Stay home: Four striking before-and-after images show a very quiet Dubai

People across the UAE have been staying apart to do their part

The Dubai Mall in early March, left, and just a few days ago, right. Photos Reuters

People living in the UAE have been implored to stay home in order to help curb the spread of the coronavirus.

There has been a marked quietening of streets in the past week, with 80 per cent of private sector employees now working from home (until Wednesday, April 8), and non-essential businesses shutting their doors in order to flatten the curve.

The below images show how strikingly different a city the normally bustling Dubai is at the moment as people do their part by staying apart.

One thing that is for sure is that this is a moment in history we will all remember forever.

The streets of the UAE will be even quieter over the weekend, with people having been asked to completely stay at home from 8pm on Thursday until 6am Sunday so that streets across the entire country can be disinfected.

Slide the white button to see more of the before-and-after images.

The Dubai Fountain

On the left, people watch the world's largest fountain show from Souq Al Bahar on Thursday, March 12, and then on Monday, March 23, it appears empty at around dusk.

Deira's Gold Souq

These photos by The National's Pawan Singh show the famously bustling Gold Souq: on the left is what it was like on Tuesday, March 10, and on the right what it looked like on Tuesday, March 24.

The Dubai Mall 

The promenade outside the city's largest mall is rarely quiet: the picture on the left shows a typical crowd on Thursday, March 5, while the second photo was taken on Monday, March 23.

Jumeirah Beach

Public beaches are now closed, which is demonstrated in this before-and-after from early and then late March.