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A weather alert was issued as sandstorms swept across the Emirates on Sunday and Dubai was lashed by heavy rain.
The National Centre of Meteorology said high winds carrying large amounts of dust and sand into the atmosphere would cause low visibility until about 6pm today in parts of Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Heavy rain fell in Dubai on Sunday afternoon as the UAE's wild month of unseasonal weather continued.
Forecasters from the centre warned residents to expect "north-westerly winds accompanied with dust load and blowing dust resulting in a reduction in visibility at times".
Warnings of sandy weather were displayed on the Abu Dhabi-bound section of Sheikh Zayed Road.
Strong winds combined with rainfall also made visibility difficult for commuters in Ras Al Khaimah.
Rough sea conditions persisted throughout the day.
Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority said ferry services between Dubai and Sharjah would be disrupted.
A flurry of hail fell over Jebel Jais as extreme weather took a firm hold in all corners of the country.
Earlier this month, a sheet of snow covered the UAE's highest peak, prompting visitors to swiftly make their own snowman.
People in Sharjah were also left gazing at gloomy skies as heavy rain fell, strong gust of wind blew in and temperatures plunged in the emirate.
The latest bout of bad weather comes just weeks after the country faced major disruption from storms that wreaked havoc for several days.
Homes were flooded, schools were forced to close and aircraft were grounded at Dubai International Airport due to persistent rain and fierce winds.
Rescue operations were launched in Ras Al Khaimah as wadis burst under the strain of the heavy rainfall.
It was announced last week that flood-hit residents in Ras Al Khaimah were to receive compensation after severe storms left a trail of destruction across the emirate.
Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, called for financial aid to be delivered to speed up the rebuilding process for embattled families.
A task force was set up to assess the damage caused by the recent extreme weather and ensure those in need are supported.
A minister pledged Dh500 million of investment to safeguard against flooding after saying the authorities “learned a new lesson” from the storms.
Abdullah Al Nuaimi, Minister of Infrastructure Development, told the Federal National Council that crucial projects are already under way to mitigate the damaging impact of extreme weather.
He said dams and flyovers would be built to reduce disruption caused by flooding.
The minister said the storms that hit the country earlier this month were the worst he had encountered during his time in office.
“We have learned a new lesson after the last rains, and some projects have already started taking place to face the effects of such,” he said.
“The amount of rain that fell last week I have not seen like it throughout my career.”
Dubai Municipality revealed a Dh2.5 billion drainage scheme was due to be operational by September.
The authority said 10 million man hours have been pumped into the tunnelling and construction process that promises to alleviate some of flooding problems around the emirate’s roads and communities.
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)
Power: 141bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh64,500
On sale: Now
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Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
500 People from Gaza enter France
115 Special programme for artists
25 Evacuation of injured and sick
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
PROFILE OF SWVL
Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Power: 110 horsepower
Torque: 147Nm
Price: From Dh59,700
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
The years Ramadan fell in May
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How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
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COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
'The Lost Daughter'
Director: Maggie Gyllenhaal
Starring: Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, Dakota Johnson
Rating: 4/5
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
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
The Specs
Engine 3.8-litre, twin-turbo V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 582bhp (542bhp in GTS model)
Torque: 730Nm
Price: Dh649,000 (Dh549,000 for GTS)
Henrik Stenson's finishes at Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship:
2006 - 2
2007 - 8
2008 - 2
2009 - MC
2010 - 21
2011 - 42
2012 - MC
2013 - 23
2014 - MC
2015 - MC
2016 - 3
2017 - 8
Abramovich London
A Kensington Palace Gardens house with 15 bedrooms is valued at more than £150 million.
A three-storey penthouse at Chelsea Waterfront bought for £22 million.
Steel company Evraz drops more than 10 per cent in trading after UK officials said it was potentially supplying the Russian military.
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Getting there
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Tbilisi from Dh1,025 return including taxes
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.
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
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