AL GHARBIA // High-growth areas in Al Gharbia are due for six new civic centres, dozens of parks and thousands of renovated villas over the next four years, the Western Region Municipality said yesterday. The investment is part of the 2010-2014 strategic plan for the sprawling region, which covers more than 80 per cent of the land area of the emirate of Abu Dhabi.
Officials are hoping Al Gharbia will become the country's next economic and tourism frontier. "The key thing is we need to maintain the sustainable growth and to provide a good quality of life to residents," said Hamood al Mansoori, the municipality's general manager. As part of that goal the municipality is building "one-stop-shop" customer-service centres throughout the region, he said. "We're also renovating a lot of homes, we're working on enhancing the traffic safety inside the cities, and enhancing infrastructure in regards to water drainage and sewage."
Al Gharbia encompasses the cities of Madinat Zayed, Mirfa, Liwa, Ghayathi and Sila, as well as Dalma Island. Though Al Gharbia contains only eight per cent of the population of Abu Dhabi, it generates 40 per cent of the emirate's GDP, mainly from petroleum. The Government has allocated Dh98 billion (US$26.6bn) to developing the region. The most exciting project in the next few years will be the construction of 24-hour-a-day community centres for all six of the cities, each with a swimming pool, said Chafik Allaoui, the municipality's executive director of strategy and performance. "As far as quality of life and sustainable growth is concerned, that's the jewels on the crown," he said.
Mr al Mansoori had already announced plans to make Al Gharbia the greenest region in the emirate, with at least three parks for each of the six cities and smaller "pocket gardens" landscaped into neighbourhoods. Many of the planned parks, said Mr Allaoui, would be built by 2012. He said that Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, the Ruler's Representative in the region, "has notified me of his priorities, that he wants to see more green space in Al Gharbia."
The municipality is continuing to refurbish around 3,200 villas, at a cost of Dh4bn, for some 7,000 Emirati families. A sand-control programme will also be introduced in response to concerns from motorists about road conditions, and from residents and farmers about their gardens and crops. mkwong@thenational.ae
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Coming soon
Torno Subito by Massimo Bottura
When the W Dubai – The Palm hotel opens at the end of this year, one of the highlights will be Massimo Bottura’s new restaurant, Torno Subito, which promises “to take guests on a journey back to 1960s Italy”. It is the three Michelinstarred chef’s first venture in Dubai and should be every bit as ambitious as you would expect from the man whose restaurant in Italy, Osteria Francescana, was crowned number one in this year’s list of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants.
Akira Back Dubai
Another exciting opening at the W Dubai – The Palm hotel is South Korean chef Akira Back’s new restaurant, which will continue to showcase some of the finest Asian food in the world. Back, whose Seoul restaurant, Dosa, won a Michelin star last year, describes his menu as, “an innovative Japanese cuisine prepared with a Korean accent”.
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal
The highly experimental chef, whose dishes are as much about spectacle as taste, opens his first restaurant in Dubai next year. Housed at The Royal Atlantis Resort & Residences, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal will feature contemporary twists on recipes that date back to the 1300s, including goats’ milk cheesecake. Always remember with a Blumenthal dish: nothing is quite as it seems.
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
Real Madrid 1
Ronaldo (87')
Athletic Bilbao 1
Williams (14')
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAuthor%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EYasmin%20Azad%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESwift%20Press%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAvailable%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Rain Management
Year started: 2017
Based: Bahrain
Employees: 100-120
Amount raised: $2.5m from BitMex Ventures and Blockwater. Another $6m raised from MEVP, Coinbase, Vision Ventures, CMT, Jimco and DIFC Fintech Fund
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Small Victories: The True Story of Faith No More by Adrian Harte
Jawbone Press
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.
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Best Foreign Language Film nominees
Capernaum (Lebanon)
Cold War (Poland)
Never Look Away (Germany)
Roma (Mexico)
Shoplifters (Japan)
