• The Two Planets exhibit, part of the Kaleidoscope Light Show at Expo 2020 Dubai. Photo: Christopher Pike/Expo 2020 Dubai
    The Two Planets exhibit, part of the Kaleidoscope Light Show at Expo 2020 Dubai. Photo: Christopher Pike/Expo 2020 Dubai
  • An installation at Al Forsan Park, Expo 2020 Dubai. Photo: Christopher Pike/Expo 2020 Dubai
    An installation at Al Forsan Park, Expo 2020 Dubai. Photo: Christopher Pike/Expo 2020 Dubai
  • The Kaleidoscope Light Show is running alongside Expo's Space Week. Photo: Christopher Pike/Expo 2020 Dubai
    The Kaleidoscope Light Show is running alongside Expo's Space Week. Photo: Christopher Pike/Expo 2020 Dubai
  • The night-time light festival includes planetary-inspired light sculptures, art projections and installations. Photo: Christopher Pike/Expo 2020 Dubai
    The night-time light festival includes planetary-inspired light sculptures, art projections and installations. Photo: Christopher Pike/Expo 2020 Dubai
  • Expo 2020’s Space Week is also hosting astronauts, thought-leaders and other space experts to spotlight the latest innovations in space research and travel. Photo: Christopher Pike/Expo 2020 Dubai
    Expo 2020’s Space Week is also hosting astronauts, thought-leaders and other space experts to spotlight the latest innovations in space research and travel. Photo: Christopher Pike/Expo 2020 Dubai
  • The festival combines the power of photography, light and visual arts. Photo: Christopher Pike/Expo 2020 Dubai
    The festival combines the power of photography, light and visual arts. Photo: Christopher Pike/Expo 2020 Dubai

UAE gears up for bumper public holiday for National Day


Gillian Duncan
  • English
  • Arabic

Last week’s public holiday may now seem like a distant memory, but luckily there is not that long to wait until the next ones.

Because in a little over three weeks’ time – at the start of December – employees across the country will receive three days off, which will stretch to four for many, to celebrate the UAE's Golden Jubilee.

According to the calendar of holidays approved by the government, the first three days of the month will be paid holidays for both the public and private sectors.

The break begins with a public holiday on Wednesday, December 1, to mark Commemoration Day, which remembers those who lost their lives serving their country.

It is immediately followed by a further two days off to celebrate the country’s 50th birthday, on December 2 and December 3.

As December 3 is a Friday, many people may already be off that day. Many employees will have a total of four days off, as December 4 is a Saturday.

The Golden Jubilee celebration, which will be marked by events across the country, will be the final public holiday of 2021.

Although 2022 begins with a public holiday on January 1, many will not receive the benefit, as it falls on a Saturday, when a lot of people will already be off.

Visitors flock to Expo for holiday weekend - in pictures

  • Long queues form outside India's Pavilion at the Expo 2020 Dubai site. All photos: Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    Long queues form outside India's Pavilion at the Expo 2020 Dubai site. All photos: Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • Queues outside Saudi fast-food restaurant Al Baik. The fried chicken brand opened its second UAE branch at the Expo site this month.
    Queues outside Saudi fast-food restaurant Al Baik. The fried chicken brand opened its second UAE branch at the Expo site this month.
  • People took the opportunity to visit the Expo site at the weekend.
    People took the opportunity to visit the Expo site at the weekend.
  • People wait to enter Lebanon's pavilion.
    People wait to enter Lebanon's pavilion.
  • The US pavilion attracted visitors.
    The US pavilion attracted visitors.
  • Italy's pavilion also proved a big draw.
    Italy's pavilion also proved a big draw.
  • There are several food stalls at the Expo site, meaning visitors can keep hydrated and enjoy tasty treats on the go.
    There are several food stalls at the Expo site, meaning visitors can keep hydrated and enjoy tasty treats on the go.
  • People take shelter from the sun outside Switzerland's pavilion.
    People take shelter from the sun outside Switzerland's pavilion.
  • Saudi Arabia's pavilion proved a popular attraction.
    Saudi Arabia's pavilion proved a popular attraction.
  • The UAE's long weekend proved to be the perfect time for many to visit Expo 2020 Dubai.
    The UAE's long weekend proved to be the perfect time for many to visit Expo 2020 Dubai.
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

Results

6.30pm: Mazrat Al Ruwayah – Group 2 (PA) $36,000 (Dirt) 1,600m, Winner: RB Money To Burn, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer)

7.05pm: Handicap (TB) $68,000 (Turf) 2,410m, Winner: Star Safari, William Buick, Charlie Appleby

7.40pm: Meydan Trophy – Conditions (TB) $50,000 (T) 1,900m, Winner: Secret Protector, William Buick, Charlie Appleby

8.15pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 - Group 2 (TB) $293,000 (D) 1,900m, Winner: Salute The Soldier, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass

8.50pm: Al Rashidiya – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,800m, Winner: Zakouski, William Buick, Charlie Appleby

9.25pm: Handicap (TB) $65,000 (T) 1,000m, Winner: Motafaawit, Sam Hitchcock, Doug Watson

Scoreline

Man Utd 2 Pogba 27', Martial 49'

Everton 1 Sigurdsson 77'

Short-term let permits explained

Homeowners and tenants are allowed to list their properties for rental by registering through the Dubai Tourism website to obtain a permit.

Tenants also require a letter of no objection from their landlord before being allowed to list the property.

There is a cost of Dh1,590 before starting the process, with an additional licence fee of Dh300 per bedroom being rented in your home for the duration of the rental, which ranges from three months to a year.

Anyone hoping to list a property for rental must also provide a copy of their title deeds and Ejari, as well as their Emirates ID.

Founders: Abdulmajeed Alsukhan, Turki Bin Zarah and Abdulmohsen Albabtain.

Based: Riyadh

Offices: UAE, Vietnam and Germany

Founded: September, 2020

Number of employees: 70

Sector: FinTech, online payment solutions

Funding to date: $116m in two funding rounds  

Investors: Checkout.com, Impact46, Vision Ventures, Wealth Well, Seedra, Khwarizmi, Hala Ventures, Nama Ventures and family offices

Company Fact Box

Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019

Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO

Based: Amman, Jordan

Sector: Education Technology

Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed

Stage: early-stage startup 

Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.

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Our Time Has Come
Alyssa Ayres, Oxford University Press

Company profile

Date started: 2015

Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki

Based: Dubai

Sector: Online grocery delivery

Staff: 200

Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends

Updated: November 07, 2021, 9:18 AM