Worshippers came together on Monday for iftar and Ramadan prayers at Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
Community members embraced the spirit of the holy month by breaking fast on the vast grounds of the famous place of worship.
Volunteers distributed food to the large crowds of visitors taking part in the traditional mass iftar held at the mosque each year during Ramadan.
More than 1.5 million free iftar meals were served at the mosque during the holy month last year, in keeping with the charitable values of the religious festival.
More than 850,000 people visited Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque during Ramadan and the Eid Al Fitr holiday in 2023.
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre drew up comprehensive plans ahead of the holy month to meet the needs of the huge volume of worshippers and visitors expected during the period.
A series of meetings were held, with government and private sector partners, to ensure the smooth operation of the mosque's wide-ranging Ramadan activities.
President Sheikh Mohamed was among the attendees at the nightly iftar gathering at the mosque on Sunday.
He was pictured sitting side by side with fellow worshippers.
Humanitarian drive
The popular iftar gatherings held at the mosque are in line with the UAE's efforts to ensure all sections of society - both and home and abroad - can celebrate the holy month.
The Emirates Red Crescent, the charitable arm of the UAE government, operates a number of iftar tents nationwide, including women-only tents this year in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Ajman.
The ERC is aiming to provide Eid clothing, Ramadan food parcels and iftar meals to more than 1.8 million people around the world under its Ramadan Continuous Giving Campaign.
The authority earlier this month delivered more than 9,000 iftar meals to needy people in the Pakistani provinces of Balochistan and Sindh province.
The relief project was carried out through the organisation's office in Pakistan.
A further 2,000 food parcels were given out to families in the two provinces to date as part of the ongoing support.
Doubling up support
The ERC has also pledged 10,000 iftar meals per day during Ramadan for the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Solo, Indonesia.
The key support was ordered by Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, chairman of the ERC.
Solo's Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, named in a tribute to the UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, was inaugurated by President Sheikh Mohamed and Indonesian President Joko Widodo in November 2022.
Though smaller than the Abu Dhabi original, it bears a remarkable resemblance to the architectural marvel with its striking white and gold decor, four minarets and a central dome surrounded by four smaller domes.
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Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
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Known as The Lady of Arabic Song, Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi on November 28, 1971, as part of celebrations for the fifth anniversary of the accession of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as Ruler of Abu Dhabi. A concert hall was constructed for the event on land that is now Al Nahyan Stadium, behind Al Wahda Mall. The audience were treated to many of Kulthum's most well-known songs as part of the sold-out show, including Aghadan Alqak and Enta Omri.
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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.
