The UAE's COVID-19 vaccine trial is expanding to Bahrain, where a new centre has opened to receive volunteers.
Abu Dhabi-based G42 Healthcare said it's looking for up to 6,000 participants for the testing programme in Bahrain.
This is an extension of the ongoing 4Humanity campaign which already has a volunteer centre in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
The trials in Bahrain will be carried out using the same vaccine from Chinese drugmaker Sinopharm.
G42 Healthcare's CEO Ashish Koshy said: "There has been a hugely enthusiastic response from the Ministry of Health and other public health bodies in Bahrain to work with us on the trials and to encourage their communities to volunteer in the trials."
"The expansion will also help to boost the overall numbers of people participating in the test to enable similar numbers to other international trials underway in nations with much larger populations," he added.
The trials began in Abu Dhabi on July 16 and are being managed by G42 Healthcare in partnership with the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi, the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) and Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA).
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has completed major traffic expansion works on Al Warqa’a 1 Street, stretching seven kilometres between Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road and Ras Al Khor Road.
The UAE Government has approved a comprehensive package of updated federal laws aimed at strengthening agricultural and veterinary quarantine systems, protecting new plant varieties, and regulating the international trade in endangered animals and plants.
Dubai Police have praised the exceptional contribution of volunteers who supported crowd management and organisation during the New Year’s Eve celebrations, describing their efforts as vital to the safe and smooth running of one of the city’s largest annual events.
The UAE and the African Union Commission (AUC) have called for an immediate humanitarian truce and permanent ceasefire in Sudan, along with unhindered aid access and the formation of an independent civilian-led government.