Oman's Sultan Haitham Bin Tariq Al Said has promised a continuation of his predecessor's agenda of peace in his first public address since the end of 40 days of mourning for Sultan Qaboos.
In televised comments on Sunday, Oman's new Sultan said his government would continue his predecessor's drive towards peace in the region, calling on his citizens to "give us your trust".
"The message of the Sultan is to spread peace around the world," he said. "We are aware of the regional challenges that have arisen which will impact us and our surroundings, we are resilient to them."
Sultan Haitham previously served as secretary general for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1994 to 2002, before becoming minister for heritage and culture.
Sultan Haitham also addressed Oman's youth, promising to "ensure that we will listen and meet their demands" as part of a drive of modernisation. He added that education, science and development would be the country's main national priorities.
Oman's population is one of the youngest in the world, with 40 per cent of its 4.9 million citizens under the age of 25. The World Bank estimates the country has a youth unemployment rate of 49 per cent.
The messaging signalled business as usual for the Oman 2040 Vision, which the late Sultan unveiled in 2018.
The 20-year plan targets a growth rate of 5 per cent per year by boosting tourism, agriculture, technological innovation and start-up businesses.
"Youth are our nation's wealth, they are our present and future and we are keen and dedicated to listening to them," he said, adding that Oman would give women "their full rights".
"We will dedicate our lives for Oman and its citizens; we are calling you to support us and to give us your trust," he said.
He said the government will also work on reducing public debt and the fiscal deficit, as well as restructuring the public apparatus and companies.
Sultan Qaboos bin Said, who ruled the country for five decades, died in January. Sultan Haitham was named as his successor just hours after his death when a sealed envelope nominating him was opened.
Sultan Haitham's comments on regional peace came two days after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited the Sultanate. Before his visit, Mr Pompeo said the relationship between the two nations was "critical to our mutual national security objectives, including countering terrorism and promoting regional stability."
The new Sultan began his leadership last week by pardoning 282 prisoners. He also visited Al Shomoukh Palace in the Manah, a royal camp set up by Sultan Qaboos in the 1990s to meet local dignitaries in the Dakhliya Region.
Specs
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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.
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- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
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- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
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- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
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A far easier option is to invest in a low-cost exchange traded fund (ETF) that invests in the precious metal instead, for example, ETFS Physical Gold (PHAU) and iShares Physical Gold (SGLN) both track physical gold. The VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF invests directly in mining companies.
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