News

A long weekend has officially been confirmed for the private sector.
Workers across the UAE will have Sunday, August 23 off to enjoy Hijri New Year. Work will recommence on Monday, August 24.

The long weekend was announced by the UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation with August 23 marking the beginning of the new Islamic year 1442.

On the occasion of Hijri New Year 1442, #MOHRE announces that Sunday, 23rd of August, will be a paid leave for all employees working in private sector establishments and facilities across the UAE. pic.twitter.com/CJto4Xss3Y
— MOHRE_UAE وزارة الموارد البشرية والتوطين (@MOHRE_UAE) August 13, 2020

The holiday celebrates the day on which the Prophet Mohammed migrated from Makkah to Madinah.
Public sector workers had their day off confirmed late last week.  The rest of the public holidays for 2020 are as follows.
The Prophet Mohammed’s Birthday
The Prophet Mohammed’s birthday will fall on Thursday, October 29.
Commemoration Day and UAE National Day
To close out 2020, those in the UAE will have another three-day break to look forward to with Commemoration Day on Tuesday, December 1, and UAE National Day, Wednesday, December 2, with a day off also on Thursday, December 3.
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HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s SUV has been out of action for a while, but it looks like he might be getting it back sooner than we expected.
Last week, the Crown Prince of Dubai shared a video of his Mercedes G-Wagon wafter discovering a bird had nested on the windshield of the car.

In the clip, you could see a nest with a bird protecting the eggs she has laid right in the middle of the windshield.
In order to ensure the protection of the nest, Sheikh Hamdan kindly red taped around the car, which has been out of action for the past 10 days.

However, in an exciting development with the bird’s nest, Sheikh Hamdan revealed that the eggs had hatched sharing a video showing the whole scene to his Instagram page.
“Sometimes the little things in life are more than enough,” His Highness – who is a known nature-lover – captioned the video.
The short one-minute video the Crown Prince shared is somewhat of a cinematic production showcasing the entire hatching of the eggs, with the hatchlings’ parents flying in and out of the shot to care for them.
Watch the full video below:

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Images: Sheikh Hamdan Instagram More

An official breakdown of Saudi Arabia’s population has been released by the General Authority for Statistics (Gastat), a Saudi state statistics agency, and the results may surprise you.

With a total population of 34.8 million, of that number 10.5 million are foreigners.
However, it’s the staggering figure that the youth takes up the population of the Kingdom that may interest you.
Those who are aged between 15 to 34 make up 36.7 per cent of the population in the country and a total of 66 per cent of them are unmarried.
In terms of gender in this age category, 43.1 per cent of Saudi women are unmarried. Meanwhile, 75.6 per cent of males aren’t married.
The statistics, which were released in conjunction with International Youth Day, also showed Saudi women exercise with the intention of health and wellbeing.
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Feature Image: Amy Roko Instagram More

The next public holiday for the UAE has been confirmed and it’s not far off at all – in fact, it’s next week.
The news was announced by the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR), which confirmed that Sunday, August 23 would be a public holiday, marking the first day of Muḥarram for Islamic year 1442.

This announcement currently pertains for government employees only, who will return to work on Monday, August 24.

FAHR: It has been decided that the Hijri New Year holiday for the year 1442 in the Federal Government of the United Arab Emirates will be on Sunday, 23rd of August 2020, and regular working hours will resume on Monday, 24th of August 2020. pic.twitter.com/6ISWMyEj26
— FAHR (@FAHR_UAE) August 13, 2020

However, an announcement for the private sector is expected to be made soon.
The rest of the public holidays for 2020 are as follows…
The Prophet Mohammed’s Birthday
The Prophet Mohammed’s birthday will fall on Thursday, October 29.
Commemoration Day and UAE National Day
To close out 2020, those in the UAE will have another three-day break to look forward to with Commemoration Day on Tuesday, December 1, and UAE National Day, Wednesday, December 2, with a day off also on Thursday, December 3.
– For more about Dubai’s lifestyle, news and fashion scene follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram.
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A new initiative has been launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai which is set to train one million medics around the world.
His Highness announced the news to his 10.3 million followers on Twitter, stating that the UAE would be working with 67 training and academic institutions and 140 experts across the globe.

The new initiative will be overseen by Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior and will provide specialised training in the medical and ambulance fields to one million people from a distance.
According to Sheikh Mohammed, the initiative “part of the UAE’s international responsibility to support the global medical sector”.

بمتابعة أخي الشيخ سيف بن زايد أطلقت دولة الامارات اليوم مبادرة صحية لتوفير تدريب تخصصي في المجال الطبي والإسعاف لمليون شخص حول العالم عن بعد.. بالشراكة مع ١٤٠ خبيرا و٦٧ جهة تدريبية وأكاديمية حول العالم .. جزء من مسئولية الامارات الدولية لدعم القطاع الطبي العالمي
— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) August 12, 2020

This just one of the many schemes the Ruler of Dubai has launched in order to put more training and support behind the health sector.
Earlier this week, Sheikh Mohammed opened a new medical research centre in Dubai which will not only study COVID-19, but also other communicable diseases.
His Highness toured the new Dhs300 million centre on Tuesday, which will aim to study an array of diseases including diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, obesity and more.
In a statement issued by Dubai Media Office, Sheikh Mohammed stressed how medical research is of the utmost importance, particularly now.
“Medical research is an important part of our society’s health security system and a guarantee for the sustainable development of our country,” he said. “It also brings the revival and resumption of Arab scientific excellence seen throughout our Arab history.”
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Bella Hadid isn’t just thinking about the people of Beirut in the short-term, she’s here to help for the long haul and is also sharing this message with her fans.
In an informative post she shared to Instagram, the model not only encouraged her followers to think of the long-term needs of Lebanon, but also urged them to do research when exploring donation options.

“Immediate support is great, especially during this time,” she said. “I also have kept in mind that the future of rebuilding doesn’t stop here; we should and will continue to rebuild Lebanon.”
Highlighting that 34 schools and 12 health care centres have already been destroyed; outlining the number of deaths and people directly affected by the tragic Beirut explosion; and sharing the poverty and struggle the country was experiencing before the blast, Hadid encouraged her fans to think of the long-term.

In addition, she outlined the importance of supporting organisations that prioritise helping those that are the most vulnerable.

“It’s important to support organisations that prioritise helping those that need it the most and are clear about where donated funds are going, especially in the near term,” she said.
Further educating her audience, the 23-year-old shared the five organisations she has been supporting for years and will continue to do so in the wake of the tragedy – Save the Children, UNICEF, International Medical Corp, Preemptive Love and Lebanon Food Bank.
Last week, the model sent a heartfelt message to her “brothers and sisters” in the capital city.
“My eyes and heart are crying for you Lebanon…,” she began. “I am sorry you have to endure this kind of disaster my brothers and sisters… I will be sending donations to the Lebanese Red Cross, as well as ALL of the smaller organisations in Beirut.”
“We need to continue to speak on this crisis, #PRAYFORLEBANON but most importantly, we need to collectively support immediate humanitarian relief,” Hadid continued. “Stand UP and stand TOGETHER. I love you all out there. Beirut – I am wrapping you in a golden blanket of light and strength. I see you and support you. I am sorry.”
For further information on how you can help the people of Beirut click here.
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Images: Bella Hadid Instagram More

Turkish actress Hande Erçel and her long-time boyfriend Murat Dalkılıç announced their engagement back in February, but just five months on, it appears the pair have now parted ways.

While it’s unclear of exactly when they split, according to Turkish media reports last month, the couple called it quits, which was then confirmed by Erçel herself on social media.
The 26-year-old was seen out and about in Istanbul recently and had a run-in with the press who asked her about her split from Dalkılıç.
The actress politely said she had already made her explanation on social media, adding there was “nothing bad” that went on. She also said her ex was a “very valuable” person to her.
The now-former couple began dating in 2017 and after three years together Dalkılıç popped the question.
Following their breakup, it appears the pair have deleted many of the pictures they had together on Instagram, but they both still follow one another.
Sometimes it’s just not meant to be…
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Feature Image: Hande Erçel Instagram More

UAE residents who have been stranded abroad for the past few months due to the COVID-19 pandemic no longer need approval to re-enter the country, it has been announced.
In a statement issued by the National Emergency and Crisis Management Authority and the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, it was confirmed that the registration and waiting for approval process has been replaced with pre-approvals being granted without the need to submit an application in order to return to the country.

تنفيذاً لتوجيهات القيادة الرشيدة، اعتمدت الهيئة الوطنية لإدارة #الطوارئ_والأزمات والهيئة الاتحادية للهوية والجنسية المرحلة الثانية من عودة المقيمين اعتباراً من 12/8/2020 بالتزامن مع قرب إنتهاء الإجازة الصيفية للمؤسسات التعليمية وعودة الأنشطة التجارية والمرافق الاجتماعية والخدمية.
— NCEMA UAE (@NCEMAUAE) August 12, 2020

Both authorities said this was part of the “second phase of residents’ return” from Wednesday, 12 August, which was in conjunction with the end of the summer holidays for many students who will be returning to school, university and other educational institutions.
The Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship advised that to “ensure that the procedures are completed easily” that those residents returning should update their details on this website – https://uaeentry.ica.gov.ae – to verify travel documents.

ولضمان استكمال الإجراءات بكل سهولة ويسر، ننصح المقيمين بضرورة تحديث بياناتهم الخاصة (رقم بطاقة الهوية، رقم جواز السفر، الجنسية) عبر موقع https://t.co/uqH8WT2pAp
— NCEMA UAE (@NCEMAUAE) August 12, 2020

It is still mandatory for all travellers including UAE residents to undergo a COVID-19 test no more than 96 hours before the intended date of travel. Upon residents’ arrival in the country, everyone is required to adhere to the precautionary guidelines in place, including required self-isolation and laboratory test.
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