I sit in the café sipping tea while surveying the languid traffic outside.
It is 7am on a Saturday and the street is virtually empty, save for a few dog-walkers. On other occasions there would be a weary cab driver stopping the car for a 15-minute power-nap.
"Would you like to order now or are you waiting for someone?" the waitress asks. I decide to order, as it's rare for someone to join me for breakfast.
No, this is not the sad tale of an Abu Dhabi loner but the side effects of being a morning person.
Despite all the studies and autobiographies of famous people stating the benefits of being an early riser, it continues to be met with a collective yawn.
Last year when informing friends that I was ditching my night-time persona for a new life in the AM, it was met with a cynical snort.
They gave me a week before I returned to the evening fold. I could understand their cynicism because for a majority of my life, I have been the quintessential night-owl.
I embraced that culture of having lunch at five, dinner at 10 and even becoming hooked on some of the weird television programmes that are broadcast at such a time. These shows ranged from forgotten 1970s police procedurals such as Hunter and Ironside to horrible C-grade sitcoms.
However, after years of working in a zombie-like state till midday, I decided to take the plunge and start my day at dawn.
Ironically it was the words of a security consultant, in a workshop about reporting from conflict zones, that proved to be the most helpful.
"The body operates to a rhythm," he said. "Hence you can achieve whatever action you want by training your body to do so."
He used an example of sleeping to a particular CD when going to bed. He guaranteed that a few days later my body would instantly recognise the music and accelerate its path to drowsiness.
Naturally, I decided an Enya compilation was better suited to this experiment than Slayer, and by the end of the week I sailed away to an early sleep.
Waking up in the morning was like seeing the light in more ways than one.
I felt more energised. The air seemed cleaner and the feeling of having a few more hours up my sleeve was akin to cheating on a test without the guilt.
Also, waking up early has offered me unique experiences, the most memorable being going on dawn strolls through whatever cities I visit and having a fresh breakfast.
Such serenity is worth having these meals alone - and having Enya on repeat every now and then.
Terminator: Dark Fate
Director: Tim Miller
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Mackenzie Davis
Rating: 3/5
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
What are the main cyber security threats?
Cyber crime - This includes fraud, impersonation, scams and deepfake technology, tactics that are increasingly targeting infrastructure and exploiting human vulnerabilities.
Cyber terrorism - Social media platforms are used to spread radical ideologies, misinformation and disinformation, often with the aim of disrupting critical infrastructure such as power grids.
Cyber warfare - Shaped by geopolitical tension, hostile actors seek to infiltrate and compromise national infrastructure, using one country’s systems as a springboard to launch attacks on others.
500 People from Gaza enter France
115 Special programme for artists
25 Evacuation of injured and sick
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre 6-cyl turbo
Power: 435hp at 5,900rpm
Torque: 520Nm at 1,800-5,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Price: from Dh498,542
On sale: now
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
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Rating: 4/5
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