Thursday, the UAE's Ministry of Health approved Russian Sputnik V vaccine for emergency use amid a surge of COVID-19 cases in the country. 

“Study results have demonstrated the effectiveness of the vaccine in triggering a strong antibody response against the virus, its safety for use, and its compliance with international safety and effectiveness standards,” the Emirates’ WAM news agency said.

“The decision comes as part of the UAE’s comprehensive and integrated efforts to ensure increased prevention levels against the virus and to safeguard the health of the country’s citizens and residents,” WAM added.

A total of 1,000 volunteers in Abu Dhabi had received their first dose of the vaccine under the trials.

Previously, Russia announced that the efficacy of the 'Sputnik V' vaccine is 91.4 percent against the coronavirus.

Sputnik V is the third COVID-19 vaccine to be approved in the UAE, after Sinopharm and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines.

The UAE is the second country in the Middle East to approve the Sputnik V vaccine for use, following Palestine. 

The UAE has recently witnessed a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks, recording an average of 3,000 cases a day. Thursday, Dubai announced that live music would temporarily be suspended in the emirate, in an effort to curb the spread of the virus.