From next week, some residents in the UAE may have to sacrifice an hour of sleep to catch up with family and friends back home.
On October 27, some countries, including the US and UK, will turn their clocks back an hour to mark the end of daylight saving time.
As such, overseas residents living in the UAE may find it a little more difficult to co-ordinate phone calls with loved ones. Some may have to rise a little earlier from bed in the morning, or delay their evening bed routine to schedule a chat with friends and family in certain parts of the world.
New York, for example, will now be nine hours behind the UAE instead of eight, while Los Angeles will have a 12 hour time difference. The UK will go from three to four hours behind the UAE.
Lebanon and Jordan are also among some of the approximate 70 countries around the world that still observe the time change. From Sunday they will each be two hours behind the UAE.
What is daylight saving time?
The clocks change twice a year for many countries, going forward by an hour during the summer, and then back again in autumn, or fall, to make the most out of the daylight.
This means sunrise and sunset appear an hour later in the summer in countries that observe daylight saving time, and an hour earlier in the winter.
Most areas in Europe and North America observe DST, while most areas of Africa and Asia do not. When DST is not observed, it is called standard time, normal time or winter time.
For Indians, Pakistanis and Filipinos living in the UAE, who account for some of the largest expatriate populations in the country, their respective countries do not observe the twice-a-year custom, which means the time difference remains the same all year around.
Over the years, several countries have ditched the DST concept all together, including Morocco in 2018. In 2009, the government of Tunisia also cancelled daylight savings and kept the standard time all year round. And all the way back in 1951, Japan abandoned the biannual change.
Daylight savings has never been used in the Emirates, which observes Gulf Standard Time all year.
Will any other countries be scrapping it?
In 2018, a survey of 4.6 million people living in the 28 countries of the European Union found that most citizens were against the practice of turning their clocks forward and back each year. More than three-quarters of them called it a “negative” or “very negative” experience. Making true on its promise to attempt to scrap the concept, the European parliament voted to ditch the bi-annual tradition in March this year. The plan is to fully observe standard time, year-round, by 2021. It is now up to national governments to give their assent.
The idea of scrapping the changing of the clocks is to strengthen the EU’s single market, shortening the time gap between others countries it trades with.
While the news has been welcomed by many, UK residents abroad and at home could miss out on the opportunity due to Brexit. Once the country breaks away from the EU, the new rules will not apply. Aside from the inconvenience of the extended time difference in the winter for British nationals living in the UAE remaining, the possibility of two different time zones between the UK and EU countries could create fresh problems over business and trade.
Where did the idea first come from?
American inventor Benjamin Franklin was the first to suggest altering the clocks in 1784 to save on candles. In 1895 a New Zealand entomologist proposed moving the clock two hours to give bug hunters more light in the evenings during the summer. It was only imposed in 1916, when Germany used it to save money during First World War. Other European countries and the United States followed, but the law was repealed in the US in 1919, but reimposed in 1966. It has been the law across the European Union since the start of the 1980s, when it was introduced to save energy costs.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
The%20specs
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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.
THE SPECS
BMW X7 xDrive 50i
Engine: 4.4-litre V8
Transmission: Eight-speed Steptronic transmission
Power: 462hp
Torque: 650Nm
Price: Dh600,000
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
Women's Prize for Fiction shortlist
The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker
My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
Milkman by Anna Burns
Ordinary People by Diana Evans
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
Circe by Madeline Miller
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.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Women’s World T20, Asia Qualifier, in Bangkok
UAE fixtures Mon Nov 20, v China; Tue Nov 21, v Thailand; Thu Nov 23, v Nepal; Fri Nov 24, v Hong Kong; Sun Nov 26, v Malaysia; Mon Nov 27, Final
(The winners will progress to the Global Qualifier)
TCL INFO
Teams:
Punjabi Legends Owners: Inzamam-ul-Haq and Intizar-ul-Haq; Key player: Misbah-ul-Haq
Pakhtoons Owners: Habib Khan and Tajuddin Khan; Key player: Shahid Afridi
Maratha Arabians Owners: Sohail Khan, Ali Tumbi, Parvez Khan; Key player: Virender Sehwag
Bangla Tigers Owners: Shirajuddin Alam, Yasin Choudhary, Neelesh Bhatnager, Anis and Rizwan Sajan; Key player: TBC
Colombo Lions Owners: Sri Lanka Cricket; Key player: TBC
Kerala Kings Owners: Hussain Adam Ali and Shafi Ul Mulk; Key player: Eoin Morgan
Venue Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Format 10 overs per side, matches last for 90 minutes
Timeline October 25: Around 120 players to be entered into a draft, to be held in Dubai; December 21: Matches start; December 24: Finals
The Bio
Favourite place in UAE: Al Rams pearling village
What one book should everyone read: Any book written before electricity was invented. When a writer willingly worked under candlelight, you know he/she had a real passion for their craft
Your favourite type of pearl: All of them. No pearl looks the same and each carries its own unique characteristics, like humans
Best time to swim in the sea: When there is enough light to see beneath the surface
Recipe: Spirulina Coconut Brothie
Ingredients
1 tbsp Spirulina powder
1 banana
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk (full fat preferable)
1 tbsp fresh turmeric or turmeric powder
½ cup fresh spinach leaves
½ cup vegan broth
2 crushed ice cubes (optional)
Method
Blend all the ingredients together on high in a high-speed blender until smooth and creamy.
The Two Popes
Director: Fernando Meirelles
Stars: Anthony Hopkins, Jonathan Pryce
Four out of five stars
Bert van Marwijk factfile
Born: May 19 1952
Place of birth: Deventer, Netherlands
Playing position: Midfielder
Teams managed:
1998-2000 Fortuna Sittard
2000-2004 Feyenoord
2004-2006 Borussia Dortmund
2007-2008 Feyenoord
2008-2012 Netherlands
2013-2014 Hamburg
2015-2017 Saudi Arabia
2018 Australia
Major honours (manager):
2001/02 Uefa Cup, Feyenoord
2007/08 KNVB Cup, Feyenoord
World Cup runner-up, Netherlands
Fixtures and results:
Wed, Aug 29:
- Malaysia bt Hong Kong by 3 wickets
- Oman bt Nepal by 7 wickets
- UAE bt Singapore by 215 runs
Thu, Aug 30: UAE v Nepal; Hong Kong v Singapore; Malaysia v Oman
Sat, Sep 1: UAE v Hong Kong; Oman v Singapore; Malaysia v Nepal
Sun, Sep 2: Hong Kong v Oman; Malaysia v UAE; Nepal v Singapore
Tue, Sep 4: Malaysia v Singapore; UAE v Oman; Nepal v Hong Kong
Thu, Sep 6: Final
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
