For three consecutive days, the daily tally of Covid-19 cases in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) did not exceed 100 cases. Thanks to the vision of recovery set by the country's leaders, a strong vaccination campaign, and public commitment to safety rules, the Covid-19 situation has been brought under control.

The UAE reported 94 cases on Sunday, 84 cases on Saturday and 88 cases on Friday. With the exception of international travel, life has largely returned to the 'old normal' for most of the population.

"We are very happy to be back to normal now. A few days ago, my friends and I were discussing maybe in a month or two, it was time for us to completely remove the masks. I hope the numbers continue to fall like this," Ben Lebig Jr, a Filipino expatriate who has lived in Dubai for the past 16 years, told the Khaleej Times.

He added the UAE had done an outstanding job in curbing the pandemic. "I congratulate the government for leading and on this achievement," he said.

French expat Chloé Monet said he was proud to be a resident of a country that has handled pandemics efficiently and effectively. "From world-class medical facilities to mass trials, Covid-19 case management, and vaccine distribution, the UAE has set an outstanding example of how to handle difficult situations. I feel safe here," Monet said.

Indian expatriate Arijit Nandi, who has been in the UAE since 2007, said with the number dropping below 100 in a row, the situation must have looked optimistic. "I thank the UAE Government for all their efforts and for managing the crisis very well," he said.

Seeing how cases have dropped dramatically over the past few months, Egyptian expatriate Mina Kiwan now feels more comfortable coming out. "As a resident of the UAE, I am fully confident of following the direction of the country's leaders. Removing the mask is something we're all looking forward to. However, you must still wear masks in crowded places because the safety of the community, especially the elderly, must remain a priority," Kiwan said.

Malaysian expat Adilatul said he was very happy things were getting much better now. "People are more comfortable and happy to go out even though masks are still mandatory. It seems to promise we will live Covid-free," he said.