Saudi Ramadan 2023 Working Hours; Oman Visa-Free Travel; UAE Annual Leave Rules; 3-Day Weekend Plan – 10 Things You Missed This Week
Saudi Arabia announced working hours for Ramadan and revealed it is investigating plans to move to a three-day weekend, this week.
Elsewhere, Oman revealed it will offer visa-free travel to people of more than 100 nationalities as it looks to expand tourism in the country.
It has been another busy week in the Middle East, with airlines, visas, and workplace culture hitting the headlines.
Saudi Arabia announced a new airline, Riyadh Air, would be taking to the skies. Dubai’s Emirates redirected planes due to an in-air emergency.
In the UAE, employees had an update on annual leave allowances and mandatory remote working during Ramadan.
Catch up on the 10 biggest news stories of the week as selected by Arabian Business editors.
Oman announces visa-free entry for over 100 countries
Oman has recently announced that it is offering visa-free entry for up to 14 days to tourists from more than 100 countries.
The move is aimed at encouraging more tourists to visit Oman, which is known for its natural beauty, rich history, and unique culture.
Saudi Arabia announces 2023 Ramadan working hours
Saudi Arabia has announced official 2023 Ramadan working hours for employees in the Kingdom.
The announcement was made by the Kingdom’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD).
Saudi Arabia considers 3-day weekend: reports
Saudi Arabia is investigating a switch to a three-day weekend, according to media reports in the Kingdom.
The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development is looking into a switch to a four-day working week and three-day weekend, says the Al Madina newspaper.
The ministry said that the labour system in the Kingdom is currently under review and any changes would need to take job creation targets under consideration.
Saudi Arabia announces launch of Riyadh Air, 200,000 new jobs eyed with Tony Douglas as CEO
Saudi Arabia has announced the establishment of a new national airline.
Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Prime Minister and Chairman of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), announced the establishment of Riyadh Air, a PIF wholly owned company.
The new national carrier will leverage Saudi Arabia’s strategic geographic location between the three continents of Asia, Africa and Europe, enabling Riyadh to become a gateway to the world and a global destination for transportation, trade, and tourism. Riyadh Air will be chaired by Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Governor of PIF, while Tony Douglas, who brings more than 40 years of experience in the aviation, transportation and logistics industries, has been appointed CEO.
UAE reveals employees with unused annual leaves will receive cash or carry days forward
The UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has revealed that employees with unused annual leave can either carry forward the number of days or agree to receive a cash allowance.
In a Twitter post, MoHRE said that the Regulation of Labour Relations Law and its implementing regulations stipulated the procedure to be followed regarding unused annual leave in two cases: if the worker is still employed or if their service end.
MoHRE said that the worker may:
- Carry forward unused annual leave or part of it upon agreement with the employer
- Or may agree with the company to receive a cash allowance
- If the worker’s service ends, they shall be paid a cash allowance for the balance of the legally due annual leaves
Emirates Dubai to London flights forced to make emergency diversions
Two Emirates flights from Dubai to London Heathrow were forced to redirect to different airports, according to aviation industry website Aerotime Hub.
Adverse weather conditions in the UK capital, including strong winds, forced major airlines including Dubai’s Emirates, Air India, British Airways, Lufthansa and American Airlines to reroute away from Heathrow to alternative sites.
Two Emirates flights from Dubai on Tuesday, March 13 were forced to make emergency diversions. Emirates flights EK1 and EK29 both departed from DXB before being told to find alternative landing sites.
Dubai Ramadan 2023: Sheikh Hamdan announces compulsory remote work for public sector
Dubai’s government employees will work remotely on Fridays during Ramadan, with 70 percent of them working from home and 30 percent from the office.
The Dubai Government Human Resources Department (DGHR) made the announcement, stating that working hours during Ramadan would be from 9 am to 2 pm on Monday to Thursday and from 9 am to 12 pm on Fridays, with the exception of employees whose work required them to be on a separate shift schedule.
In addition to the government employees, students at public schools and universities will also be allowed to study from home on Fridays, provided their exam timetables allow for it.
Kuwait fires over 1,500 teachers amid expat worker rule changes: Report
About 1,815 teachers and 209 expatriate department heads, will be terminated at the end of the academic year, regardless of gender, according to the Education Ministry of Kuwait.
More teachers are to be laid off, the sources said, adding that education zones are “reviewing their actual need of teachers and those who are not needed to announce who will be let go before the end of May.”
These education zones are reportedly waiting for the end of the second school term at Kuwait University and Public Authority for Applied Education and Training to welcome new Kuwaiti teachers who graduate from education colleges.
Stunning viral video shows plane land on Dubai’s Burj Al Arab helipad
A plane has landed on Dubai’s iconic Burj Al Arab helipad.
The breath-taking stunt was undertaken by pilot Lukasz Czepiela and shared on his personal Instagram page as well as by Red Bull and Visit Dubai.
Czepiela revealed the stunt had been two years in the making and came after 650 practice runs undertaken on the ground.
UAE launches monthly rent payment platform for residents, citizens
The UAE Central Bank (CBUAE) has announced the nation’s first paperless Direct Debit Marketplace.
The new marketplace will provide payers and merchants with an all-in-one solution to make regular monthly payments, UAE-based fintech company, Direct Debit System said in an emailed statement.
“We would like to announce that Direct Debit Marketplace (DDMP) will enact the role of a ‘special’ sponsoring entity, and will be included as a direct participant in UAEDDS,” the statement said, citing a communication to banks and financial institutions in the UAE.