Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed is received by Sayyid Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, right, upon arriving in Muscat for an official visit in 2014. Ryan Carter / Crown Prince Court — Abu Dhabi
Sayyid Haitham bin Tariq Al Said is seen while welcoming Britain's Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall at Bait Al Noor church in Muscat, Oman, in 2016. AP Photo
Oman's new sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said swears in at the Royal Family Council in Muscat, Oman. Oman TV via AP
Oman's new sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said makes his first speech in front of the Royal Family Council in Muscat, Oman. Oman TV via AP
Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, Vice Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, right, stands for a photograph with Sayyid Haitham bin Tariq Al Said during the opening ceremony of the Louvre Abu Dhabi in 2017. Photo by Abdullah Al Junaibi
Sayyid Haitham bin Tariq al Said offers condolences to Sheikh Tahnoon bin Mohamed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in Al Ain Region, on the passing of Sheikha Hessa bint Mohamed Al Nahyan, at Mushrif Palace in 2018. Hamad Al Kaabi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi
Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, right, and Sayyid Haitham bin Tariq al Said attend the final day of Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in Shams Tower in 2016. Ryan Carter / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi
Saudi Arabia's King Salman Bin Abdulaziz meets Haitham bin Tariq Al Said to receive condolences after one of his brothers, Saudi Prince Turki bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, passed away, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 2016. Getty Images
Sayyid Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, center right, is seen next to Britain's Prince Charles while welcoming him and his wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, at Bait Al Noor church in Muscat. AP Photo
Sayyid Haitham bin Tariq Al Said receives Britain's Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, upon arrival in Muscat, Oman in 2019. EPA
Britain's Prince Harry is being welcomed by Sayyid Haitham Bin Tariq Al Said upon his arrival in Oman in 2014. AFP
Sayyid Haitham bin Tariq Al Said looks on during the Closing Ceremony at Al-Musannah Sports City on day nine of the 2nd Asian Beach Games Muscat 2010 in Muscat, Oman. Getty Images
As we marked Oman’s 50th National Day on November 18, I found myself reminiscing over our various milestones. Our country has witnessed a remarkable journey in terms of socioeconomic development and we are proud of the mark we have made in the realm of foreign policy and promoting peace among our allies.
We are eternally grateful to Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said whose stewardship elevated the country from a relatively unknown name to an exemplary model in myriad fields in the global arena.
Much like his predecessor, our new leader, Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, inspires us to remain committed to our common goal of national prosperity.
Omani Minister of Sport Sayyid Dhi Yazan bin Haitham (2nd-L) presents the trophy to Dhofar players after they won a football match, the Sultan Qaboos Cup final, in the Omani capital Muscat on November 29. AFP
Oman’s annual gross domestic product has witnessed a growth trajectory over the past several decades. However, according to the World Bank, it is projected to fall this year owing to declining oil prices and the effects of Covid-19.
Given these indicators, as well as the lifestyle changes implemented to tackle the situation that resulted from the outbreak, it is natural to be cautious as we advance in to the post-pandemic world.
We cannot discount the psychological impact of students being forced to stay home from school and employees across fields shifting to a work-from-home model and reinventing themselves through reskilling and upskilling.
On a national level, especially in a culture like ours that has always valued community relations, it is particularly worrying that citizens have had to live in relative isolation for the better part of the year.
I have always stressed the importance of empowering our youth and boosting their morale in order to maintain unity and nationwide commitment to the vision of our beloved leaders.
Thankfully, now that pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Moderna have indicated that their Covid-19 vaccines will be available early next year, we may finally move towards a semblance of normality in the coming months. Yet, we must use our resources to keep up the community spirit until it is safe to resume life without social distancing.
Our finance ministry recently announced plans to bring down the national deficit to 1.7 per cent of Oman’s GDP by 2024 from a preliminary deficit of 15.8 per cent in 2020.
Its plan entails the introduction of income tax on individuals in the high income bracket in 2022 and targets an increase in non-oil revenues to 35 per cent of the total government revenue by 2024 – up from 28 per cent this year.
The Institute of International Finance commended our government’s efforts in a recent report. Oman’s 2020-2024 plan in response to the economic crisis was praised, as was the restructuring and merging of specific ministries and the implementation of budget cuts for more efficient use of public funds.
On a societal level, I believe the key to bringing our nation back on track lies in our traditions that made Oman a success story – community relations and entrepreneurship, with a focus on youth that drive our future.
I envision us reverting to our old ways as soon as it is safe to move freely without the risk of contagion. However, we must use our experience of the pandemic and channel it into creative approaches to revitalise business in the country.
Al Maghseel beach in Salalah, Dhofar province, Oman. Reuters
Small and medium-sized enterprises play a pivotal role in the country’s economic development, through creating job opportunities, responding to market demands in offering a variety of goods and services and boosting the national GDP.
In this context, we must pay special attention to the SME sector in order to support our government’s goal to reinforce non-oil revenues in the coming years.
Organisations with a successful track record of ensuring robust business performance can roll out mentorship programmes led by seasoned entrepreneurs and leaders to mentor our youth – particularly aspiring and creative minds – about business in the real world.
In doing so, they enable the youth to learn how to set up and grow a company, manage their teams to achieve optimum results and turn their ideas into profit-generating products and services.
One of the most important aspects of such mentorship programmes is the emphasis on collaboration, encouraging people to connect and bring their skills and ideas together.
School and university students can be introduced to entrepreneurship workshops at academic institutions – both their own and others in the community.
Engaging with future leaders in the early stages of their education will give them confidence and motivate them to come up with ideas that could contribute to translating Oman’s long-term vision into reality.
A concerted effort to collaborate, empower our youth and strengthen our economy will help bring our nation together.
We have faced a series of unprecedented challenges this year, but marking our 50th anniversary as a nation was a much needed reminder of our accomplishments and strengths.
I am confident that with careful planning and dedication, we will be able to rally together to build a brighter and more secure future for our country.
Mohammed Alardhi is executive chairman of Investcorp and chairman of Bank Sohar, and was the longest-serving Omani head of the Royal Air Force of Oman
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
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- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
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Trump v Khan
2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US
2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks
2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit
2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”
2022: Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency
July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”
Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.
Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”
The site is part of the Hili archaeological park in Al Ain. Excavations there have proved the existence of the earliest known agricultural communities in modern-day UAE. Some date to the Bronze Age but Hili 2 is an Iron Age site. The Iron Age witnessed the development of the falaj, a network of channels that funnelled water from natural springs in the area. Wells allowed settlements to be established, but falaj meant they could grow and thrive. Unesco, the UN's cultural body, awarded Al Ain's sites - including Hili 2 - world heritage status in 2011. Now the most recent dig at the site has revealed even more about the skilled people that lived and worked there.
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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Results
International 4, United States 1
Justin Thomas and Tiger Woods (US) beat Marc Leishman and Joaquin Niemann (International) 4 and 3.
Adam Hadwin and Sungjae Im (International) beat Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay (US) 2 up.
Adam Scott and Byeong Hun An (International) beat Bryson DeChambeau and Tony Finau (US) 2 and 1.
Hideki Matsuyama and C.T. Pan (International) beat Webb Simpson and Patrick Reed (US) 1 up.
Abraham Ancer and Louis Oosthuizen (International) beat Dustin Johnson and Gary Woodland (US) 4 and 3.
