Live updates: follow the latest news on Prince William's visit to the UAE
Fifty years ago Jebel Ali was a small town far removed from the bright lights of old Dubai and the Creek.
But Dubai's Ruler at the time, Sheikh Rashid, had other plans.
His decision to build a port about 40 kilometres from the centre of town astounded some.
It was even thought that the new facility would take business away from the still developing Port Rashid.
The scale of the task was immense: dredgers reclaimed land; roads were built; and even a small town – Jebel Ali Village – was constructed to accommodate the workers.
It was opened in 1979 by Queen Elizabeth II on her landmark trip to the Middle East.
Today, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, retraces her steps with a visit.
DP World, along with Emirates and Etihad, is a major contributor to the duke's United for Wildlife campaign to tackle a global criminal animal trafficking trade worth $150 billion.
Jebel Ali Port itself has become the busiest in the Middle East and one of the biggest in the world. It is the largest manmade deep-water harbour in the world. Jebel Ali has weathered regional instability and economic uncertainty and proved those early critics wrong.
Jebel Ali's four terminals can accommodate the world's largest ships and is a conduit for cargo travelling to Asia, Africa and Europe. It is the engine of Dubai.
The statistics speak for themselves: the cargo terminal area encompasses 1.4 million square metres with dozens of berths and automated cranes.
And terminal one – one of the port's busiest and the foundation on which it built its success – has 15 berths and 51 quay cranes.
The Jebel Ali Free Zone that was established beside the port has also taken Dubai to new economic highs.
More than 8,000 companies from more than 100 countries are based there, according to the free zone. It sustains about 135,000 jobs and attracts about 23 per cent of Dubai’s foreign direct investment.
Not only has the port helped to build Dubai's economy, it has also assisted in growing the city right to the border with Abu Dhabi.
The once remote Jebel Ali and the new Dubai South neighbourhood have become the future of Dubai. It is home to Al Maktoum Airport, the Expo 2020 site, new hotels and residential areas.
The port is a vital part of the logistical effort to make Expo 2020 a reality.
And Dubai is still looking to the future. The UAE's new railway – Etihad Rail – will link up to the port and further cement the reputation of Jebel Ali as one of the most connected, efficient and modern ports in the world.
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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.
More on animal trafficking
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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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
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THE DETAILS
Deadpool 2
Dir: David Leitch
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Josh Brolin, Justin Dennison, Zazie Beetz
Four stars
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.
Results:
Men's wheelchair 800m T34: 1. Walid Ktila (TUN) 1.44.79; 2. Mohammed Al Hammadi (UAE) 1.45.88; 3. Isaac Towers (GBR) 1.46.46.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
'Spies in Disguise'
Director: Nick Bruno and Troy Quane
Stars: Will Smith, Tom Holland, Karen Gillan and Roshida Jones
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars