No one has remained unaffected by the coronavirus – not even the North Pole’s most famous resident.
And with social distancing measures in place, it looks like Santa Claus has his work cut out for him this year.
In light of these developments, one Dubai Santa is going to extra lengths to meet as many boys and girls around the world as he can – even if it's via a screen.
Santa Claus now has Zoom sessions
“The idea to move meetings with the children to Zoom came over the summer,” he explains. “There has just been so much uncertainty this year and, with everything moving online, getting Santa on Zoom just seemed like a natural progression.”
Zoom sessions with children start with a little research, as Santa makes sure to know a little about them before their chat begins – such as their ages, names and hobbies.
“I always tell them they’ve grown a lot since I last saw them – after all, Santa does visit every year!” he says. “I ask them to be more attentive to their parents, not to pick on their siblings. Sometimes I even remind them to keep washing those hands and using hand sanitisers.”
“The idea is to get them engaged and being proactive.”
According to this Santa, requests for Zoom sessions are growing by the day. In the first week of December he got six to 10 requests, whereas there were between 15 and 20 last week. In the week to come, he expects to hold more than 25 Zoom sessions – mostly with children from the UAE but also with those in other parts of the world.
“I try doing them in the mornings so I can leave afternoons free for home calls,” he says.
Changing Santa's gloves after every home visit
That’s right – social-distancing Santa makes home calls as well, though strict guidelines have to be followed.
“For many households, it's doorstep calls only,” he says. “I simply turn up, meet the children while keeping a two-metre distance and leave the gifts by the front door.”
If he is entering the house, more precautions are taken. “The face mask never comes off, there’s two metres of social distancing, and it’s a lucky thing Santa already wears gloves. I change them after every visit to be on the safe side.”
Being Santa is not just about saying 'ho ho ho' and climbing down a chimney. It's about the spirit of Christmas that needs to be upheld
Even visits to Santa’s grotto have changed this year. With close contact to Santa ruled out, and face masks an absolute must, he says one has to go out of their way to “remove the strangeness of the situation” when interacting with the little ones.
“I’m making an appearance at an event next week and one of the suggestions I gave was to put a desk and chair in front of Santa. Children can come, sit down and discuss what toys they want, with the desk providing an adequate barrier.”
According to him, it’s all the more important to keep up traditions this year, which has been fraught with uncertainty.
“Festivals bring people together and this year it’s more poignant because we can’t really be together. So, the question has been trying to find ways to be connected with other people, even if we are physically apart,” he explains.
But what makes all the effort worth it is the look on children’s faces, he says.
“It makes me realise what a huge responsibility this is. Being Santa is not just about saying ‘ho ho ho’ and climbing down a chimney. It’s about the magic and spirit of Christmas that needs to be upheld.”
To book a Zoom session with Santa, visit santaclaus-kd.com
What is dialysis?
Dialysis is a way of cleaning your blood when your kidneys fail and can no longer do the job.
It gets rid of your body's wastes, extra salt and water, and helps to control your blood pressure. The main cause of kidney failure is diabetes and hypertension.
There are two kinds of dialysis — haemodialysis and peritoneal.
In haemodialysis, blood is pumped out of your body to an artificial kidney machine that filter your blood and returns it to your body by tubes.
In peritoneal dialysis, the inside lining of your own belly acts as a natural filter. Wastes are taken out by means of a cleansing fluid which is washed in and out of your belly in cycles.
It isn’t an option for everyone but if eligible, can be done at home by the patient or caregiver. This, as opposed to home haemodialysis, is covered by insurance in the UAE.
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The Penguin
Starring: Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz
Creator: Lauren LeFranc
Rating: 4/5
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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French business
France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.
