The biggest and brightest supermoon of the year will be visible in UAE skies next week, while some parts of the world will witness a rare “blood moon” total lunar eclipse.
UAE skies will become brighter with a full moon, called a supermoon, on May 26. It will appear 10 per cent larger than a regular full moon.
Only people in parts of the US, Australia, South America and eastern Asia will experience the total lunar eclipse, with the Moon taking on a reddish glow.
On April 27, a pink supermoon lit up the skies in the Emirates. It appeared 7 per cent bigger and 14 per cent brighter than a regular full moon.
“The Moon will be located on the opposite side of the Earth, as the Sun and its face will be fully illuminated,” the Dubai Astronomy Group said.
“This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the ‘Full Flower Moon’ because this was the time of year when spring flowers appeared in abundance. It has also been known as the ‘Full Corn Planting Moon’ and the ‘Milk Moon’.”
The upcoming astronomical event will be the second of three supermoons to appear in 2021.
A supermoon occurs when the Moon makes its closest approach to the Earth, making it appear larger and brighter than usual.
During the total lunar eclipse, Earth will line up between the Sun and the Moon. This will light up the Moon’s surface, making it appear red.
The next and last supermoon of the year will be visible on June 24.
Pink supermoon seen around the world – in pictures
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A pink supermoon is seen in the background as people relax on the beach in Miami Beach, US, on June 24, 2021. Four supermoons will grace the skies in 2022. AFP -
An aeroplane is pictured against an almost full pink supermoon, in Iraq's southern city of Basra. AFP -
A man watches on as an almost full pink supermoon rises over Istanbul in Istanbul, Turkey. Getty Images -
A pink supermoon is pictured near a lighthouse in Tirana, Albania. Reuters -
A full pink supermoon rises above the Emirates Air Line cable car in London, Britain. Reuters -
A full pink supermoon rises over the skyline of New York and Empire State Building, as seen from West Orange, in New Jersey, US. Reuters -
A full pink supermoon is seen rising behind the Nubble Lighthouse on Cape Neddick, in York, Maine, US. EPA -
A full pink supermoon rises above Havana, Cuba. AFP -
A pink supermoon rises behind the stork in a nest in the village of Rzanicino near Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia. EPA -
A full pink supermoon sets over the famous Suleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey. Getty Images -
A full pink supermoon rises behind Glastonbury Tor in Glastonbury, England. Getty Images -
A full pink supermoon rising behind a statue of the Christ in Wolxheim, France. AFP -
A full pink supermoon rises over Nicosia on the eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus. AP Photo -
The moon rises to become a pink supermoon among the Supertree Grove at Gardens by the Bay, in Singapore. Reuters -
A view of the Golden Horn, with a full pink supermoon rising behind Istanbul's iconic Galata Tower. AP Photo
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
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European arms
Known EU weapons transfers to Ukraine since the war began: Germany 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger surface-to-air missiles. Luxembourg 100 NLAW anti-tank weapons, jeeps and 15 military tents as well as air transport capacity. Belgium 2,000 machine guns, 3,800 tons of fuel. Netherlands 200 Stinger missiles. Poland 100 mortars, 8 drones, Javelin anti-tank weapons, Grot assault rifles, munitions. Slovakia 12,000 pieces of artillery ammunition, 10 million litres of fuel, 2.4 million litres of aviation fuel and 2 Bozena de-mining systems. Estonia Javelin anti-tank weapons. Latvia Stinger surface to air missiles. Czech Republic machine guns, assault rifles, other light weapons and ammunition worth $8.57 million.
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Selma Abdelhamid, the group's moderator, offers her guide to guide the cost of having a young family:
• Buy second hand stuff
They grow so fast. Don't get a second hand car seat though, unless you 100 per cent know it's not expired and hasn't been in an accident.
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• Join mum and baby coffee mornings provided by clinics, babysitting companies or nurseries.
Before joining baby classes ask for a free trial session. This way you will know if it's for you or not. You'll be surprised how great some classes are and how bad others are.
• Once baby is ready for solids, cook at home
Take the food with you in reusable pouches or jars. You'll save a fortune and you'll know exactly what you're feeding your child.
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Started: 2018
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Titan Sports Academy:
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Telephone: 971 50 220 0326
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Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are tokens that represent ownership of unique items. They allow the tokenisation of things such as art, collectibles and even real estate.
An NFT can have only one official owner at one time. And since they're minted and secured on the Ethereum blockchain, no one can modify the record of ownership, not even copy-paste it into a new one.
This means NFTs are not interchangeable and cannot be exchanged with other items. In contrast, fungible items, such as fiat currencies, can be exchanged because their value defines them rather than their unique properties.
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The biog
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BULKWHIZ PROFILE
Date started: February 2017
Founders: Amira Rashad (CEO), Yusuf Saber (CTO), Mahmoud Sayedahmed (adviser), Reda Bouraoui (adviser)
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce
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Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
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Key findings of Jenkins report
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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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The bio
His favourite book - 1984 by George Orwell
His favourite quote - 'If you think education is expensive, try ignorance' by Derek Bok, Former President of Harvard
Favourite place to travel to - Peloponnese, Southern Greece
Favourite movie - The Last Emperor
Favourite personality from history - Alexander the Great
Role Model - My father, Yiannis Davos
The BIO
Favourite piece of music: Verdi’s Requiem. It’s awe-inspiring.
Biggest inspiration: My father, as I grew up in a house where music was constantly played on a wind-up gramophone. I had amazing music teachers in primary and secondary school who inspired me to take my music further. They encouraged me to take up music as a profession and I follow in their footsteps, encouraging others to do the same.
Favourite book: Ian McEwan’s Atonement – the ending alone knocked me for six.
Favourite holiday destination: Italy - music and opera is so much part of the life there. I love it.
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
