A team of rowers training to cross the Pacific in June were treated to a rare sight as a pod of more than 100 dolphins joined them during an early morning training session off Kite Beach in Dubai.
The team of Paris Norriss, Barney Lewis, Oliver Amos and Harry Amos plan to row 4,500km unassisted from California to Hawaii, one of the toughest challenges on the planet.
While dolphins and other marine life will become a daily feature of their Herculean challenge next year, it is unusual to see such a big pod in Dubai.
A video posted on Instagram showed the animals swimming up to the team's boat to investigate.
“This morning's early rowing session for our training to cross the Pacific Ocean was pleasantly joined by a giant pod of dolphins just off the coast from Kite Beach in Dubai," the caption said.
“We spotted over a hundred and they seemed fascinated with our boat and decided to join us in our training, by adding some dolphin acrobatics. It certainly started our day off with a smile.
“We are now in full training for our challenge to row across the Pacific Ocean in June.
“Our boat arrived in Dubai last week and we will be training here until we depart in June.
“The crossing is expected to take us 40 days.”
Mr Norriss is a British adventurer who hosts TV adventure show Guy in Dubai, while Mr Lewis is a marathon runner who works as a consultant in London.
The other rowers taking part in the challenge are brothers Oliver and Harry Amos. Harry is a former British Army captain who served two tours in Afghanistan.
During their Pacific challenge, the team will endure sleep deprivation, physical and mental fatigue, salt sores and weight loss.
They will be monitored 24 hours a day by safety teams and race directors to assist in weather routing during their challenge.
The men's world record for the Great Pacific Race is 30 days, seven hours and 30 minutes. In July, an all-women rowing team set a world record crossing from California to Hawaii in 34 days, 14 hours and 11 minutes.
FIXTURES
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Results
5.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,400m; Winner: Mcmanaman, Sam Hitchcock (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer)
6.05pm: Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Bawaasil, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson
6.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (Dirt) 1,400m; Winner: Bochart, Fabrice Veron, Satish Seemar
7.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: Mutaraffa, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
7.50pm: Longines Stakes – Conditions (TB) Dh120,00 (D) 1,900m; Winner: Rare Ninja, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
8.25pm: Zabeel Trophy – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Alfareeq, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
9pm: Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (T) 2,410m; Winner: Good Tidings, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
9.35pm: Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (T) 2,000m; Winner: Zorion, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi, Helal Al Alawi
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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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Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
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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.
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
