The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Country Presentation

1. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Country Presentation Ministry of Environment &  Climate Change (MOECC) GFTADS Sub-regional Conference on Camel Diseases 14-16 February 2016 , Abu Dhabi, UAE

2. UAE Geography

3. UAE GEOGRAPHY • The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is an Arab country located in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula on the Arabian Gulf, bordering Oman to the east and Saudi Arabia to the south and sharing sea borders with Qatar and Iran.

4. UAE geography • Area : 82,880 Sq.km • Population : 8.3 million (census 2010) • Capital City : Abu Dhabi • Administrative divisions : 7 Emirates

5. Livestock Population in UAE – 2014 *: in addition to 35,000 dairy cattle in 17 commercial farms

6. Livestock Population In UAE – 2014

7. Governmental Veterinary Services • 53 Veterinary clinics • MOEW : 21 • ADFCA : 28 • DVS: 4 • 10 Veterinary laboratories • MOEW : 4 • ADFCA : 5 • DVS : 1 • CVRL (Dubai) (OIE Reference lab for Glanders and Camel Pox) • 18 Border inspection points for animal and veterinary products

8. Livestockparticipation in National Economy • Commercial Farms contribution: • Total sold products value is of about 1.4 billion Dirhams/year • Milk production is about 161,000 Tons/year • Poultry meat production is around 52,000 Tons/year • Produced table eggs is about 740 million eggs/year • Camels contribution: • They are kept for sentimental value and they economic contribution is through racing, beauty show competitions and leisure. • Some individuals have a very high value in millions of Dirhams

9. Information on Camels in UAE

10. Camels constitute around 9% of the total number of livestock population in the country • Most of them are traditionally raised and used for racing and beauty show competitions and also for production of milk and meat. • Camels are also used for leisure in zoos and for touristic tours • Camels breeds: Majahim, Al-Hasmiya, Al-Khawawir, Omani, etc. CAMEL POPULATION

11. A large number of camels participate in organised seasonal competitions and events in neighboring countries. During 2015, 82 643 camels moved outside the country. • A large number of camels participates in organised seasonal competitions from neibouring countries in the UAE. 83446 is the number of entrance of camels to the UAE during 2015 CAMEL POPULATION

12. There are two camel milk production farms in Dubai and Alain. • Camel milk is processed in several types of products for local market and for exportation, including to the EU. • Camel identification by injectable RFID Transponder started in Abu Dhabi Emirate in 2010 and is being expanded to the other Emirates since 2015. CAMEL POPULATION

13. Camel Racing Federation • Camel Racing Dubai Club • Presidential Camel Guard • Camel beauty show events (Al Dhafra, Sweihan, Baynounah, Mazayen Racing, Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival) • Camel racing events (Al-Wathba Festival, Al Marmoom Track, Pre-racing training Festival) • Camel hospital in Dubai • Camel auctions events Camel sector stakeholders

14. Governmental Institutions involved in charge of Camel Sector • Federal Veterinary Services - Ministry of Environment and  Climate Change (MOECC) • Municipal Veterinary Services: • Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) – Abu Dhabi • Public Health Services Department – Veterinary Services Section (DVS) - Dubai • Camel Racing Federation 14

15. Notifiable Diseases in Camels in the UAE • According to Law 8 for 2013, the following diseases are compulsory notifiable in camels in the country: • Brucellosis, • Bovine tuberculosis, • Anthrax, • Camel pox, • Rift Valley Fever, • Bluetongue, • Rabies, • Surra.

16. Diagnostic of Camel and other Diseases Sharjah Laboratory: • Laboratory Diagnosis for: • Brucellosis, • PPR, • FMD, • Paratuberculosis, • TB, • Rift Valley Fever, • Bluetongue, • Hemorrhagic septicemia, • Enterotoxemia, • Blood parasites, • Used techniques: Rapid tests, ELISA, PCR, Microscopy examination, Microbiological tests. • Camels specimens: blood: 50 to 100 samples/month, serum: 100 to 150 samples/month

17. Diagnostic of Camel Diseases CVRL • Laboratory Diagnosis for: • Brucellosis, • Rabies, • Surra (Trypanosoma evansi), • Camel pox. • Used techniques: ELISA, pathogenic agent isolation, rapid serum agglutination (RSA), CFT, AGID, indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA), PCR,direct immunofluorescence (DIF) test.

18. Diagnostic of camel and other diseases Al Wathba Veterinary Laboratory ( ADFCA ) • Laboratory Diagnosis for: • Brucellosis, • Foot and mouth disease, • Peste des petitsruminants, • Paratuberculosis. • Used techniques: RBT, ELISA, PCR, Agar-gel immunodiffusion (AGID) Dubai Laboratory • Laboratory Diagnosis for: • Brucellosis, • Foot and mouth disease, • Contagious caprine pleuropneumonia, • Bovine anaplasmosis, • Paratuberculosis, • Rabies, • Surra (Trypanosoma evansi). • Used techniques: RBT, ELISA, Latex agglutination test, CFT, AGID, Indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA), PCR, Direct immunofluorescence (DIF) test

19. MERS Surveillance and Quarantine Measures at Border Points 19

20. Surveillance and control measures on Border Crossing Points : • Since the May 2014, nasal swab samples were collected from all imported camels shipments and tested by PCR • Consignment that give positive results placed in quarantine restrictions and re-tested every 14 days. • imported shipments are not allowed to be released before all camels in the shipment proved to give negative results by the PCR assay • Starting from October of 2015, only representative samples were taken from risk groups (aged less than one year and from raising camels regardless the age)

23. Surveillance and control measures on Border Crossing Points • Between May 2014 & September 2015, 76,445 nasal swabs were collected from imported camels, 1.17 % of them were positive. • The positive results found in 3% of the imported consignments. • The percentage of positive results among camels imported through Ghuwaifat cross-border point was 0.58% and 1.47% for camels imported through Mazyad and Khatm Al Shakla • The percentage of positive results among young camels was higher than positive results in adult camels. • There are no clear observed clinical signs can be linked to PCR positive cases. • A decrease has been observed in the number of seropositive cases during July and August and an increase in the number of seropositive cases from February to April.

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