Dubai Health Authority (DHA) is the entity regulating the healthcare sector in the Emirate of Dubai, ensuring high quality and
safe healthcare services delivery to the population. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic
on the 11th of March 2020, indicating to the world that further infection spread is very likely, and alerting countries that they
should be ready for possible widespread community transmission. The first case of COVID-19 in the United Arab Emirates
was confirmed on 29th of January 2020; since then, the number of cases has continued to grow exponentially. As of 8th of July
2020 (end of the day), 53,045 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed with a death toll of 327 cases. The UAE has conducted
over 3,720,000 COVID-19 tests among UAE citizens and residents over the past four months, in line with the government’s
plans to strengthen virus screening to contain the spread of COVID-19. There were vital UAE policies, laws, regulations, and
decrees that have been announced for immediate implementation to limit the spread of COVID- 19, to prevent panic and
to ensure the overall food, nutrition, and well-being are provided. The UAE is amongst the World’s Top 10 for COVID-19
Treatment Efficiency and in the World’s Top 20 for the implementation of COVID-19 Safety measures. The UAE’s mission
is to work towards resuming life after COVID-19 and enter into the recovery phases. This policy research paper will discuss
the Dubai Health Authority’s rapid response initiatives towards combating the control and spread of COVID-19 and future
policy implications and recommendations. The underlying factors and policy options will be discussed in terms of governance,
finance, and delivery.
