The Art Maze – the first-ever art exhibition at the iconic Burj Al Arab Jumeirah’s famous helipad – is being held from March 23 to March 27.
The show offers a new immersive art gallery experience. Hosted by artists Marcus Schaefer and Sacha Jafri, The Art Maze displays 30 oil and acrylic paintings that are inspired by 30 World Heritage Sites. UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
The helipad is suspended 212 metres above sea level and has hosted a number of sporting and cultural events.
‘The Art Maze’ showcases 30 original paintings of Jafri that depict World Heritage Sites in a custom built 12-metre by 12-metre steel labyrinthine designed by Schaefer.
The Art Maze is an invite-only event for VIPs, celebrities, entrepreneurs, HNWI and art collectors.
The launch of the exhibition on the helipad sets off ‘The Art Maze World Tour’. The show will travel all across the globe over the next 24 months.
Schaefer said: “With this heartfelt project, I want to raise awareness, especially in uncertain times with a global pandemic and political instabilities, to remind and honour all people about the beauty of our world, nature, man-made monuments.”
Jafri said: “My vision and inspiration for my artworks for The Art Maze stems from the beauty, the spirit, the history and the anthropology of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Trying to depict the emotion of a culture, a building, a story, a vista, and most importantly, an energy, all inspired me to create this collection which is so special, almost spiritual and otherworldly. It has been an honour for me to celebrate these sites as part of UNESCO’s 50th Anniversary of World Heritage.”
Parking around schools in Dubai could soon become far less stressful after the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) signed a major new partnership with Parkin Company PJSC to simplify parking subscriptions across the emirate.
The new collaboration introduces a digitally integrated system designed to make parking applications faster, smoother, and more convenient for students, teachers, and educational staff.
Goodbye paperwork, hello instant verification
Until now, applicants had to rely on:
Manual approvals from schools
Document submissions
Eligibility checks handled separately
Under the new system, KHDA and Parkin will integrate their platforms to allow real-time eligibility verification, dramatically reducing administrative steps while maintaining strict data privacy standards.
Parking discounts of up to 80%
The initiative also includes heavily discounted parking packages for educational institutions and students:
Dh100 per month
Dh1,000 annually
According to Parkin, this represents savings of up to 80% compared to standard parking subscriptions.
Support beyond just parking
The company said the partnership also strengthens support around schools during:
Peak pick-up and drop-off times
School events
High-traffic periods
For parents, teachers, and students navigating Dubai’s busy school zones, the latest move could mean one thing: less paperwork, smoother parking, and fewer daily headaches.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has unveiled strict new rules requiring private sector companies to pay employee salaries on the first day of every month starting June 1, 2026.
The move, introduced under Ministerial Resolution No. 340 of 2026, is part of a wider push to strengthen wage protection and improve labour compliance across the UAE.
Salaries must be paid on time
Under the new regulation:
Salaries for the previous month must be transferred through the approved Wage Protection System (WPS) or another authorised payment platform.
Any payment made after the due date will officially be considered delayed.
The ministry also stated that companies must provide proof and documentation confirming salary transfers.
What happens if companies delay salaries?
Authorities outlined escalating penalties that become more severe the longer salaries remain unpaid.
From Day 2:
Companies enter electronic monitoring
Warning notices are issued
From Day 5:
Suspension of new work permits may begin
Employers are formally notified to clear the unpaid wages
From Day 11:
Administrative fines apply for repeat violations
Companies may be downgraded to the third business classification category
From Day 16:
Labour disputes may be automatically registered for workers
More permit restrictions could follow, especially for larger companies and sectors such as:
Construction
Transport
Cleaning
Security
Recruitment services
From Day 21:
For companies employing 50 or more workers, repeated violations could lead to:
Referral to public prosecutors
Asset seizure orders
Travel bans on company officials
When is a company still considered compliant?
The ministry clarified that businesses remain compliant if they transfer:
At least 85% of total wages are on time
Employees also won’t be classified as unpaid if missing amounts are linked to legally documented deductions.
Some sectors exempt
The decision excludes:
Short-term permits under three months
Fishing boats
Citizen-owned taxis
Banks
Places of worship
The UAE has long pushed for stronger worker protections, but this marks one of the toughest enforcement frameworks yet for salary delays.
Residents across the UAE are preparing for an extended holiday after authorities officially announced the Eid Al Adha break for both private and public sector employees.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation confirmed that private sector workers will receive a four-day paid holiday starting Tuesday, May 26, through Friday, May 29. Normal work will resume on Monday, June 1. A five-day paid holiday was announced earlier for public sector employees.
Moon sighting officially confirmed
The holiday announcement follows the UAE’s official confirmation of the Dhu Al Hijjah crescent moon sighting on Sunday evening.
Authorities said the sighting was verified through specialised committees and observatories using advanced astronomy technology, officially declaring Monday, May 18, as the first day of Dhu Al Hijjah 1447 AH.
As a result:
Day of Arafah will fall on May 26
Eid Al Adha will begin on May 27
Schools could enjoy up to 10 days off
There’s more good news for families.
The Ministry of Education confirmed that schools will close from May 25 to May 29 for the third-term midterm break, with classes resuming on June 1.
Private schools in Dubai will follow the same calendar, while some schools in Sharjah could see breaks stretching up to 10 days, including weekends.
Travel rush expected
With long weekends lining up for offices and students alike, travel demand is expected to surge as residents begin planning holidays, family gatherings, and Eid celebrations.
For many across the UAE, the countdown to one of the year’s biggest holidays has officially begun.
