DUBAI // Hot air balloons, sky divers and peace flags will highlight a peace march on Friday, ahead of next week's three-day Dubai International Peace Convention.
Sky divers from choppers will descend around 4.15pm behind Emirates Towers near the Trade Centre District. They will join a march led by 500 bikers, 200 cars and nearly 20 horses on 312 Road.
Officials said today they expect more than 150,000 people to join the march.
"The peace march is to raise awareness," said Dr Omar Al Khateeb, the convention's chairman. "People from all backgrounds will join together for one common aim, which is peace."
In the run-up to the event, the organisers will also visit patients in hospitals and hold other activities through the next week.
The convention, which begins next Thursday, April 12, will see Islamic scholars from across the world. The American Muslim preacher Yusuf Estes; Abdur Raheem Green, an imam at the London Central Mosque; and Zakir Naik, president and founder of the Indian-based Islamic research Foundation, are among the speakers who are expected at the convention.
Organisers said the event will focus on peace within the individual, and how global unity can be achieved through peace.
The convention is an initiative of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum World Peace Award. Its objective is to honour people who have contributed to world peace, promoting dialogue between different faiths, and the development of global peace and stability.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Name: Shamsa Hassan Safar
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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.
