The Rashid Centre for People of Determination in Dubai integrates education, rehabilitation, and vocational training to support personal development and career growth.
The centre caters for 290 students of all ages, with a range of courses for adults that adhere to the Community Development Authority's requirement that students transition from a school setting at the age of 18.
With options in gardening, photography, carpentry, printing, and textile and baking specifically for girls, the centre provides every student with a path to follow, blending the familiarity of their environment with new experiences and skills.
Students in the gardening workshop participate in everything from planting seeds to picking out vegetables, while leftover waste is used to feed the animals kept on the centre's small farm.
Aya Othman Agha, 28, a student in the textile workshop, is committed to pursuing her passion further after leaving the centre.
“God gave me my hobby and talent and I love to make things and to make something with my life that is beneficial,” Miss Agha told The National.
Students in the baking and textile workshop train their hand-sewing skills by learning stitching and using the sewing machine to produce blankets, bags and many other products.
They also work on textile and mosaic pieces, while the cooking workshop enhances the student's ability to prepare simple meals without anyone’s help.
The route to independence
The bridge to these workshops is the Asdan vocational programme, a curriculum designed for pupils aged 14 to 18.
Asdan is a preparatory stage that introduces students to many possibilities, including internships and training opportunities such as in hotels and restaurants.
This exposure not only helps students gain practical skills but also opens doors to potential employment.
At the Rashid Centre, moving to a workshop is a significant step. At 18, students undergo an assessment that considers not just their vocational skills but also their independence.
This placement ensures students are matched with workshops that align with their abilities and interests, to create an environment where they can continue to grow and develop.
Despite its comprehensive approach, the Rashid Centre is clear about its limitations. While it cannot guarantee employment, it seeks support from its network of partners to help students find jobs.
Kawka Mohsen, 37, from Yemen, joined the centre when she was 14 and was later hired as an assistant art teacher.
“Painting makes me happy and I don't feel tired when I paint. I can paint all day,” Ms Mohsen told The National.
“Art is my life, I was born to become an artist.”
Role models
Guidance in these workshops comes from experts who provide instruction and support, ensuring that students are continuously learning and adapting.
The centre's philosophy is one of lifelong learning, where there is always a skill to master and a challenge to overcome.
Head teacher Lina Abbas believes the workshops allow students to grow as independent individuals.
We prioritise inclusivity and accessibility here by including the students in everything we do
Lina Abbas
“In the workshop, they get to discover themselves and understand how important they are by being productive instead of being isolated,” she told The National.
“The students take part in competitions and participate in events where they get to showcase their work and be recognised and appreciated.
“We prioritise inclusivity and accessibility here by including the students in everything we do, like including them in extra-curricular activities and by following the same routine of any school to help them become part of society.
“We always face challenges here in the centre. The students themselves are the challenge.
“But we always work on finding a solution by working as a team. It’s never a one-man show.”
In practice
The workshops are connected to the Rashid Souq, where products created by the students are sold.
This initiative provides a practical application for their skills and teaches them about responsibility and the satisfaction of seeing their work valued by the community.
Most of the carpentry workshop projects are displayed and used in the centre like chairs, tissue boxes, trophies, tables and decorative materials.
Students in the printing workshop take part in printing the centre's magazine, called ‘Rashid Magazine’, and also work on data entry.
For students with very limited abilities, the Rashid Centre has created an independent unit focused on basic life skills and education.
This aims to ensure that every student, regardless of their ability, receives the care and education they deserve.
The academic curriculum caters to both English and Arabic speakers and it's tailored to meet the students' needs, so they can receive an education that matches their ability in a way that helps them grow.
Students are grouped based on their academic and cognitive skills, with the centre operating on a standard school calendar.
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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.
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Getting there
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Tbilisi from Dh1,025 return including taxes
RESULTS - ELITE MEN
1. Henri Schoeman (RSA) 57:03
2. Mario Mola (ESP) 57:09
3. Vincent Luis (FRA) 57:25
4. Leo Bergere (FRA)57:34
5. Jacob Birtwhistle (AUS) 57:40
6. Joao Silva (POR) 57:45
7. Jonathan Brownlee (GBR) 57:56
8. Adrien Briffod (SUI) 57:57
9. Gustav Iden (NOR) 57:58
10. Richard Murray (RSA) 57:59
The five pillars of Islam
MATCH INFO
Kolkata Knight Riders 245/6 (20 ovs)
Kings XI Punjab 214/8 (20 ovs)
Kolkata won by 31 runs
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
Sheer grandeur
The Owo building is 14 storeys high, seven of which are below ground, with the 30,000 square feet of amenities located subterranean, including a 16-seat private cinema, seven lounges, a gym, games room, treatment suites and bicycle storage.
A clear distinction between the residences and the Raffles hotel with the amenities operated separately.
