The United Arab Emirates becomes the first country to introduce China’s immunity jab against COVID-19!

According to a deal announced, a company based in the United Arab Emirates will begin commercial development of Sinopharm vaccines in April. Gulf Pharmaceutical Industries PSC, based in Ras al-Khaimah, signed the agreement with Group 42, an Abu Dhabi-based artificial intelligence and cloud computing firm that oversaw Phase III late-stage clinical trials of a Sinopharm vaccine in the UAE and the area. The announcement marks a step forward in Chinese diplomacy in the Gulf, and it aids the UAE’s efforts to diversify its economy away from oil production.

Following a two-day official visit to the UAE, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that Beijing agreed to collaborate with the UAE on developing affordable COVID-19 vaccines. The manufacturing arrangement was made between Julphar and G42 Medications Trading, according to a Julphar filing on the Abu Dhabi stock exchange. G42 previously stated that it has distribution and manufacturing contracts with Sinopharm and intends to supply the vaccine to the UAE and other countries in the region. A request for more information from G42 was not immediately returned. According to Refinitiv info, the government of Ras al-Khaimah owns 12.24 percent of Julphar.