In A Closer Look, The National offers an in-depth take on one of the main stories of the week.
Dubai's population is rising as every year more people head to the UAE and fewer people leave.
According to the Dubai Statistics Centre, the emirate's population has increased by 86,607 over the past year, hitting 3,597,829 earlier this month.
The growth amplifies a post-Covid surge that resulted in Dubai's population hitting the 3.5 million mark in April 2022.
This increase is expected to place pressure on infrastructure and amenities, as well as drive huge demand for new schools, better public transport and hundreds of thousands of new homes.
Host Sarah Forster speaks to The National's John Dennehy to find out how Dubai is preparing to cater for more people.
Read more
Dubai’s population is surging. How can it prepare?
Waiting lists at Dubai schools grow longer as fewer families leave
How Dubai can prepare for a surging population – in pictures
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.
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
