Dubai suffers record spike in Coronavirus cases across UAE pausing entertainment and leisure activities

Dubai has officially ordered the temporary halt of their entertainment and leisure activities.

Hotels and restaurants have been temporarily paused because of a record surge in Coronavirus cases, the largest figure in the UAE.

While infections have spiked, deaths remain low in a country made up largely of working-age expatriates. The country has reported about 264,000 infections and 762 deaths so far.

Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing have called for this change to commence from January 21st until further notice after inspections showed “an increase in a number of violations,” it said in a circular.

As well as this, the city's health authority has asked to suspend “all elective therapeutic surgeries that require deep sedation or general anaesthesia." This order aiming to ensure that they have enough medical facilities to deal with any further potential surges in case numbers.

The United Arab Emirates have been battling steadily rising cases this winter, particularly since it has made such an appealing getaway for many.

Dubai's infamous travel corridor with British holidaymakers and influencers was shut earlier this month, on January 12th.