16 apps to help you through the coronavirus outbreak in Dubai

From ordering groceries to getting your home sterilised…

Now that the UAE authorities have urged all of us to stay at home, except for essential trips out for food, work or medicine, we’re whipping out our phones for Dubai’s best services, straight to your door.

Here are 16 apps to help you through the coronavirus outbreak in Dubai.

Food and groceries

Kibsons

Kibsons is constantly adding to its virtual shelves, so along with fresh fruit and vegetables, quality meat, chicken and dairy goods, you can now also order household essentials, such as toilet paper, cleaning products and pet food. kibsons.com

InstaShop

From fresh produce to pharmaceuticals, and hard-to-find ingredients, InstaShop has got you covered. The app lets you chose which stores you want to order from, such as Almaya, 1004 Gourmet, and The Meat Avenue, and lists average delivery times for each outlet. instashop.com

Carrefour Now

Need groceries, pronto? Carrefour Now offers an abbreviated version of the full Carrefour selection, which includes all the daily essentials. For a Dhs5 delivery fee, you can get your order within the hour. carrefouruae.com

Marks & Spencer

The Marks & Spencer Food app delivers premium groceries right to your door, including ready-to-cook meals, pantry essentials, frozen party foods and more. The antipasti, gourmet cheese selection and impressive desserts are a must when entertaining (or just go ahead and treat yourself this week). Minimum spend is Dhs150, and delivery is currently free. They can only deliver to certain locations in Dubai at the moment, but they have plans to expand their reach.  marksandspencerme.com

Restaurant deliveries

Now that restaurants are closed for the next two weeks, help keep the hospitality industry afloat by ordering from your favourite restaurants on Deliveroo, Uber Eats or Talabat.

Sprii

Have little ones at home? We feel you. Whether you’re looking for educational toys to keep them occupied, baby food to keep them fed, or cleaning products to keep them healthy, you’ll find everything for a happy, healthy family on Sprii. sprii.ae

bgX

If you’re running low on your go-to salon products, including haircare, make up and nail polish, bgX can have them to your door in 30 minutes. Perfect for a spot of at-home pampering. bgxme.com

Health and well-being

Okadoc

Not only can you use this handy app to book a doctor’s appointment, you can also chat with a doctor about any Covid-19 concerns, find out where to take a Covid-19 test, and use the free symptom checker. okadoc.com

Life Pharmacy

Have your prescription medicines, vitamins and other pharmacy essentials delivered using the Life Pharamcy app. Scan in your prescription, along with your Emirates ID and insurance details, or browse the range of off-the-shelf items. life-me.com

Asana Rebel

We’re loving all of the online classes that Dubai yoga studios are offering, but if you need help to get started and stay motivated, then Asana Rebel may fit the bill. The free version is packed with online workouts and tips on healthy living, so you scoot straight through all the subscription prompts when you open the app. asanarebel.com

My Virtual Mission

With gyms and pools closed across the UAE, we’re turning to our favourite fitness instructors for live-streamed workouts. If you’re craving a change of scene, sign up for the free 30-day trial with My Virtual Mission, which lets you take off on a virtual fitness route around the world. myvirtualmission.com

Yoga Nidra: Sacred Sleep

We’re in uncharted territory and it’s no wonder everyone’s feeling on edge. Help tune out some of the noise by practicing yoga nidra, a calming form of meditation that encourages you to focus on every inch of your body. The free 10-minute version of this app will leave you in a little bubble of bliss, but if you want to go so deep you drift off to sleep, download the paid version. Yoga Nidra: Sacred Sleep

Services

Justmop

At a time when we could all do with a little help around the house, Just Mop is offering a disinfection service that kills 99.99 per cent of viruses and bacteria. They use hospital-grade disinfectants that are safe for kids and pets, and prices start at Dhs199 for a studio apartment. justmop.com

Washmen

It’s not just your home that could do with a deep clean right now… if you want to ensure your laundry is disinfected properly, get Washmen to come and collect it. The eco-friendly chemicals used in the cleaning process, along with the high temperatures of the steam used for pressing, will help eliminate flus and viruses. washmen.com

RTA

For the next three months, you can use the RTA Dubai Drive app to renew your vehicle registration, without having to visit the Happiness Centre. At any time, this handy app also lets you top up your Salik account, pay for parking and renew your license. rta.ae

Cafu

Now that UAE authorities have urged us to use private cars for all essential travel, you may find yourself in need of a fuel top-up. Let the petrol come to you with the Cafu fuel-delivery app. cafu.com