This archive report was first published on 24 May 2020.
On May 24, 2020, Dubai, UAE, was at the forefront of the fight against the novel coronavirus, leveraging its technological and scientific capabilities to shape its approach to the pandemic.
The COVID-19 Command and Control Centre, established by Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, serves as the hub for coordinating the efforts of Dubai's doctors, epidemiologists, and other professionals.
Located within the Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU) in Dubai's Healthcare City, the centre is equipped with state-of-the-art hospitals, labs, and research centres.
According to Amer Sharif, head of the multidisciplinary centre, Dubai's solid digital infrastructure has contributed significantly to the fight against the coronavirus.
"For several years, Dubai has endeavoured to put in place solid digital infrastructure, and this has contributed to the fight against the coronavirus," Sharif said.
The centre includes a scientific team led by Alawi Alsheikh-Ali, whose role is to stay abreast of the latest advances in research and scientific evidence, both in the country and elsewhere in the world.
"Data and science" are the cornerstones of Dubai's approach to the pandemic, with the emirate having carried out over 1.6 million coronavirus tests and officially declaring over 28,700 infections, including 244 deaths.
Tom Loney, associate professor of public health and epidemiology at MBRU, noted that the coronavirus presented an opportunity for Dubai to put its capabilities to the test.
"It's the ability to react, to make quick decisions based on data and science that sets Dubai apart," Loney said.
With its diversified economy and technological ambitions, Dubai is one of the seven emirates in the UAE, a key Gulf state with big ambitions.
The emirate lacks the oil wealth of its neighbours but has built a reputation as a financial, commercial, and tourism hub.
Many tech options were already at Dubai's fingertips when the pandemic struck, and the emirate was quick to put its technology to a variety of uses during the virus crisis.
Police wear smart helmets that take the temperature of passers-by while laboratories make protective masks using 3D printers.
Residents receive reminder messages on their mobile phones in Arabic, English, or other languages when a night-time curfew begins.
The UAE has regularly announced research advances into the COVID-19 illness, developing several apps to help manage the pandemic, including Alhosn, which helps track people who are infected with the virus or who may have come in close contact with confirmed cases.
However, the use of technology to fight the pandemic has raised concern across the world over government surveillance and privacy risks.
Sharif pushed back against scepticism, stating that Dubai and the Emirates respect privacy, whether it is a question of patient records or smart applications.
The emirate is creating its "own model" of responding to the health crisis, though authorities are also looking at countries such as South Korea, seen as a positive policy response to the crisis.
