UAE: the VIP vaccination destination
A coronavirus jab is just a private jet away
In February, Mark Machin, head of the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, took a break from running the country’s largest pension fund and the blistering Ontario winter to enjoy a holiday in the United Arab Emirates.
The country provides an oceanside oasis to tourists that can prove they’re Covid-free, after all. But as it turns out, Machin arrived for more than just some rest and relaxation — he was chasing the elusive Covid-19 jab, which has hit extensive delays in his home country.
The UAE has enough supplies to vaccinate its entire population © FT montage; Getty Images
And he succeeded, though it’s unclear how Machin, a British citizen, obtained a vaccine meant only for Emirati residents. His resignation came shortly afterwards.
Machin is not alone. Earlier this year, tycoons, politicians and royalty descended upon the UAE, where well-connected friends can secure them access to the vaccine.
As of now, only senior officials and royals can secure exemptions for non-residents, insiders told the Financial Times. Locally this is referred to as “vaccine wasta”, aka using one’s clout to procure a jab.
Acquirers of such wasta include British financier Ben Goldsmith, SoftBank executives — including Vision Fund head Rajeev Misra — and Claudio Descalzi, the chief of Italian energy company Eni.