“The idea of coming to work and just sitting at a desk has changed,” says Heidar Jouyaeian, managing founder of Dubai-based office furniture company, WORKSPACE. “All the big companies, like Microsoft and Google, have shown that their employees can be just as productive away from a traditional desk. It’s about creating spaces that promote efficiency, creativity and productivity.”
These three cornerstones have been on Mr Jouyaeian’s mind of late, although to be fair, he was considering the implications long before the pandemic hit globally back in February of last year and changed the way the whole world works.
We processed over 8,000 orders in three months when suddenly everyone started working from home and needed suitable set-ups in their spare bedrooms or in a corner of the lounge
It goes without saying that a company that provides home office solutions could not have been better placed to accommodate the opportunities and demands the global pandemic brought forth, particularly when it came to the dramatic upswing in people suddenly needing home office space solutions.
“During the pandemic we were one of the only furniture companies still operating,” he says. “We processed over 8,000 orders in three months when suddenly everyone started working from home and needed suitable set-ups in their spare bedrooms or in a corner of the lounge. At one point we were delivering and installing up to 70 orders per day.”
Establishing WORKSPACE in 2017, Mr Jouyaeian fell into the business a little bit by accident, a little bit by luck and a lot by necessity.
“I was never in office furniture, but I had a lot of experience in e-commerce,” he says. “In 2011, I established the first online supermarket in the UAE, Supermart. When that was sold in 2015, by pure coincidence I needed office furniture of my own and after looking around discovered there was no online furniture supplier in the region.”
And so the idea for WORKSPACE was born.
Now available across all UAE and GCC countries, WORKSPACE also supplies international customers as far afield as Korea and Australia. With its UAE base in Dubai, Mr Jouyaeian recently opened a branch in Rotterdam, Holland, and is finalising plans to add a showroom to the New York office.
As well as great quality furniture for home or business, and the affordable price point he considers a pillar of the business, for Mr Jouyaeian staying on top of the trends is one of his main priorities, and he’s managing that thanks to one motto: customisation.
“At WORKSPACE, you can customise your desks as well as cabinets and workstations,” he says. “Customers can choose from 80 colours for their tabletops, as well as choosing the size, finish and shelving.”
As any business owner knows, keeping a finger on the pulse of what both individuals and companies want is an ever-evolving process which, for Mr Jouyaeian, means staying ahead of the ergonomically-shaped curve.
We also have desks that connect to your phone to calculate the calories you burn while standing
“Height-adjustable desks are a big upcoming trend,” he says. “Using electronic height adjustment, you can move your workstation up and down for whether you want to sit or stand. We also have desks that connect to your phone to calculate the calories you burn while standing.”
Another workplace trend employers should take note of is the move towards open spaces. Gone are the boxed-in cubicles of the past to make way for environments which foster and encourage the collaborative process.
“For businesses, the trend is space,” he says. “More and more businesses are creating collaborative areas so employees have more interaction. This then feeds into the creation of relaxation spaces in which employees can either chill or work away from their desk.
“The importance of colour in the office space is also coming to the fore. Office design is so important for the mental health of those working in the environment.”
Indeed, with office furniture trends aligning more with the kind of styles one might have at home, it's no wonder that the line between home and office is becoming increasingly blurry, especially given that now, for most people, their home is their office.
"There's no difference between the sofas you might have in your office and the sofas you would have at home," he points out. "Nowadays you can't really draw a line between home and office furniture as similar designs are used in both, especially as workspaces move more towards making employees feel as comfortable at work as they do at home."
It is this trend that has seen the company move into design, plus, the fact they've been perfectly placed over the years to observe what does and doesn't work in the modern office space.
And that expertise culminated in the launch of Edge, a sleek modern cabinet available in different shapes and sizes that marks the company’s first foray into product design.
“At the beginning we were just retailers, now we are designers,” Jouyaeian notes proudly. “The Edge is sleek and beautiful and the price reasonable. We will be getting more and more into the product design side of things.”
And not just design. “Next, we are moving into office interior design,” he says. “Our plan by the end of the year is to expand in Oman and Saudi Arabia, and extend our product range. At WORKSPACE, we don’t limit ourselves.”
Courses%20at%20Istituto%20Marangoni%2C%20Dubai
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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.
Honeymoonish
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Brighton 1
Gross (50' pen)
Tottenham 1
Kane (48)
THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
Pad Man
Dir: R Balki
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor, Radhika Apte
Three-and-a-half stars
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
Expert input
If you had all the money in the world, what’s the one sneaker you would buy or create?
“There are a few shoes that have ‘grail’ status for me. But the one I have always wanted is the Nike x Patta x Parra Air Max 1 - Cherrywood. To get a pair in my size brand new is would cost me between Dh8,000 and Dh 10,000.” Jack Brett
“If I had all the money, I would approach Nike and ask them to do my own Air Force 1, that’s one of my dreams.” Yaseen Benchouche
“There’s nothing out there yet that I’d pay an insane amount for, but I’d love to create my own shoe with Tinker Hatfield and Jordan.” Joshua Cox
“I think I’d buy a defunct footwear brand; I’d like the challenge of reinterpreting a brand’s history and changing options.” Kris Balerite
“I’d stir up a creative collaboration with designers Martin Margiela of the mixed patchwork sneakers, and Yohji Yamamoto.” Hussain Moloobhoy
“If I had all the money in the world, I’d live somewhere where I’d never have to wear shoes again.” Raj Malhotra
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.
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
THE APPRENTICE
Director: Ali Abbasi
Starring: Sebastian Stan, Maria Bakalova, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 3/5
Griselda
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THE DETAILS
Director: Milan Jhaveri
Producer: Emmay Entertainment and T-Series
Cast: John Abraham, Manoj Bajpayee
Rating: 2/5
The%20specs
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
The specs
Engine: 5.0-litre supercharged V8
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Power: 575bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: Dh554,000
On sale: now
Company%20Profile
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How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
The specs
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
more from Janine di Giovanni
What can victims do?
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
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
TECH%20SPECS%3A%20APPLE%20WATCH%20SE%20(second%20generation)
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Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
WITHIN%20SAND
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500 People from Gaza enter France
115 Special programme for artists
25 Evacuation of injured and sick
Four motivational quotes from Alicia's Dubai talk
“The only thing we need is to know that we have faith. Faith and hope in our own dreams. The belief that, when we keep going we’re going to find our way. That’s all we got.”
“Sometimes we try so hard to keep things inside. We try so hard to pretend it’s not really bothering us. In some ways, that hurts us more. You don’t realise how dishonest you are with yourself sometimes, but I realised that if I spoke it, I could let it go.”
“One good thing is to know you’re not the only one going through it. You’re not the only one trying to find your way, trying to find yourself, trying to find amazing energy, trying to find a light. Show all of yourself. Show every nuance. All of your magic. All of your colours. Be true to that. You can be unafraid.”
“It’s time to stop holding back. It’s time to do it on your terms. It’s time to shine in the most unbelievable way. It’s time to let go of negativity and find your tribe, find those people that lift you up, because everybody else is just in your way.”
Gulf Under 19s final
Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B
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
The%20specs
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The Beach Bum
Director: Harmony Korine
Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Isla Fisher, Snoop Dogg
Two stars
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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1.
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United States
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2.
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China
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3.
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UAE
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4.
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Japan
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5
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Norway
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6.
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Canada
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7.
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Singapore
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8.
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Australia
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9.
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Saudi Arabia
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10.
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South Korea
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Boston%20Strangler
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THE%20SPECS
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The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
'Will%20of%20the%20People'
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