Thousands react to Twitter hashtag ‘Ready to Serve UAE’

The appeal went viral as citizens, residents and visitors offered their services

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES. 25 MARCH 2020. Unsung Heroes of the UAE project.  Supermarket Home Delivery guy. Krishna Kharal (Nepal) an employee at Grandiose Supermarket on Beach rd in Jumeirah, that is resposnible for home delivery orders while wearing a protective mask and gloves to avoid the possible spread of disease while keeping food and necessities available to customers. (Photo: Antonie Robertson/The National) Journalist: None. Section: National.
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An appeal for volunteers to help Emirates authorities fight the spread of coronavirus has gone viral on Twitter.

Hours after Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed called on the public to act, an Arabic hashtag which translates as 'Ready to Serve UAE' was shared thousands of times.

The Crown Prince of Dubai had asked residents to sign up to a new campaign called Your City Needs You.

Emirati pilot Abdullah Meshkal said he had offered his services while registered nurse Abdulla Al Shamsi said he was also ready to act.

“This is the least I can do,” Mr Al Shamsi said.

Meanwhile, Dr Uday Al Shammari, a tourist from Iraq, said he had recently come to the UAE for a short break but was now happy to help if he could as flight restrictions prevented him from going home.

"For me, I would do anything to help, even if from inside quarantine facilities," he told The National.

"Because the UAE is home to me just as Iraq is. I'm not looking for a job, I just want to help in these tough times.”