Latest: Firms 'scrambling' to meet UAE employment contract deadline
Two key employment law deadlines are looming for UAE companies, with the first in just over a week.
According to the latest labour law, all employers must transfer contracts by Wednesday, February 1, unless they are in The Abu Dhabi Global Market and Dubai International Financial free zones.
Families employing domestic workers are also exempt from the changes.
Businesses that fail to update employment contracts risk a fine or penalty — although authorities have yet to reveal what the penalty will be.
With the lifting of the cap of three years for a limited-term contract, this arrangement more closely reflects an unlimited-term employment contract than a true fixed-term employment contract
Shiraz Sethi,
Dentons
The legislation may not affect your day-to-day employment,but it is part of a bigger overhaul of the private sector work landscape and a law first brought in in 1980.
The change will allow firms and staff to agree on part-time work, job-sharing and project-based tasks with more ease.
A federal decree issued in October removed a planned three-year cap on contracts, so it is up to employers to agree a term with the employee. Companies that already updated contracts, after the original decision last February but before the decree in October, may need to do so again.
Shiraz Sethi, a lawyer in Dubai who specialises in UAE labour law, said only time would show how the new rule affects the labour market.
"It is of paramount importance that employers in the private sector are advised to review and amend employment contracts if they are currently on an unlimited time frame by February 1, 2023 to avoid possible fines or sanctions," said Mr Sethi, regional head of employment at Dentons.
UAE salaries at a glance - in pictures
"With the lifting of the cap of three years for a limited-term contract, this arrangement more closely reflects an unlimited-term employment contract than a true fixed-term employment contract.
"Only time will tell how this new requirement will play out in practice and how it will impact the labour market in the UAE."
The way private sector businesses operate will change to accommodate more flexible working and job-sharing.
Most of those in the private sector will work shorter, fixed-term contracts and be allowed to stay in the country for up to 180 days after leaving a job, under rules introduced last February.
In an update issued in October, the government lifted a three-year cap on the duration of fixed-term employment contracts in the private sector.
Under the new amendments, employment contracts must cover a defined term but the law will no longer set a cap on how long the contract can be.
Students and those returning to the workplace after a period away are most likely to benefit from more flexible working arrangements.
It will allow people to work for more than one employer for a specified number of working hours or days and also work on a temporary basis to complete a set contract.
A reminder was issued to employers, advising them to review their employment contracts and amend them where applicable to avoid fines or sanctions.
Unemployment insurance
The deadline for residents in the UAE to register for the unemployment insurance is also approaching.
All employees working for a company subject to the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation must register by June 30.
The insurance scheme came into effect from January 1.
It will cost workers only Dh5 to Dh10 per month. If they lost their job, they could receive thousands of dirhams per month for three months to tide them over.
A full breakdown of the costs is here.
"Whilst employers are not obligated to register for their employees, they are able to if they would like to offer this as an additional benefit to their staff," said Mr Sethi.
"Employers should, however, continue to remind their employees of the need to register and encourage them to do so within the deadlines provided, otherwise face fines and penalties once the deadline has lapsed, similar to fines having already been issued to some companies who have failed to meet their Emiratisation quotas."
The social security support programme is a welcome financial safety net that will pay Emiratis and residents a cash sum for three months if they lose their jobs.
The system will ensure the sustainability of a decent life for Emiratis and residents during their unemployment period and will reduce business risks, the ministry said.
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
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Company%20Profile
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The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre supercharged V8
Power: 712hp at 6,100rpm
Torque: 881Nm at 4,800rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 19.6 l/100km
Price: Dh380,000
On sale: now
Company profile
Name: Dukkantek
Started: January 2021
Founders: Sanad Yaghi, Ali Al Sayegh and Shadi Joulani
Based: UAE
Number of employees: 140
Sector: B2B Vertical SaaS(software as a service)
Investment: $5.2 million
Funding stage: Seed round
Investors: Global Founders Capital, Colle Capital Partners, Wamda Capital, Plug and Play, Comma Capital, Nowais Capital, Annex Investments and AMK Investment Office
RACECARD
4.30pm Jebel Jais – Maiden (PA) Dh60,000 (Turf) 1,000m
5pm: Jabel Faya – Maiden (PA) Dh60,000 (T) 1,000m
5.30pm: Al Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m
6pm: The President’s Cup Prep – Conditions (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 2,200m
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club – Prestige (PA) Dh125,000 (T) 1,600m
7pm: Al Ruwais – Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 (T) 1,200m
7.30pm: Jebel Hafeet – Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m
Avatar%20(2009)
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The biog
Name: Dr Lalia Al Helaly
Education: PhD in Sociology from Cairo
Favourite authors: Elif Shafaq and Nizar Qabbani.
Favourite music: classical Arabic music such as Um Khalthoum and Abdul Wahab,
She loves the beach and advises her clients to go for meditation.
Manchester City 4
Otamendi (52) Sterling (59) Stones (67) Brahim Diaz (81)
Real Madrid 1
Oscar (90)
Martin Sabbagh profile
Job: CEO JCDecaux Middle East
In the role: Since January 2015
Lives: In the UAE
Background: M&A, investment banking
Studied: Corporate finance
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Is it worth it? We put cheesecake frap to the test.
The verdict from the nutritionists is damning. But does a cheesecake frappuccino taste good enough to merit the indulgence?
My advice is to only go there if you have unusually sweet tooth. I like my puddings, but this was a bit much even for me. The first hit is a winner, but it's downhill, slowly, from there. Each sip is a little less satisfying than the last, and maybe it was just all that sugar, but it isn't long before the rush is replaced by a creeping remorse. And half of the thing is still left.
The caramel version is far superior to the blueberry, too. If someone put a full caramel cheesecake through a liquidiser and scooped out the contents, it would probably taste something like this. Blueberry, on the other hand, has more of an artificial taste. It's like someone has tried to invent this drink in a lab, and while early results were promising, they're still in the testing phase. It isn't terrible, but something isn't quite right either.
So if you want an experience, go for a small, and opt for the caramel. But if you want a cheesecake, it's probably more satisfying, and not quite as unhealthy, to just order the real thing.
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
