A court in Saudi Arabia has fined the Saudi Binladin Group 20 million riyals ($5.32 million) after finding it guilty of negligence and safety breaches in the Makkah Grand Mosque crane crash case.
The verdict on Tuesday came more than seven years after at least 109 people, including foreign pilgrims, were killed in September 2015 when a crane crashed into a courtyard of the mosque as a result of high winds.
The crane was one of many the construction company had erected as part of a multibillion-dollar expansion plan to accommodate the growing numbers of pilgrims.
The Criminal Court of Appeal in Makkah ruled that the company was not required to pay blood money to the relatives of those killed in the accident.
Seven people were found guilty, with three sentenced to six months in prison and fined up to 30,000 riyals while four received three-month jail terms and were fined 15,000 riyals.
In 2017, the appeals court ordered a new trial involving about a dozen people accused of negligence, after a Saudi court cleared the Saudi Binladin Group of responsibility.
The company, which has developed famous buildings in the kingdom, was founded more than 80 years ago by the father of former Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
What is Reform?
Reform is a right-wing, populist party led by Nigel Farage, a former MEP who won a seat in the House of Commons last year at his eighth attempt and a prominent figure in the campaign for the UK to leave the European Union.
It was founded in 2018 and originally called the Brexit Party.
Many of its members previously belonged to UKIP or the mainstream Conservatives.
After Brexit took place, the party focused on the reformation of British democracy.
Former Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson became its first MP after defecting in March 2024.
The party gained support from Elon Musk, and had hoped the tech billionaire would make a £100m donation. However, Mr Musk changed his mind and called for Mr Farage to step down as leader in a row involving the US tycoon's support for far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson who is in prison for contempt of court.
At a glance - Zayed Sustainability Prize 2020
Launched: 2008
Categories: Health, energy, water, food, global high schools
Prize: Dh2.2 million (Dh360,000 for global high schools category)
Winners’ announcement: Monday, January 13
Impact in numbers
335 million people positively impacted by projects
430,000 jobs created
10 million people given access to clean and affordable drinking water
50 million homes powered by renewable energy
6.5 billion litres of water saved
26 million school children given solar lighting
UAE%20Warriors%2045%20Results
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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.
