2022 in the United Arab Emirates

← 2021 2020 2019 2022 in the United Arab Emirates → 2023 2024 2025
Decades:	2000s 2010s 2020s
See also:	Other events of 2022 Timeline of Emirati history

Events in the year 2022 in the United Arab Emirates.

Incumbents

Photo	Post	Name
	President of the United Arab Emirates	Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
	Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates	Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Events

Ongoing: COVID-19 pandemic in the United Arab Emirates

January

• 1 January
  • The UAE moved its Friday-Saturday weekend to Saturday-Sunday in a landmark reform that came into force on January 1, 2022. The new system was rolled out across all government entities and most firms in the private sector followed suit. ^[1]
  • The United Arab Emirates announces that unvaccinated citizens will be banned from travel and that vaccinated citizens will need to receive a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine beginning on January 10.^[2]
• 3 January - Houthi forces capture a United Arab Emirates-flagged cargo ship, the Rwabee, off Al Hudaydah, Yemen. The UAE government says that the vessel was carrying equipment from a closed coalition field hospital on Socotra while the Houthis say that the vessel was carrying military equipment.^[3]
• 17 January - 2022 Abu Dhabi attack: Three people are killed in a drone attack on petrol tanks at a major oil storage facility near Abu Dhabi International Airport. The Yemen-based Houthis claim responsibility, saying that they launched "five ballistic missiles and a large number of drones".^[4]
• 24 January - The United Arab Emirates Armed Forces intercepts two ballistic missiles over the Emirati capital Abu Dhabi. The Yemen-based Houthis claim responsibility for the attack. American troops stationed at Al Dhafra Air Base near the capital take shelter in bunkers during the attack.^[5]

February

• 12 February - 2021 FIFA Club World Cup: In association football, English club Chelsea win their first FIFA Club World Cup title after beating Brazilian club Palmeiras 2–1 after extra time in the final at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Chelsea defender Thiago Silva wins the tournament's Golden Ball award.^[6]
• 18 February - India and the United Arab Emirates sign a free trade agreement over digital goods, raw materials, and apparels. It is the first major trade deal signed by India since Prime Minister Narendra Modi came into power in 2014.^[7]
• 22 February -  Museum of the Future opened by the Government of the United Arab Emirates.^[8] The choice of the date was officially made because 22 February 2022 is a palindrome date.^[9] It is a landmark devoted to innovative and futuristic ideologies located in the Financial District of Dubai. It has three main elements: green hill, building, and void.^[10]
• 26 February - The United Arab Emirates removes the mandatory face masks mandate in outdoor spaces, making the use of them optional.^[11]

March

• 28 March - The foreign ministers of Israel, Egypt, Morocco, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, as well as the United States Secretary of State, meet in Sde Boker, Israel, and agree to hold regular meetings about regional security and commit to further expanding economic and diplomatic cooperation.^[12]
• 31 March - The world expo in Dubai, which was delayed to October 1, 2021, closes after six months.^[13]

May

• 13 May - President of the United Arab Emirates and ruler of Abu Dhabi Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan dies at the age of 73.^[14]
• 14 May - The Federal Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates appoints Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as the country's new president, who also inherits the Emirate of Abu Dhabi after the death of his half-brother Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.^[15]
• 23 May - Two people are killed and 120 others are injured when a gas cylinder catches fire and explodes at a restaurant in Abu Dhabi.^[16]
• 24 May - The United Arab Emirates confirms its first case of monkeypox.^[17]

June

• 6 June - The South African Justice Department confirms that Rajesh Gupta and Atul Gupta of the influential Gupta family have been arrested in the United Arab Emirates for engaging in corrupt practices during the Zuma presidency.^[18]

July

• 29 July - The UAE records its heaviest rainfall in 27 years, with seven people killed by flooding in the Emirates of Sharjah and Fujairah.^[19]

August

• 21 August - The United Arab Emirates announces the reinstallation of its ambassador to Iran, which will take effect "in the coming days", more than six years after it cut off diplomatic relations with the Islamic republic.^[20]

Deaths

31 March – Easa Saleh Al Gurg, businessman and diplomat.^[21]

13 May – Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, president (born 1948)^[22]

References

1. Zakir, SM Ayaz. "UAE: Remember when weekends used to be Friday-Saturday? How residents' lifestyles changed". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 2023-09-02.
2. "COVID-19: UAE announces travel ban on unvaccinated citizens from Jan 10". gulfnews.com. January 2022. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
3. "Iran-backed Houthis seize UAE ship on anniversary of Soleimani assassination". MSN. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
4. "2 Indians, 1 Pakistani killed in blast from 'drone attack' in Abu Dhabi". Hindustan Times. 2022-01-17. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
5. US News, A. B. C. "UAE, US intercept Houthi missile attack targeting Abu Dhabi". ABC News. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
6. "Chelsea maintains European domination of Club World Cup". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
7. "India signs free trade agreement with UAE". Moneycontrol. 18 February 2022. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
8. Reporter, A. Staff. "Dubai Museum of the Future opens today: 7 experiences you will find inside". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 2023-09-02.
9. "Dubai opens new Museum of the Future". 2022-02-22. Retrieved 2023-09-02.
10. "Calligraphy-covered Museum of the Future nears completion in Dubai". Dezeen. 2021-03-30. Retrieved 2023-09-02.
11. Reynolds, Rory; Nowais, Shireena Al (2022-02-25). "UAE drops mandatory wearing of face masks in outside areas". The National. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
12. Berman, Lazar; Boxerman, Aaron. "Announcing permanent regional forum, Israel, Arab states laud alliance, decry terror". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
13. "Party's over: Dubai's monthslong Expo 2020 comes to a close". AP NEWS. 2022-03-31. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
14. "UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed passes away". gulfnews.com. 13 May 2022. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
15. "Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan becomes UAE's president". AP NEWS. 2022-05-14. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
16. "Two killed, 120 wounded in Abu Dhabi restaurant gas explosion". Reuters. 2022-05-23. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
17. "Czech Republic detects its first case of monkeypox". Reuters. 2022-05-24. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
18. "South Africa confirms arrest of two Gupta brothers in UAE". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
19. Abdulla, Dhanusha Gokulan, SM Ayaz Zakir, Nasreen. "UAE: Seven expats found dead after floods, say authorities". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
20. "UAE, upgrading ties with Iran, says envoy to return to Tehran within days". CNA. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
21. Authors, Guest (1 April 2022). "HE Easa Saleh Al Gurg visionary leader and business pioneer passes away". Middle East Construction News. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
22. Zakaria, Sherouk. "UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed passes away". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 1 September 2022.