European gas prices fell and Alpine ski resorts closed due to a lack of winter snow after much of Europe greeted 2023 with unusually warm weather.
The new year was less than two hours old when a Swiss weather station measured 19.3°C near Delemont, a January record for the north side of the Alps.
After that night-time high, attributed to an unusual wind pattern, temperatures rose further during New Year’s Day and passed 20°C in parts of Switzerland and its neighbour Liechtenstein.
The mild temperatures in the middle of winter were more typical of what might be expected in July and August, the Swiss weather service said.
Parts of Germany, Austria and Poland also saw unprecedented temperatures on New Year’s Day.
The Polish capital, Warsaw, easily beat its 24-year-old January temperature record with a new high of 18.9°C.
Some parts of Poland beat their record for the whole winter, in what the weather service called a “one-day thermal summer”.
“The thermal anomaly is over 15°C. This is an unprecedented situation in our climate,” it said.
Forecasters said the mild spell was due to warm air coming from the south-west.
In Switzerland, several Alpine resorts were shut due to a lack of snow across large swathes of the mountain range. French slopes have suffered from the same problem in the Alps and Pyrenees.
European gas prices, meanwhile, extended a three-week drop as the mild weather reduced demand.
Benchmark prices were at their lowest since February 21 last year, three days before Russia invaded Ukraine.
Weather forecasts are being closely watched by policymakers as they try to make Europe’s squeezed gas supplies last the winter.
Germany’s weather was expected to remain mild for several days, while temperatures up to 17°C were predicted for the Austrian Alps.
It came after several countries reported that 2022 was the warmest or one of the warmest years on record.
The UK’s Met Office said provisional figures showed 2022 had the highest average temperature since records began in 1884.
All 10 of Britain’s warmest years on record have come since 2003, a fact attributed to the effects of climate change.
Switzerland said 2022 was both its warmest and sunniest year ever and was 1.6°C above the norm of even the past three decades.
In Germany, it was a virtual tie between 2022 and 2018 for the warmest year on record.
“The record warm year of 2022 should be a renewed incentive for all of us to finally move from talk to action on climate change,” said Tobias Fuchs, a climate spokesman for the German weather service.
“So far we haven’t managed to step hard enough on the greenhouse gas emissions brake. Global warming is advancing almost unchecked.”
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
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.
The specs: 2018 Mercedes-Benz E 300 Cabriolet
Price, base / as tested: Dh275,250 / Dh328,465
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder
Power: 245hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 370Nm @ 1,300rpm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.0L / 100km
Company%20Profile
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDual%20permanently%20excited%20synchronous%20motors%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E516hp%20or%20400Kw%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E858Nm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle%20speed%20auto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERange%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E485km%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh699%2C000%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THE BIO
Ms Davison came to Dubai from Kerala after her marriage in 1996 when she was 21-years-old
Since 2001, Ms Davison has worked at many affordable schools such as Our Own English High School in Sharjah, and The Apple International School and Amled School in Dubai
Favourite Book: The Alchemist
Favourite quote: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail
Favourite place to Travel to: Vienna
Favourite cuisine: Italian food
Favourite Movie : Scent of a Woman
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
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
How the UAE gratuity payment is calculated now
Employees leaving an organisation are entitled to an end-of-service gratuity after completing at least one year of service.
The tenure is calculated on the number of days worked and does not include lengthy leave periods, such as a sabbatical. If you have worked for a company between one and five years, you are paid 21 days of pay based on your final basic salary. After five years, however, you are entitled to 30 days of pay. The total lump sum you receive is based on the duration of your employment.
1. For those who have worked between one and five years, on a basic salary of Dh10,000 (calculation based on 30 days):
a. Dh10,000 ÷ 30 = Dh333.33. Your daily wage is Dh333.33
b. Dh333.33 x 21 = Dh7,000. So 21 days salary equates to Dh7,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service. Multiply this figure for every year of service up to five years.
2. For those who have worked more than five years
c. 333.33 x 30 = Dh10,000. So 30 days’ salary is Dh10,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service.
Note: The maximum figure cannot exceed two years total salary figure.
