Over the next two years, the transportation of COVID-19 vaccines will become the biggest airlift in history, according to a senior healthcare official in Abu Dhabi.
Abu Dhabi's Hope Consortium is playing a key distribution role in the global vaccination effort.
Speaking on Dubai Eye's Business Breakfast, Dr Omar Najim, Executive Office Director at the Department of Health Abu Dhabi, said 8 billion doses are expected to be delivered around the world.
Dr Najim explained that the complex logistics involved, and the need to address them within one coalition, were reasons for setting up the alliance.
The Consortium has the capacity to deal with six billion doses and can reach 180 countries.
Dr Najim added that some of the biggest global and regional companies are involved.
He described the approach to the battle against the pandemic that Abu Dhabi has adopted and stressed the need for cooperation on every level.
In addition, Dr Najim said the entities involved in the alliance put it in a good position to be one of the main global and regional logistical hubs.
Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, underlined the need for a long-term diplomatic approach to stability in the region on Saturday, and said some media coverage has misrepresented the country’s position, as tensions with Iran continue to escalate.
Rainfall in various regions of the UAE on Friday reached significant levels due to the unstable weather conditions, with Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman and Al Ain recording the highest accumulations, according to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM).
The United Arab Emirates air defences responded to several missile and drone threats on Saturday morning according to the Ministry of Defence and the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA).
UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan welcomed Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss the security situation in the region, its repercussions on global security and peace, as well as its serious effects on the global economy.