As Dubai eases lockdown restrictions in phases, the emirate is confident of a full recovery but a top official says the economic model will be very different to the one in pre-coronavirus times.
Sami Al Qamzi, director general of the Department of Economic Development, said the authorities were adapting to limit the fallout from the health crisis.
“The situation will not go back to what it was. The economic model will take a different shape," Mr Al Qamzi said.
"The quick response to finding solutions is key and we will modify our strategies to meet the needs of the coming period."
He said that while programmes had already been announced to help the private sector in the country, the government was exploring more incentives and schemes for businesses.
“We have to keep jobs and it's important that companies continue to operate in Dubai,” Mr Al Qamzi said.
He said the emirate was known for its flexibility and resilience, and investors would remember these attributes when making future investment decisions.
“Investments will depend on how Dubai faced the problems and how it worked with retailers and traders. These measures will reinforce their trust in us,” Mr Al Qamzi said.
“We will be able to put a plan post-corona. We will modify our strategy."
He said the emirate dealt with the crisis in stages.
“Initially, we focused on keeping a lid on prices," Mr Al Qamzi said.
"We warned retailers not to hike the prices of food and essential items, including sanitisers.
"We monitor the markets and have put a cap on prices. Customers can report offences.
“We also focused on precautionary measures at the same time. There is a no-exchange policy in shops to contain the spread of the virus. We conduct regular inspections.”
The restrictions will be lifted in stages, depending on how well the health authorities can handle the situation.
“Our colleagues in tourism are talking about opening the sector in June or July," Mr Al Qamzi said.
"It also depends on how soon a vaccine can be created."
Gen Abdullah Al Marri, chief of Dubai Police, said the easing of restrictions was a result of the collective effort by the emirate’s people.
Gen Al Marri thanked the residents of Al Naif who complied with all restrictions, which helped to control the spread of the virus.
“The situation in Dubai is the same as anywhere else," he said. "Authorities are deploying all efforts to contain the spread of the virus.
"We have eased restrictions in Dubai but we review and assess the situation continuously. We are still combating it and trying to contain it.
“We are responsible for each other. We have a clear programme to help people follow guidelines like wearing a face mask, the number of passengers in a vehicle or staying at home.
“Everyone is a partner in combating the virus. There are some reckless individuals who will not follow the rules. We had to penalise them for the sake of others. We want to raise awareness.”
The UAE identified 552 new cases of coronavirus on Thursday, after conducting 27,000 tests across the country.
The new cases bring the country's tally of infections to 12,481. The Ministry of Health and Prevention also said 100 people had recovered while seven died of the virus.
The new figures raise the UAE's tally to 2,429 recoveries and 105 deaths since the start of the outbreak.
On Wednesday, authorities said only 0.12 per cent of the UAE's population had contracted the virus.
