Residents across the Emirates can expect slightly cooler climes on Sunday. Leslie Pableo for The National
Residents across the Emirates can expect slightly cooler climes on Sunday. Leslie Pableo for The National
Residents across the Emirates can expect slightly cooler climes on Sunday. Leslie Pableo for The National
Residents across the Emirates can expect slightly cooler climes on Sunday. Leslie Pableo for The National

UAE set to bask in a sunny and cool weekend


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Cool weather is expected throughout the weekend as fresh winds sweep into the UAE.

Winds are likely to gather in strength from the northwest, blowing in dust and sand as speeds reach about 40km an hour.

Dubai and Abu Dhabi basked in temperatures of 25C on Thursday morning - at least 5°C cooler than on April 25th last year, when it was 30°C - 36°C, according to global forecaster Accuweather.

Humidity is likely to increase during night and Friday morning over some northern and internal areas with a chance of mist formation, according to the National Centre of Meteorology.

Residents of the Northern Emirates or in mountainous areas can expect temperatures between 16°C and 26°C.

Strong winds will bring rough conditions at sea in the Arabian Gulf and Oman Sea on Thursday, becoming rough to moderate on Friday.

A slight increase in temperatures is expected on Saturday reaching 32°C in Abu Dhabi, with fair to partly cloudy skies and moderate to rough seas.

Labour dispute

The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law 

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.

Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

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The five types of long-term residential visas

Obed Suhail of ServiceMarket, an online home services marketplace, outlines the five types of long-term residential visas:

Investors:

A 10-year residency visa can be obtained by investors who invest Dh10 million, out of which 60 per cent should not be in real estate. It can be a public investment through a deposit or in a business. Those who invest Dh5 million or more in property are eligible for a five-year residency visa. The invested amount should be completely owned by the investors, not loaned, and retained for at least three years.

Entrepreneurs:

A five-year multiple entry visa is available to entrepreneurs with a previous project worth Dh0.5m or those with the approval of an accredited business incubator in the UAE.  

Specialists

Expats with specialised talents, including doctors, specialists, scientists, inventors, and creative individuals working in the field of culture and art are eligible for a 10-year visa, given that they have a valid employment contract in one of these fields in the country.

Outstanding students:

A five-year visa will be granted to outstanding students who have a grade of 95 per cent or higher in a secondary school, or those who graduate with a GPA of 3.75 from a university. 

Retirees:

Expats who are at least 55 years old can obtain a five-year retirement visa if they invest Dh2m in property, have savings of Dh1m or more, or have a monthly income of at least Dh20,000.