emirate let out a big sigh of relief. Since then, public places have slowly reopened while observing strict COVID-19 protocols. 

One thing that hasn’t really changed is the Abu Dhabi “lockdown”. Since June 2, no one has been allowed to go in or out of Abu Dhabi without a permit. Eventually, the rules softened, requiring only a negative COVID-19 test upon entering Abu Dhabi. The most recent revision requires three COVID-19 tests: one on the border, one on the fourth day in the city and one on the eighth day.

Eight months into the pandemic, I’ve had the luxury of learning from and living in a reality that benefits from strong top-down governance. Consistency and clarity truly are key. The government of the Abu Dhabi opted for a swift approach and has taken the pandemic seriously since the very beginning. Not once was there a statement that undermined virus containment efforts. Statements from leaders of the Emirate have been firm yet comforting. 

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