The UAE government has stepped in to help reunite a woman with her critically ill father, who is being treated for Covid-19 in Dubai.
Harshi Patel was born and raised in the emirate but moved to the US with her husband in the early 2000s.
Her father, Harikrishna Patel, a businessman who has lived in the emirate since the 1970s, has been in Al Zahra Hospital for more than a week.
His condition deteriorated last week and doctors were forced to place him on a ventilator to give his body a chance to fight the disease.
Ms Patel wanted to travel to the UAE to support her mother and see her father but was unable to book a flight because of worldwide travel restrictions, imposed in response to the pandemic.
After she spoke to The National about her plight, UAE officials booked a seat for her on a flight to bring Emiratis home on Sunday.
“I was ecstatic. I just could not believe it,” she said.
“Dubai is still a place I call home. Just to think they were going above and beyond to help me out at this time, it really touched me.”
She said she hoped her husband would be able to join her soon.
“That would be good support for me. But I am so happy I got to come," she said.
"I think it’s very important to be with my mum. It’s hard for her. There is no one else with her in the house. She’s by herself.”
Ms Patel said her father was in a critical condition.
“The doctors said we have to take it day by day. We are just hoping for the best.”
Ms Patel landed in Dubai on Sunday and will spend up to 10 days quarantined in a hotel before she can see her family.
Before being released, she must test negative for Covid-19 twice.
Her father contracted the disease despite not having left home since Dubai introduced a 24-hour stay-at-home order on April 4.
His family said it was possible he was infected while visiting his business in Deira before the order was issued.
International air travel was brought to a near standstill last month due to the outbreak, but repatriation flights continue.
To date, the UAE has brought home 2,286 Emiratis from 43 countries and helped repatriate more than 22,000 people stuck in the country because of travel restrictions.
Etihad Airways is due to resume flights on June 16, but that could be delayed.
If you go
The flights
There are direct flights from Dubai to Sofia with FlyDubai (www.flydubai.com) and Wizz Air (www.wizzair.com), from Dh1,164 and Dh822 return including taxes, respectively.
The trip
Plovdiv is 150km from Sofia, with an hourly bus service taking around 2 hours and costing $16 (Dh58). The Rhodopes can be reached from Sofia in between 2-4hours.
The trip was organised by Bulguides (www.bulguides.com), which organises guided trips throughout Bulgaria. Guiding, accommodation, food and transfers from Plovdiv to the mountains and back costs around 170 USD for a four-day, three-night trip.
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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
The biog
Family: He is the youngest of five brothers, of whom two are dentists.
Celebrities he worked on: Fabio Canavaro, Lojain Omran, RedOne, Saber Al Rabai.
Where he works: Liberty Dental Clinic
Countries recognising Palestine
France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra
The Freedom Artist
By Ben Okri (Head of Zeus)
Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
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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