GULF STATES: BUSINESS TIMES.

Byline: S.KAMAL HAYDER KAZMI

HOW ABU DHABI AIRPORTS IS FACILITATING INBOUND, OUTBOUND REPATRIATION FLIGHTS FOR ETIHAD

Abu Dhabi Airports, in partnership with Etihad Airways, is facilitating a significant number of special flights from the UAE capital to 14 destinations, and repatriation flights for UAE nationals and residents to Abu Dhabi from 12 destinations, until May 30. "The health and safety of passengers, staff and stakeholders are our top priority. We are continuing to comply with the directives of the UAE authorities including the Abu Dhabi Government, General Civil Aviation Authority, Department of Health, and Ministry of Health and Prevention in order to implement a comprehensive suite of measures across Abu Dhabi International Airport and facilitate these important flights," Abu Dhabi Airports said in a statement.

"Thermal screening is taking place at passenger and staff entrances and Covid-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing is available for all passengers and employees. We are also conducting regular risk assessments in coordination with Etihad Airways medical teams and enforcing strict social distancing guidelines at all times." Additionally, all workspaces and common areas throughout the airport continue to be sterilised with the support of the recently launched specialised CoDI BOT UGV robots, deployed in partnership with Tawazun Strategic Development Fund and designed to sterilise staff areas, cargo facilities and passenger aircraft cabins. "We will continue to coordinate with the authorities and our industry partners to offer all the support necessary to bolster our collective efforts to protect public health at this critical time," it said.

DUBAI LEADS GCC STOCK MARKET FALL IN EARLY TRADE

The UAE and other GCC stock markets fell on Thursday morning, in line with decline in other global markets. Dubai bourse led the regional fall, losing 1.8 percent to 1,886.5 points in the morning trade. Blue-chip property and banking scrips pushed the Dubai index lower. Emirates NBD lost 2.6 percent, Dubai Islamic Bank dropped 1.5 percent, Emaar Properties sank 2.5 percent and Emaar Development dipped over one percent. Out of 24 traded stocks, only two were trading in positive territory. Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange also lost 0.33 percent to 4,045, led by First Abu Dhabi Bank, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank and Aldar Properties.

FAB on Wednesday announced exposures to global commodities trading firm Phoenix Commodities, which went into liquidation last week. The regional bourses took the cue from the global markets on Thursday. Asian...