It is the height of summer in the UAE and people in the city are looking ahead to the next public holiday in the country.
With a 4-day weekend on the horizon before the end of the year, employees in the city are starting to make plans for their next vacation.
Before then, however, there is the possibility of long weekends with Dubai announcing 4-day working week for selected workers.
Saudi Arabia is also making changes to labour laws and the UAE has clearly defined rules on leave of all types for employees in the country.
Elsewhere this week, a stock market crash, road closures and an update on the UAE’s first casino have also hit the headlines.
Catch up with 10 of the biggest stories this week as selected by Arabian Business editors.
UAE holidays 2024: When is the next long weekend? Expected dates for 4-day holiday revealed
The nation already declared holidays during Eid Al-Fitr from April 8 to April 12 this year, followed by Arafat Day on June 15, and the first day of Eid Al-Adha on June 16.
Here’s how many holidays are left in 2024:
- September 15: Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) birthday
- December 2: National Day
- December 3: National Day holiday
Dubai announces 4-day week and reduced hours summer trial
The Dubai Government Human Resources Department (DGHR) announced the pilot launch of the “Our Flexible Summer” initiative, which aims to reduce the working hours of participating government entities during the summer.
15 government entities are participating in the pilot stage of the initiative, with an aim to enhance workplace flexibility by reducing working time to seven hours and suspending work on Fridays.
UAE casino: Wynn Resorts buys more Ras Al Khaimah land as it eyes future expansion
In a call to investors the company revealed it has invested in a further 70 acres of land in Ras Al Khaimah’s Al Marjan Island as it looks to future expansion plans of the integrated resort.
Craig Billings, CEO of Wynn Resorts, said the under-construction building currently stands at 90m and is already the tallest building in Ras Al Khaimah. Billings added that the UAE project is “the most exciting new market for our industry in decades” and the Wynn Al Marjanin Ras Al Khaimah is set to open in 2027.
Saudi Arabia announces major labour law changes; maternity leave extended, new notice rules, more paid leave
Wide ranging changes include the extension of maternity leave, paid leave for the death of a sibling and defined notice periods for indefinite contracts.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development indicated that the recent amendments to several articles of the labour law, approved by the Cabinet session on Tuesday, August 6, will contribute to creating a more attractive work environment for employees and achieving sustainable development, in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
Mo Vlogs hits back over “scam” claims
Vlogs has been at the centre of online claims that have gone viral, over alleged comments he made in a podcast. Vlogs has become one of the region’s most successful influencers, with 11.4 million subscribers to his YouTube channel and 4.5 million followers on Instagram.
But the star – real name Mohamed Beiraghdary – told Arabian Business: “This is not true, I am not involved in anything like this. Sometimes people use my name without me even knowing about it.”
UAE leave explained: 9 types of time off for employees
UAE employees plan holidays meticulously to maximise annual leave.
Residents are already planning long weekends with an anticipated four-day holiday in December to mark the occasion of UAE National Day. Although UAE Labour Law guarantees 30 days paid annual leave for employees every year, there are a variety of other ways to take time off for workers in the country.
From study leave to a paid sabbatical, find out your rights and entitlements when working in the UAE.
Inside Tulåh – UAE company’s first $100m clinical wellness resort launching this December
The UAE – and also the wider Middle East region – is set to see the launch of a pioneering new healthcare system – Tulåh – targeting holistic health management through the integration of evidence-based traditional medicine with modern medical practices, leading to a comprehensive alignment of mind, body and soul.
The $100 million initiative, to be offered in collaboration with esteemed partners like Auroville, Arya Vaidya Sala and Cleveland Clinic, among others, will offer a combo package of the best of modern medicine, traditional Indian healthcare and luxury hospitality.
Revealed: Dubai investors flock to large properties, defying global demand surge for smaller apartments
Dubai is bucking global property market trends, with investors and residents showing a preference for larger living spaces, in contrast to other markets where economic pressures, urbanisation, and an intensifying housing crisis have pushed many to opt for smaller homes and reassess their lifestyle choices, research suggests.
While the trend is rising in popularity even in cities like New York, London and several cities in Russia, Gulf cities such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi are yet to show any such affinities, sector experts said.
Surprisingly, Russian cities overwhelmingly dominate the list of the smallest average apartment sizes globally, as against the long-standing perceptions that thickly populated cities such as Tokyo and Hong Kong could be figuring on top, the latest market research by Realiste, the Dubai-headquartered AI-based global real estate consultancy, revealed.
Dubai and other rising UAE real estate hotspots such as Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah, on the other hand, are still seeing surging demand for spacious villas and apartments, with wealthy global investors chasing multi-million, super luxury houses in these cities, industry insiders said.
Markets meltdown: Is a recession coming?
Investors from across the globe are bracing for further volatility after fears that the US economy could be moving towards a recession sent shockwaves in global markets since the end of last week.
The stock market turbulence is being driven by growing concerns about the health of major economies. Experts are closely monitoring economic indicators and market trends to gauge the potential for a broader economic downturn.
The catalyst for the latest bout of market jitters was a series of disappointing economic data releases from the US, coupled with underwhelming results from tech giants Amazon, Alphabet, and Intel. These developments have raised alarm bells among investors, who fear that the world’s largest economy may be teetering on the brink of recession.
RTA announces major Dubai road closures
The RTA has announced expected delays on the Dubai-Al Ain Road until September 9.
Due to roadworks on the major road there will be expected delays on weekdays and full closures on weekends. The work will begin on Friday, August 9 and last until Monday, September.
The RTA said: “To further enhance the #Dubai infrastructure, #RTA informs you of an expected delay on the Dubai – Al Ain Road under the fifth intersection with Jebel Ali – Lehbab Road in both directions, daily on weekdays from 10pm to 6am, starting from August 9 until September 9, 2024, due to bridge maintenance work.
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