'Stay strong India': Dubai billboards deliver public display of support

Billboards along Sheikh Zayed highway and other roads in Dubai display a message to India to stay strong,  Antonie Robertson / The National. 

Billboards along Sheikh Zayed highway and other roads in Dubai display a message to India to stay strong, #staystrongindia. Antonie Robertson / The National. 

Billboards along Sheikh Zayed highway and other roads in Dubai display a message to India to stay strong in its current crisis. Antonie Robertson / The National. 

To show support for India, as it struggles to deal with a devastating new wave of coronavirus cases, traffic billboards in Dubai displayed a simple but powerful message: 'Stay strong India'.

On Sunday, the world's tallest building, Burj Khalifa, in Dubai and the Adnoc headquarters in Abu Dhabi were illuminated in the colours of the Indian flag as a global outpouring of support was directed towards the embattled nation.

The crisis enveloping India shows no signs of abating. India reported 3,645 new deaths on Thursday, the country's deadliest day so far.

Infections have hit 300,000 positive tests a day for the past week, with its total infections passing the 18 million mark and more than 204,000 deaths since the pandemic started.

As hospitals in India struggle to cope with streams of patients amid bed and oxygen shortages, aid from around the world pours in.

The UAE, the US, the UK, the EU and India's regional rival Pakistan all rushed to offer medical aid and assistance.

UAE displays support for India: