UAE sees tenfold jump in COVID infections since Omicron detection
Coronavirus infections have started rising again across the six Gulf Arab states after months as the Omicron variant spreads across the world.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has seen a particularly sharp increase in COVID-19 infections with 1,002 cases of coronavirus recorded on December 23 up from 68 on December 2.
The resurgence comes as the UAE is welcoming millions of visitors to the Expo 2020 Dubai world fair and other seasonal events.
UAE government employees have been ordered to take PCR tests in Abu Dhabi, where authorities have started using scanners to check people entering the emirate by road.
Oman, Qatar and Bahrain have also reported mild uptick in cases. Kuwait reported 143 new cases on Wednesday, its highest daily count since August.