Arab News

LONDON: The ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum has donated 60 tons of personal protective equipment to the UK, according to Dubai Media Office.

Sheikh Mohammed bought the equipment from suppliers in China and offered it to the UK’s National Health Service.

Planes from China loaded with the equipment arrived at Heathrow Airport in London on Thursday afternoon, with more planes expected to arrive in the coming days.

A spokesperson for Sheikh Mohammed said the donation was made because of the Dubai ruler’s “deep and long-standing connections with the UK" and that “he is determined to do his bit to keep Britain's health workers safe,” the BBC reported.

https://twitter.com/DXBMediaOffice/status/1255936545598693380?s=20

The equipment included face masks, protective clothing and other essential supplies, Dubai Media Office said.

The UK remains in a state of lockdown since Boris Johnson’s March 25 announcement, with 171,253 confirmed cases and 26,771 deaths announced on Thursday.

Health workers suffered from shortages of protective equipment and called on the government to do more to get the supplies to front-line medics.