Announcements

UAE’s HR excellence in spotlight as merit-based Employee Happiness Awards begins nominations

Published

2 years ago

March 23, 2024

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Employee Happiness Awards is set to shine a spotlight on ongoing transformations across the human resources (HR) landscape, especially in the context of employee experience and wellness. The brainchild of Plan3Media, a leading event management company known for championing a merit-based awards culture in the region, Employee Happiness Awards is open to nominations in 27 distinctive categories.

In the previous edition held in June 2023, the Employee Happiness Awards received several nominations, some of whom were selected as finalists and gave compelling presentations to an independent jury. The winners and participants were leading companies and HR individuals from industries as diverse as retail, real estate, healthcare, education, and finance. Abu Dhabi Police GHQ, Nakheel, ADNH Compass, Marriott International, Babyshop, Cigna Healthcare, Du, DAMAC Properties, Rove Hotels, Alef Education, Masafi, and Pinsent Masons were among the big winners. Inspired by the overwhelming response to that edition, Plan3Media has added more categories and planned an eventful agenda for the upcoming gala ceremony in Dubai.

CEO of Plan3Media, Jatin Deepchandani, attributed the success of Employee Happiness Awards to its relentless focus on upholding transparency and integrity through a merit-only approach. “As corporate awards increasingly became self-congratulatory exercises, we seized the opportunity to set ourselves apart by instilling a culture of meritocracy. Our relentless efforts to make the Employee Happiness Awards synonymous with HR excellence are now yielding tangible results, distinguishing our accolades from the rest.” In line with Jatin’s words, the Employee Happiness Awards is validated by a reputable global accreditation programme called Awards TrustMark.

Employee Happiness Awards has a rigorous and systematic nomination process. Nominees are expected to initially submit an online form with basic information, category selection, and a write-up about their competencies. Finalists are invited to make a 20-minute presentation to an independent jury, which will evaluate the performance against a few metrics before selecting deserving winners. Plan3Media has set a nomination limit of three categories per company. There are 22 well-defined categories for companies and 5 for individuals.

Over 200 CHROs, HR professionals, government officials, and startup founders are expected to participate in the black-tie gala awards ceremony, scheduled for Friday, June 7, 2024, where Gold and Silver winners will be announced in each category. Finalists and winners of the Employee Happiness Awards will receive a trophy showcasing their competencies in HR strategies and employee experience. Recognized companies will understandably excel at talent attraction and retention.

Nominations for Employee Happiness Awards – UAE, 2024, close on April 5, 2024.

Announcements

Small businesses in the UAE now have tax relief until 2029

Published

15 mins ago

August 7, 2026

Michael Gomes

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Small businesses in the UAE with annual revenues of up to Dh3 million will continue to be eligible for Small Business Relief under the corporate tax regime until the end of 2029.

The Ministry of Finance said on Friday that Ministerial Decision No. 131 extends the period during which eligible businesses can benefit from Small Business Relief to cover tax periods ending on or before December 31, 2029.

The relief was introduced to help reduce the corporate tax compliance burden for smaller businesses and start-ups that meet the eligibility requirements.

Dh3 million threshold remains unchanged

The existing annual revenue threshold of Dh3 million, set under Ministerial Decision No. 73 of 2023, will continue to apply.

The relief applies to tax periods beginning on or after June 1, 2023 and, following the latest amendment, will remain available for subsequent tax periods ending on or before December 31, 2029.

Eligible taxable persons with annual revenue of up to Dh3 million can claim Small Business Relief, subject to meeting the conditions and requirements outlined in the corporate tax legislation.

The relief enables qualifying businesses to benefit from simplified corporate tax compliance requirements.

More time for small businesses

The extension provides eligible small businesses and start-ups with additional tax periods to benefit from the relief while continuing to meet the Dh3 million revenue threshold.

The Ministry said the decision is part of its efforts to support smaller companies and entrepreneurs, strengthen the business environment, and encourage sustainable growth and expansion.

Announcements

August fuel rates announced: UAE petrol prices go up

Published

1 week ago

July 31, 2026

Michael Gomes

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UAE motorists will pay more at the pump from Saturday after the UAE Fuel Price Committee announced higher petrol and diesel prices for August 2026.

The revised rates, which take effect from August 1, are:

Super 98: Dh3.60 per litre (up from Dh3.40)
Special 95: Dh3.49 per litre (up from Dh3.29)
E-Plus 91: Dh3.41 per litre (up from Dh3.21)
Diesel: Dh3.80 per litre (up from Dh3.60)

The increase reverses July’s price reduction and comes after volatility in global oil markets during the past month.

The UAE Fuel Price Committee reviews retail fuel prices at the end of each month, with rates determined in line with movements in international oil markets.

The new prices will remain in effect throughout August 2026.

Announcements

UAE’s Jaywan card can now be used for online shopping on thousands of websites

Published

2 weeks ago

July 21, 2026

Michael Gomes

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Online shopping with the UAE’s Jaywan card just got a major upgrade.

Network International has announced that Jaywan cardholders can now use their cards to pay on thousands of online stores connected to its payment gateway, expanding the domestic payment scheme beyond in-store purchases.

The move is expected to make online payments faster and more convenient while supporting the UAE’s push towards a cashless economy.

What is Jaywan?

Launched by Al Etihad Payments, a subsidiary of the Central Bank of the UAE, Jaywan is the country’s domestic payment card scheme.

It was introduced to provide a secure local payment option, reduce transaction costs and strengthen the UAE’s digital payments ecosystem.

Until now, Jaywan cards were mainly accepted for in-store purchases. With the latest expansion, cardholders can also use them for online shopping across thousands of merchants powered by Network International.

What this means for shoppers

For UAE residents, the update means more flexibility when shopping online.

Whether you’re ordering groceries, booking services or buying products online, you’ll be able to use your Jaywan card anywhere that supports Network International’s payment gateway.

The company says the integration offers secure, fast and seamless online payments, while merchants won’t face additional charges for Jaywan transactions processed through its platform.

A step towards a cashless UAE

The expansion is part of the UAE’s broader strategy to accelerate digital payments and reduce reliance on cash.

By making Jaywan available both in stores and online, payment providers are helping create a more connected digital payment ecosystem for businesses and consumers alike.

As more banks, merchants and payment providers adopt the scheme, residents can expect to see Jaywan accepted across even more everyday payment services in the future.