UAE flags at half-mast after the mother of Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Ruler of Umm Al Quwain, passed away, with three days of mourning declared. Victor Besa / The National
UAE flags at half-mast after the mother of Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Ruler of Umm Al Quwain, passed away, with three days of mourning declared. Victor Besa / The National
UAE flags at half-mast after the mother of Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Ruler of Umm Al Quwain, passed away, with three days of mourning declared. Victor Besa / The National
UAE flags at half-mast after the mother of Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Ruler of Umm Al Quwain, passed away, with three days of mourning declared. Victor Besa / The National

Three days of mourning announced in Umm Al Quwain as mother of Ruler dies


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Three days of mourning have been declared following the death of Sheikha Hassa bint Humaid bin Abdulrahman Al Shamsi, mother of Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Ruler of Umm Al Quwain.

Flags are to be flown at half-mast during the mourning period announced by the Ruler's Court, state news agency Wam reported.

The funeral prayer was held on Monday following dhuhr prayers at Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Mualla Mosque in Al Ras, Umm Al Quwain.

Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Ruler of Umm Al Quwain, Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman, Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, Sheikh Rashid bin Saud Al Mualla, Crown Prince of Umm Al Quwain, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Saud Al Qasimi, Crown Prince of Ras Al Khaimah, perform funeral prayers for Sheikha Hassa bint Humaid bin Abdulrahman Al Shamsi, the mother of the Ruler of Umm Al Quwain.
Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Ruler of Umm Al Quwain, Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman, Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, Sheikh Rashid bin Saud Al Mualla, Crown Prince of Umm Al Quwain, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Saud Al Qasimi, Crown Prince of Ras Al Khaimah, perform funeral prayers for Sheikha Hassa bint Humaid bin Abdulrahman Al Shamsi, the mother of the Ruler of Umm Al Quwain.

Rulers of the other emirates have expressed their condolences on the death of Sheikha Hassa. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, accompanied by Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, offered their condolences to Sheikh Saud in person on Tuesday. Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, also paid his respects.

"The Court of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah offers its sincere condolences to His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Umm Al Quwain, his brothers, the family and relatives of the deceased, and all the honourable Al Mualla family," read a statement on Wam.

Condolences were also sent by Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah.

"With hearts that believe in God's will and destiny, the Court of His Highness the Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah mourns the passing of Sheikha Hassa bint Humaid bin Abdulrahman Al Shamsi, who passed away today," Wam reported Sheikh Saud as saying.

Also offering condolences were Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Ruler of Fujairah, and Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Ruler of Ajman.

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Dr Amal Khalid Alias revealed a recent case of a woman with daughters, who specifically wanted a boy.

A semen analysis of the father showed abnormal sperm so the couple required IVF.

Out of 21 eggs collected, six were unused leaving 15 suitable for IVF.

A specific procedure was used, called intracytoplasmic sperm injection where a single sperm cell is inserted into the egg.

On day three of the process, 14 embryos were biopsied for gender selection.

The next day, a pre-implantation genetic report revealed four normal male embryos, three female and seven abnormal samples.

Day five of the treatment saw two male embryos transferred to the patient.

The woman recorded a positive pregnancy test two weeks later. 

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Favourite things

Luxury: Enjoys window shopping for high-end bags and jewellery

Discount: She works in luxury retail, but is careful about spending, waits for sales, festivals and only buys on discount

University: The only person in her family to go to college, Jiang secured a bachelor’s degree in business management in China

Masters: Studying part-time for a master’s degree in international business marketing in Dubai

Vacation: Heads back home to see family in China

Community work: Member of the Chinese Business Women’s Association of the UAE to encourage other women entrepreneurs

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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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  • Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
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Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy 

Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong

Rating: 4.5/5

The Bio

Ram Buxani earned a salary of 125 rupees per month in 1959

Indian currency was then legal tender in the Trucial States.

He received the wages plus food, accommodation, a haircut and cinema ticket twice a month and actuals for shaving and laundry expenses

Buxani followed in his father’s footsteps when he applied for a job overseas

His father Jivat Ram worked in general merchandize store in Gibraltar and the Canary Islands in the early 1930s

Buxani grew the UAE business over several sectors from retail to financial services but is attached to the original textile business

He talks in detail about natural fibres, the texture of cloth, mirrorwork and embroidery 

Buxani lives by a simple philosophy – do good to all

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Updated: April 22, 2025, 4:12 PM