Author: Mohan Nasre

Good news for students and parents across the UAE — schools will be closed for nine consecutive days around Eid Al Adha 2026, combining the festival holidays with the scheduled mid-term break into one extended period off. The announcement covers both public and private schools, giving families across the country a solid window to rest, celebrate, and travel without squeezing everything into a shorter break. When Does the Holiday Start? The break is expected to begin in early June 2026, though the exact start date depends on the moon sighting that officially determines when Eid Al Adha falls. That’s fairly…

If you’ve ever looked into the marriage process in most countries and felt immediately overwhelmed by the documentation requirements, waiting periods, and bureaucratic back-and-forth, Abu Dhabi’s new instant civil marriage service might genuinely surprise you. The emirate has introduced a fast-track system that allows eligible couples to complete their civil marriage in minutes rather than the days or weeks that traditional procedures typically require. It’s part of Abu Dhabi’s broader push to digitize and streamline government services, and for the couples it’s designed to serve, it’s a meaningful, practical improvement. A Faster Way to Get Married in Abu Dhabi The…

Starting a new job brings a lot of excitement, but it also comes with a stack of paperwork that most people sign without reading carefully enough. In the UAE, especially, labour law has specific rules that differ from what you might be used to, and not knowing them can cost you — sometimes quite literally. Here are 10 terms you genuinely need to understand before you start work. 10 Essential Labour Law Terms Every Employee Should Understand 1. Employment Contract This is the legal document that defines your relationship with your employer. It covers your job title, salary, working hours,…

Ripple has just made its biggest move in the region yet — opening a new Middle East and Africa headquarters right in the heart of Dubai. For a company that’s been building its presence here for years, this feels less like a surprise and more like a natural next step. The new HQ is based in the Dubai International Financial Centre, which has become something of a magnet for global financial and tech firms. And given how quickly demand for regulated crypto services and faster cross-border payments is growing across the Middle East and Africa, the timing makes a lot…

If you’re a family living in the UAE, 2026 has brought something genuinely useful your way. As part of the country’s “Year of the Family” initiative, the government is now offering free Fazaa memberships to eligible resident families — and the savings that come with it are actually worth paying attention to. The Fazaa card has been around for a while, quietly helping people cut costs on everything from hospital bills to hotel stays. But this latest rollout extends that access to a much broader group, making it one of the more practical resident benefits the UAE has introduced in…