The third Reflection festival, held in the Sharjah neighbourhood of Al Qasba, close to the corniche, will return from Wednesday to Saturday.
The festival celebrates music, art and knowledge, and is organised this year around the theme of Hope: Light at the end of the tunnel, as a dose of optimism after the challenges of the previous years. Activities, which are free and open to the public, will take place every evening from 5pm to 10pm.
Featuring pedestrian walkways and bridges, as well as a canal complex, Al Qasba is one of the emirate's popular areas for families. With the return of the festival, the area will come to life with programming suited to all age groups.
These include an art exhibition and activities hosted by Art4You Gallery, workshops by Nikon, Maraya Art Centre, and Green Nest.
Sharjah Museums Authority is also presenting a Museum Bus, which will showcase various artworks and artefacts for visitors to explore. When the bus was introduced by Sharjah in 2019, it toured various schools in the emirate, presenting objects such as an astrolabe, an ancient astronomical instrument used by 10th-century navigators and astronomers, as well as a compass used by Arab cartographer Ahmad ibn Majid from the 15th century.
Students from University of Sharjah will showcase fashion designs, and a number of music and entertainment shows have also been lined up.
In addition to the selection of restaurants and food options located on Al Qasba's canal-side complex, the festival will offer culinary workshops for children and adults hosted by Dunkin' Donuts and Italian restaurant Mangiare.
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Rating: 3/5
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Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
if you go
The flights
Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes.
When to visit
March-May and September-November
Visas
Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.
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“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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