Small businesses face a challenging time during Ramadan but the switch in working hours can pay off in the service sector.
Retailers and restaurants have to juggle new opening hours as well as come up with a flexible approach for staff during the Holy Month.
"We generally see a drop in sales for the first 10 days," said Troy Norris, a human resources director at Gulf Greetings, which owns The Toy Store, which has five outlets in Dubai and employs 400 people at 60 retail outlets across the Middle East.
"But during the entire month of Ramadan, we generate approximately 30 per cent more. This is helped by sales after iftar," adds Mr Norris.
Small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) are crucial to the UAE, accounting for about 80 per cent of the country's non-oil economy.
This year alone, 20,000 SMEs are expected to launch joining the 175,000 already operating in the Emirates.
Naturally, during Ramadan, catering for staff as well as customers is an imperative.
"We have to ensure that there is a good mix of religions to enable our Muslim workers to have time off during the breaking of fast and prayer," said Mr Norris.
"Our store staff strictly follow the Ramadan working hours and are paid overtime if they do more than six hours."
The school holidays, which this year coincide with Ramadan, will also affect SMEs, as families leave the UAE for their annual summer break.
"This year Ramadan falls squarely during school holidays and it seems like a lot of people are away," said Yunib Siddiqui, the owner of the boutique food store Jones the Grocer in Abu Dhabi. The company has three outlets in Abu Dhabi and one in Dubai.
"I can't say [what our] trading [figures] will be but there will be a decline … I am sure it will be in double digits percentage."
Mr Siddiqui said it was important to "plan ahead" for Ramadan as well as the summer holiday season.
"[It is always wise] to factor in a substantial dip in trading during a midsummer Ramadan and plan ahead to reduce inventory and tighten up budgets," he said.
For other small companies, rescheduling production to meet increased demand becomes a priority for the next four weeks.
Chocolaty, a manufacturer of chocolates in Dubai, expects up to 40 per cent growth month-on-month during Ramadan. But producing those sweet treats can pose problems.
"Production will be a challenge as work timings get reduced but we have been anticipating this," said Fuad Abdul Rahma, the owner of the company, which employs 10 people.
"We started building up our stocks well before Ramadan."
The shorter working week, from 48 hours to 36, can also be a challenge for SMEs.
Mr Norris believes forward planning and flexibility is the key to making Gulf Greetings run smoothly during the next month but there are also challenges.
"The reduced hours mean there is less time to talk to international and local partners," he said.
Reshuffling staff rosters is another key part of planning during Ramadan.
"It is always possible that senior staff who are not fasting and who are not subject to reduced hours can fill in for more junior staff who are subject to the reduced hours," said Neil Crossley, the group head of employment, pensions and benefits practice at DLA Piper in Dubai.
"But then, there isn't really any productivity or business focus during this time of the year in the Middle East," he added.
"Businesses cope year-in and year-out - they just need to be flexible."
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Drishyam 2
Directed by: Jeethu Joseph
Starring: Mohanlal, Meena, Ansiba, Murali Gopy
Rating: 4 stars
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
Karwaan
Producer: Ronnie Screwvala
Director: Akarsh Khurana
Starring: Irrfan Khan, Dulquer Salmaan, Mithila Palkar
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl, 48V hybrid
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: Dh359,000
On sale: now
Armies of Sand
By Kenneth Pollack (Oxford University Press)
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
COMPANY PROFILE
● Company: Bidzi
● Started: 2024
● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid
● Based: Dubai, UAE
● Industry: M&A
● Funding size: Bootstrapped
● No of employees: Nine
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
Andor
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreator%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Tony%20Gilroy%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDiego%20Luna%2C%20Genevieve%20O'Reilly%2C%20Alex%20Ferns%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%205%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Herc's Adventures
Developer: Big Ape Productions
Publisher: LucasArts
Console: PlayStation 1 & 5, Sega Saturn
Rating: 4/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
Men from Barca's class of 99
Crystal Palace - Frank de Boer
Everton - Ronald Koeman
Manchester City - Pep Guardiola
Manchester United - Jose Mourinho
Southampton - Mauricio Pellegrino
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
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More on animal trafficking
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'THE WORST THING YOU CAN EAT'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
'The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window'
Director:Michael Lehmann
Stars:Kristen Bell
Rating: 1/5