President Sheikh Mohamed arrived in Oman on Tuesday to begin a two-day state visit.
Sheikh Mohamed was welcomed on his arrival at Al Alam Palace in Muscat by Sultan Haitham.
The UAE delegation was greeted with a guard of honour consisting of hundreds of members of the Royal Cavalry of Oman and the Royal Guard of Oman.
The official reception included several Omani musical and cultural performances, with crowds waving the flags of both countries.
The national anthems of both nations were played, followed by a 21-gun salute, state news agency Wam reported.
During their first meeting, the two leaders spoke of the long-standing ties that exist between the two countries and discussed ways to strengthen these relations further.
Sultan Haitham spoke of his pride in the close ties that Oman and the UAE enjoy. Sheikh Mohamed thanked Oman for the warm welcome and expressed his best wishes to the people of Oman.
They discussed opportunities to build upon the growing economic ties between the UAE and Oman, as well as areas in which the two nations can increase collaboration, including the investment, financial, industrial and cultural sectors.
Their talks centred on the two leaders’ shared vision for a secure and stable region that promotes sustainable development and supports a thriving economy.
After the official talks, Sheikh Mohamed and Sultan Haitham held a one-on-one session.
"Thank you to my brother the Sultan of Oman for the warm welcome. Our two nations are united by deep bonds of history, friendship and common interest, and I look forward to working together to continue forging a brighter future for our people," Sheikh Mohamed said on Twitter.
He also spoke on the special place that Oman holds in the hearts of the Emirati people.
Sheikh Mohamed recalled the bond between UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said.
"The leadership of the two countries will proceed, God willing, on their path and approach," said Sheikh Mohamed.
He said the UAE and Oman benefit from diverse economic and trade relations, which the two leaders are keen to expand through further collaboration and investment.
The trip also aims to reinforce the importance of youth and culture to the future progress of both countries.
The President said the world was witnessing major transformations that could pose challenges for nations.
He stressed that these developments called for strong co-operation between countries in the region, particularly GCC and Arab nations, to develop capabilities to face future challenges.
On the first day of the visit, Sheikh Mohamed was awarded the Order of Al Said Medal by Sultan Haitham.
It is the highest order granted by the country and is typically presented to presidents, monarchs and heads of state in appreciation for their exceptional role in strengthening relations between their nations and Oman.
Sultan Haitham also presented Sheikh Mohamed with a traditional Omani sword.
Sheikh Mohamed awarded Sultan Haitham the Order of Zayed as an expression of the bonds of brotherhood that unite them and in recognition of the Omani leader's efforts to further boost co-operation between the two countries.
The Order of Zayed is the highest decoration awarded by the UAE and is presented to royalty, heads of state and presidents.
Sheikh Mohamed also presented Sultan Haitham with a model of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
A dinner banquet was also hosted in the honour of Sheikh Mohamed.
The trip to Oman is Sheikh Mohamed's second official overseas visit as President. His first was to France in July.
The UAE and Oman share ties stretching back decades and they have signed many agreements in a wide variety of fields, such as culture, education and trade.
“Roots [between the two] are deep in history. We in the UAE today have extensive and strong relations with Oman that are based on social, cultural ties that we want to enhance further in many other sectors,” Mohammed Al Suwaidi, UAE ambassador to Oman, said in a media briefing on Monday.
Investment and the economy will be at the top of the agenda during the visit, the diplomat said. The high-level delegation accompanying Sheikh Mohamed to Oman includes economists, he added.
Oman's envoy to the UAE, Ahmed Al Busaidi, said the trip would bring investment and business opportunities.
“The keenness of both states to enhance and deepen ties has increased growth in many fields which can positively impact the region,” Dr Al Busaidi said.
UAE-Oman diplomatic ties — in pictures
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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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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.
FIXTURES
December 28
Stan Wawrinka v Pablo Carreno Busta, 5pm
Milos Raonic v Dominic Thiem, no earlier then 7pm
December 29 - semi-finals
Rafael Nadal v Stan Wawrinka / Pablo Carreno Busta, 5pm
Novak Djokovic v Milos Raonic / Dominic Thiem, no earlier then 7pm
December 30
3rd/4th place play-off, 5pm
Final, 7pm
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.
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Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
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Stage 7:
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Fines for littering
In Dubai:
Dh200 for littering or spitting in the Dubai Metro
Dh500 for throwing cigarette butts or chewing gum on the floor, or littering from a vehicle.
Dh1,000 for littering on a beach, spitting in public places, throwing a cigarette butt from a vehicle
In Sharjah and other emirates
Dh500 for littering - including cigarette butts and chewing gum - in public places and beaches in Sharjah
Dh2,000 for littering in Sharjah deserts
Dh500 for littering from a vehicle in Ras Al Khaimah
Dh1,000 for littering from a car in Abu Dhabi
Dh1,000 to Dh100,000 for dumping waste in residential or public areas in Al Ain
Dh10,000 for littering at Ajman's beaches
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
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