The UAE is fast-tracking low-carbon economic growth to deliver new jobs, new industries and new revenue streams, said Dr Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Special Envoy for Climate Change.
He was speaking at the Middle East and North Africa Climate Week (Menacw2022). Dr Al Jaber explained that the UAE is adopting a comprehensive, balanced and proactive approach to climate action and the energy transition that delivers sustainable economic growth.
“As a young country, and a responsible energy leader, the UAE has always faced the future with a positive mindset, and addressed challenges head-on. This is why we stopped flaring 30 years before the World Bank asked the industry to do so. It’s why we achieved 0.01 per cent methane intensity 20 years before the global pledge asking for a gradual reduction. It’s why we began to capture C02 (carbon dioxide) on an industrial scale before the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) called it an essential tool for de-carbonisation. And it’s why we became the first hydrocarbon producer to power our operations with zero-carbon energy,” Dr. Al Jaber added.
He pointed out that the UAE was also the first country in the region to sign and ratify the Paris Agreement, the first to commit to an economy-wide reduction in emissions, and the first to announce a Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative. The UAE has chosen to lead in these areas because it views climate challenges “not just as problems to fix, but as opportunities to seize,” he underlined.
While the world mobilises investments for a new energy economy and addresses the climate challenge, Dr. Al Jaber emphasised that recent events have “reminded us that we cannot simply switch off the current energy system”.
“We all need to recognise that the energy transition will take time and require sober, thoughtful planning. It is more evident now than ever before that this cannot be rushed. The push to divest from hydrocarbons has led to a supply crunch that is having the biggest impact on the most exposed. The clear lesson is that we should not adopt climate policies that lead to energy poverty. We need to keep investing in low-cost, low-carbon energy that can provide the baseload power that the world relies on,” said Dr. Al Jaber.
He had reiterated this message during his speech at the Atlantic Council Global Energy Forum held at Expo 2020 Dubai.
On climate finance, he said it can be an effective tool for climate action as he urged the international community to do more and fulfil the $100 billion climate pledge made to developing nations over a decade ago.
“The international community continues to fall short of the $100 billion climate finance pledge they made to developing nations over a decade ago. We need bold targets going forward and we need to start treating climate risks as potential global security risks.
“We have taken a partnership approach focused on projects in countries most exposed to climate risks because we know that local resilience builds global resilience. We have provided over $1 billion in climate aid to more than 40 countries. And our experience tells us that once concessional finance is there, private finance will follow.”
He concluded by extending the UAE’s invitation to governments, the private sector, financial institutions, and civil society to partner on solutions that make sense for our climate and the economy. He said, “We should not have to choose between the two. We can and we must make progress on both.”
The Mena Climate Week aims to accelerate collaboration and integrate climate action into global pandemic recovery. Other dignitaries present at the opening ceremony of this first edition included Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, minister of climate change and environment, Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Chairman of the World Green Economy Organisation (Wgeo) and MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa); and Patricia Espinosa, E
executive secretary of UNFCCC.
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.
