In one of the more incongruous marketing tie ins of recent times, toy maker Mattel has announced it is to release a special range of Barbie dolls, inspired by the 1977 film Star Wars: A New Hope.
The collection, says Mattel’s official marketing is “inspired by the film’s original concept art,” and “re-imagines iconic characters through a distinctive Barbie high-fashion filter.”
The three dolls announced so far are inspired by Darth Vader, Princess Leia and the droid R2D2. All three are available for pre-order on Amazon, although with a price tag of $100 (Dh367) you'd need to be quite a fan of both the movie and Barbie herself to stump up the cash, particularly with similar, non-Barbie Star Wars dolls available for around a fifth of that price on the same website.
Barbie’s makers seem to be going for the high fashion angle to differentiate their toy from the competition. The Darth Vader-inspired doll, for example “captures Darth Vader’s Sith armour silhouette in head-to-toe black. She wears a shiny-black peplum top, panelled pencil skirt and knee-high boots. Metallic details at her collar and waist, dark glasses and a long, black cape finish the look.”
Predictably, the internet is not entirely convinced. Twitter users variously compared the Vader doll to Anna Wintour, Michael Jackson and Meryl Streep's character from The Devil Wears Prada, Miranda Priestley, while a number of Tweeters also noted that with her gold clutch bag, R2D2 Barbie appears to have turned her droid buddy C3P0 into a handbag.
Other users pointed out that Mattel seems to have missed an opportunity with the younger generation of fans by neglecting to feature key female figures from the more recent movies, such as Rey and Padme, in the collection.
The dolls come complete with a stand and a certificate of authenticity, and will be available from November 18, ahead of the release of The Rise of Skywalker in December.
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company Profile
Founder: Omar Onsi
Launched: 2018
Employees: 35
Financing stage: Seed round ($12 million)
Investors: B&Y, Phoenician Funds, M1 Group, Shorooq Partners
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
FINAL SCORES
Fujairah 130 for 8 in 20 overs
(Sandy Sandeep 29, Hamdan Tahir 26 no, Umair Ali 2-15)
Sharjah 131 for 8 in 19.3 overs
(Kashif Daud 51, Umair Ali 20, Rohan Mustafa 2-17, Sabir Rao 2-26)
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
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.
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Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants
