• Whirling dervishes of the Mevlevi order perform during a Sheb-i Arus ceremony in Istanbul, Turkey. AP
    Whirling dervishes of the Mevlevi order perform during a Sheb-i Arus ceremony in Istanbul, Turkey. AP
  • Palestinian paramedics inspect damage in the patient rooms caused by the Israeli strikes on the maternity ward at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. AP
    Palestinian paramedics inspect damage in the patient rooms caused by the Israeli strikes on the maternity ward at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. AP
  • Stefan Kraft of Austria competes during the men's FIS Ski Jumping World Cup competition at the Gross-Titlis Schanze in Engelberg, Switzerland. EPA
    Stefan Kraft of Austria competes during the men's FIS Ski Jumping World Cup competition at the Gross-Titlis Schanze in Engelberg, Switzerland. EPA
  • A boat on a canal in the Confucius Temple Scenic Area during snowfall in Nanjing, in China's eastern Jiangsu province. AFP
    A boat on a canal in the Confucius Temple Scenic Area during snowfall in Nanjing, in China's eastern Jiangsu province. AFP
  • Siberian tigers chase a chicken released into their enclosure at the Siberian Tiger Park in Hailin, in China's north-eastern province of Heilongjiang. AFP
    Siberian tigers chase a chicken released into their enclosure at the Siberian Tiger Park in Hailin, in China's north-eastern province of Heilongjiang. AFP
  • Flooding caused by heavy rains and water in Cairns, Queensland, north-eastern Australia. Reuters
    Flooding caused by heavy rains and water in Cairns, Queensland, north-eastern Australia. Reuters
  • Muslim bride Aysel Gerova, 24, has makeup applied at her wedding ceremony in the village of Ribnovo, in the Rhodope Mountains, Bulgaria. Reuters
    Muslim bride Aysel Gerova, 24, has makeup applied at her wedding ceremony in the village of Ribnovo, in the Rhodope Mountains, Bulgaria. Reuters
  • Israeli soldiers walk through a Hamas tunnel close to Erez crossing in the northern Gaza Strip. Reuters
    Israeli soldiers walk through a Hamas tunnel close to Erez crossing in the northern Gaza Strip. Reuters
  • Runners, many wearing Christmas hats, play in foam at the end of Santa Run 10k race, in Caracas, Venezuela. Reuters
    Runners, many wearing Christmas hats, play in foam at the end of Santa Run 10k race, in Caracas, Venezuela. Reuters
  • Farmers at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin protest against planned cuts to fuel subsidies. Getty Images
    Farmers at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin protest against planned cuts to fuel subsidies. Getty Images

Today's best photos: From whirling dervishes to German farmers


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Sunday's best photos: From Foggy morning in Iraq to Chhayanaut group perform in Bangladesh

Saturday's best photos: From starlings flying over Somerset to abandoned trains in Bolivia

Friday's best photos: From ski jumping in Switzerland to virtual reality in Hungary

Thursday's best photos: From pyramids in Abu Dhabi to smog in Lahore

Wednesday's best photos: From the UN General Assembly to Cop28

Tuesday's best photos: From fog in Kashmir to Christmas lights in London

Women & Power: A Manifesto

Mary Beard

Profile Books and London Review of Books 

How to get there

Emirates (www.emirates.com) flies directly to Hanoi, Vietnam, with fares starting from around Dh2,725 return, while Etihad (www.etihad.com) fares cost about Dh2,213 return with a stop. Chuong is 25 kilometres south of Hanoi.
 

11 cabbie-recommended restaurants and dishes to try in Abu Dhabi

Iqbal Restaurant behind Wendy’s on Hamdan Street for the chicken karahi (Dh14)

Pathemari in Navy Gate for prawn biryani (from Dh12 to Dh35)

Abu Al Nasar near Abu Dhabi Mall, for biryani (from Dh12 to Dh20)

Bonna Annee at Navy Gate for Ethiopian food (the Bonna Annee special costs Dh42 and comes with a mix of six house stews – key wet, minchet abesh, kekel, meser be sega, tibs fir fir and shiro).

Al Habasha in Tanker Mai for Ethiopian food (tibs, a hearty stew with meat, is a popular dish; here it costs Dh36.75 for lamb and beef versions)

Himalayan Restaurant in Mussaffa for Nepalese (the momos and chowmein noodles are best-selling items, and go for between Dh14 and Dh20)

Makalu in Mussaffa for Nepalese (get the chicken curry or chicken fry for Dh11)

Al Shaheen Cafeteria near Guardian Towers for a quick morning bite, especially the egg sandwich in paratha (Dh3.50)

Pinky Food Restaurant in Tanker Mai for tilapia

Tasty Zone for Nepalese-style noodles (Dh15)

Ibrahimi for Pakistani food (a quarter chicken tikka with roti costs Dh16)

The specs

Engine: 8.0-litre, quad-turbo 16-cylinder

Transmission: 7-speed auto

0-100kmh 2.3 seconds

0-200kmh 5.5 seconds

0-300kmh 11.6 seconds

Power: 1500hp

Torque: 1600Nm

Price: Dh13,400,000

On sale: now

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.

Other workplace saving schemes
  • The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
  • Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
  • National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
  • In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
  • Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
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%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Ali%20Kalthami%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Mohammed%20Dokhei%2C%20Sarah%20Taibah%2C%20Hajar%20Alshammari%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MATCH INFO

Tottenham Hotspur 1
Kane (50')

Newcastle United 0

The Specs

Engine 3.8-litre, twin-turbo V8

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 582bhp (542bhp in GTS model)

Torque: 730Nm

Price: Dh649,000 (Dh549,000 for GTS) 

Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12

Power: 819hp

Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm

Price: From Dh1,700,000

Available: Now

Emergency

Director: Kangana Ranaut

Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry 

Rating: 2/5

Updated: December 20, 2023, 1:05 PM