Dubai to reopen business activities from May 27

Dubai will ease restrictions on personal movement and allow gyms and cinemas to open from Wednesday.

Nightly restrictions will be pushed back from 8pm to 11pm and be lifted at 6am each morning.

Cinemas and gyms will also be allowed to open from Wednesday, May 27, as will entertainment centres including ice rinks.

Non-essential medical services, such as routine trips to the dentist, will also be allowed as of Wednesday.

The announcement was made at a meeting of Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management, chaired by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai.

“Everyone is responsible," Sheikh Hamdan reminded the public, in a news release on Monday night.

He said the government was aware of economic challenges facing countries around the globe.

"What makes us different is our ability to deal positively with changes and our agility," Sheikh Hamdan said.

"We have all the elements necessary to adapt to these challenging circumstances.

"I am confident that all members of the society will come together to overcome this crisis as soon as possible."

Responsibility on the part of the public, and a significantly enhanced medical system, was a key part of opening up the economy, the Dubai government said.

Dubai Government Media Office said a 3,000-bed field hospital at the World Trade Centre and a 1,200-bed centre at Dubai Parks and Resorts were ready to handle cases if needed.

The 29,000 square metre hospital at the theme park was set up with the help of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Abu Dhabi's public health services company Seha.

Sheikh Hamdan was briefed on measures crucial to ensuring that activities could reopen, including physical distancing, wearing face masks, use of sanitisers and prevention of crowding in public places.

Family visits and social gatherings should still be avoided unless they are under strict guidelines.