Business Continuity at Afridi & Angell

30 April 2020

On 24 April 2020 the Government of Dubai implemented a partial lifting of the COVID-19 lockdown which included, among others, the reopening of businesses and commercial centres. During this phased implementation of easing and lifting of lockdown, specific guidelines must be followed by businesses including operating at 30 percent of the overall office headcount capacity at any time.

I am happy to let you know that our Emirates Towers office in Dubai has re-opened. Our opening hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with a staffed reception desk.

Our staff and clients’ safety and health concerns will always be our top priority. We are encouraging our staff to continue to work remotely from home unless it is absolutely necessary to be in the office. We also continue to conduct client meetings through tele and video-conferencing.

However, whether working from home or the office, it is business as usual at Afridi & Angell and we are at your disposal to assist with any concerns that you may have.

If you have any questions, please do hesitate to contact me directly.

I wish you well and hope to see you soon.   

Bashir Ahmed
Managing Partner

Recent Afridi & Angell inBriefs and Updates on COVID-19

• Revised measures in response to COVID-19: sterilisation and opening timings and an updated list of violations and fines, Afridi & Angell inBrief, 20 May 2020
• DMCC Employment Guidelines during the COVID-19 Precautionary Measures Period, Afridi & Angell inBrief, 15 May 2020
• New measures implemented by the UAE authorities in response to COVID-19, Afridi & Angell inBrief, 7 May 2020
• New measures implemented by the UAE authorities in response to COVID-19, Afridi & Angell inBrief, 1 May 2020
• Employment measures for Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) employers during COVID-19, Afridi & Angell inBrief, 28 April 2020
• New measures implemented by the UAE authorities in response to COVID-19, Afridi & Angell inBrief, 26 April 2020
• Operating guidelines for businesses following the easing and lifting of COVID-19 lockdowns, Afridi & Angell Legal Alert, 23 April 2020
• Lex Mundi Global COVID-19 Government Support Measures, 21 April 2020
• COVID-19: Is it an event of force majeure under UAE law?, Afridi & Angell inBrief, 19 April 2020
• New measures implemented by the UAE authorities in response to COVID-19, Afridi & Angell inBrief, 18 April 2020
• New cost relief measures implemented by UAE authorities in response to COVID-19, Afridi & Angell inBrief, 16 April 2020
• New measures implemented by the UAE authorities in response to COVID-19, Afridi & Angell inBrief, 14 April 2020
• Electronic signatures in the UAE: what you need to know, Afridi & Angell inBrief, 13 April 2020
• Measures implemented by the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) in response to COVID-19, Afridi & Angell inBrief, 11 April 2020
• New measures implemented by the UAE authorities in response to COVID-19, Afridi & Angell inBrief, 8 April 2020
• New measures implemented by the UAE authorities in response to COVID-19, Afridi & Angell inBrief, 7 April 2020
• Ministerial Resolution No. 281 of 2020 – Testing of employees, Afridi & Angell Legal Alert, 6 April 2020
• New measures implemented by the UAE authorities in response to COVID-19, Afridi & Angell inBrief, 6 April 2020
• Further measures implemented by the UAE authorities in response to COVID-19, Afridi & Angell inBrief, 3 April 2020
• Relief for employers during Covid-19 epidemic, Afridi & Angell inBrief, 1 April 2020
• Compliance with official measures to combat COVID-19 made mandatory, Afridi & Angell Legal Alert, 29 March 2020
• Further measures announced by the UAE authorities in response to COVID-19, Afridi & Angell Legal Alert, 19 March 2020 
• Recent measures implemented by the UAE authorities in response to COVID-19, Afridi & Angell inBrief, 18 March 2020 

Useful Links

• Government of Dubai Media Office (Twitter page as it will include the most recent updates): https://twitter.com/DXBMediaOffice

Preventive Guidelines

• UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOH): https://www.mohap.gov.ae/en/AwarenessCenter/Pages/COVID-19.aspx for the most recent updates please see the Twitter page: https://twitter.com/mohapuae
• World Health Organisation (WHO): https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus#tab=tab_1 and for the most recent updates: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

Restrictions or Temporary Suspension on Businesses

• Dubai Municipality: https://www.dm.gov.ae/en/Business/HealthAndPublicSafety/Pages/default.aspx and for the most recent updates please see the Twitter page: https://twitter.com/DMunicipality?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

Restriction on Travel / Transportation 

• UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MOFA): https://www.mofaic.gov.ae/en/Warnings
• Dubai and Abu Dhabi International Airport: https://www.abudhabiairport.ae/en/Announcement (Abu Dhabi) and https://www.dubaiairports.ae/alert/latest-covid-19-update (Dubai)
• Emirates: https://www.emirates.com/ae/english/help/travel-updates/#3515

Distance Learning

Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA): https://www.khda.gov.ae/en/safetyatschools