Dubai transforms World Trade Centre into COVID-19 hospital

The Dubai World Trade Center is located in the heart of the city near Burj Khalifa and Sheikh Zayed Road. (File/AFP)

• The Government of Dubai chose the location due to its readily available spacious halls
• The hospital will have a maximum capacity of 3,030 beds

DUBAI: Dubai authorities are working on turning the World Trade Centre into a field hospital to boost readiness for an escalation in the coronavirus, state news agency WAM reported on Wednesday.
The Government of Dubai chose the location due to its readily available spacious halls, while the emirate’s health authorities will provide the necessary medical equipment and expertise.
The Dubai World Trade Center is located in the heart of the city near Burj Khalifa and Sheikh Zayed Road which runs through the full length of the city, from its boarder with Abu Dubai in the south, to Sharjah in the north.
The hospital will have a maximum capacity of 3,030 beds, Dubai Health Authority’s Director General Humaid Al-Qutami said.
Meanwhile, the Dubai airline, Emirates, is starting on-site coronavirus tests for passengers traveling to destinations where COVID-19 certificates are required.
Passengers departing to Tunisia on Wednesday were the first customers to receive the tests which took 10 minutes to show results.
The UAE has recorded 5,365 people infected with coronavirus, 1,034 recoveries and 33 fatalities.