4-minute UAE video on virus goes viral
- 25 Apr 2020
Mariecar Jara-Puyod, Senior Reporter
A four-minute video on how the UAE is managing the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) has taken the social media by storm.
Simply titled “Top 16 Ways the UAE is Fighting COVID-19,” the English video had so far harvested a reach of 483,422, 292,000 views, 861 shares and 171 comments as of 2pm on Apr.25 (Saturday).
The first upload over the Facebook Page of its producer, the Sheikh Mohammed Center for Cultural Understanding (SMCCU)—the “Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Center for Cultural Understanding”—was at 4:36pm on Apr.16 (Thursday).
Anchored by SMCCU presenter Reem Al Hussaini, the video over the SMCCU Instagram account had also garnered 275,000 views as of the afternoon on Apr.25.
SMCCU operates from two traditional wind tower residences within the historical neighbourhood of Al Fahidi in Dubai.
SMCCU director Abdulla Bin Eisa Al Serkal told Gulf Today the 22-year-old non-profit organisation has been “reaching out to UAE expatriate residents and tourists” and sharing with them the norms as well as the traditions of the host country—the Emirati culture—since 1998.
“Our mission is to serve as a catalyst for communication and cultural exchange to create cohesiveness, alleviate misunderstanding and narrow the gaps between expatriates and the UAE nationals, through a professional structured approach.”
Al Serkal said they may still be producing more COVID-19 videos “if there is a need, hoping that others would benefit from the (UAE approaches).”
“Our aim is the health and safety for all. Many reports indicate the UAE was leading internationally in containing the virus. We hope other countries can follow us for the better of the people and the world.”
Among the 171 comments were those from Shakib Ahmad whose first comment has a video of a man carrying the national flag of India as he walks through a field to be followed by the UAE national flag. From Rowena Roque: “We are proud of our daughter who (works as a) nurse in Abu Dhabi. God bless this country.”
From Ellen Sarmiento: “God bless the UAE. Thank you for taking care of your people and all the OFWs (overseas Filipino workers).”
Earlier, the Philippine Overseas Labour Office in Al Qusais, Dubai (POLODXB) resumed on Thursday the acceptance of applications for the one-time Php10,000 ($200/Dhs730) financial help extended to terminated/no work-no pay status overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) as a consequence of the coronavirus pandemic.
