Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, met US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan on Tuesday.
Sheikh Mohamed and Mr Sullivan, who is on an official regional tour, discussed ties between the US and UAE, and ways of strengthening them across various sectors, Wam reported. Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed, National Security Adviser, was also present.
The meeting took place at Al Shati Palace in Abu Dhabi.
Also at the meeting were Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed, Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Airports Company, Ali Al Shamsi, Deputy Secretary General of the Supreme National Security Council, Yousef Al Otaiba, the UAE Ambassador to the US, and Mohamed Al Mazrouei, Undersecretary of the Crown Prince's Court of Abu Dhabi.
Mr Sullivan departed for the region on Monday and his office said he planned to travel to Saudi Arabia to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
He is joined by Tim Lenderking, the US special envoy for Yemen, and Brett McGurk, the National Security Council's Middle East and North Africa Co-ordinator.
Mr Sullivan is the highest-ranking administration official to visit Saudi Arabia since President Joe Biden took office in January.
His visit to the Gulf comes at a time when the situation in Yemen, the Arab world’s poorest country, has deteriorated.
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Hydrogen: Market potential
Hydrogen has an estimated $11 trillion market potential, according to Bank of America Securities and is expected to generate $2.5tn in direct revenues and $11tn of indirect infrastructure by 2050 as its production increases six-fold.
"We believe we are reaching the point of harnessing the element that comprises 90 per cent of the universe, effectively and economically,” the bank said in a recent report.
Falling costs of renewable energy and electrolysers used in green hydrogen production is one of the main catalysts for the increasingly bullish sentiment over the element.
The cost of electrolysers used in green hydrogen production has halved over the last five years and will fall to 60 to 90 per cent by the end of the decade, acceding to Haim Israel, equity strategist at Merrill Lynch. A global focus on decarbonisation and sustainability is also a big driver in its development.
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.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
