DUBAI — Dubai Health Authority on Tuesday authorized the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine being produced in the Serum Institute of India as the emirate steps efforts to combat coronavirus.

The first shipment has arrived from India, Dubai Media Office said in a tweet. It did not provide details on how many doses were received or when inoculations would start.

“@DHA_Dubai adds the AstraZeneca vaccine to its authorised list of Covid-19 vaccines provided at DHA medical facilities. The first shipment of the vaccine has been received from India, thanks to efforts by @MoFAICUAE, in cooperation with the Indian Foreign Ministry.”

With the AstraZeneca vaccine getting approval, Dubai has so far authorized three vaccines. The other two are Pfizer-BioNTech and China's Sinopharm. The Sinopharm shot is also available across the United Arab Emirates.

Commenting on the development, India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar tweeted: “Made in India vaccines reach Dubai. A special friend, a special relationship.”

Indian Ambassador to the UAE Pavan Kapoor also tweeted, saying: "Always glad to support a close friend. Another example of the India-UAE partnership in healthcare." — Agencies