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Middle East Edition
3rd February 2026
 
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THE HOT STORY

Ramadan can act as a workday reset, HR experts say

HR leaders say Ramadan can act as a reset as workers become more deliberate about how they structure their workday. They say that the first few days can be challenging, but reduced work hours during Ramadan can make employees work more efficiently and deliberately. “The first four to five days of Ramadan are often the most difficult, as the body adjusts to new eating, hydration, and sleep patterns. Once this adjustment phase passes, many people report a more stable and sustained level of energy throughout the day,” says Ussama Khan, Assistant Professor of Organisational Behaviour at the London Business School. He advocates supportive workplace policies in order to make this “adjustment period” less demanding,
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TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

Flydubai launches new leadership programmes

Flydubai has introduced two leadership development programmes aimed at enhancing internal talent and fostering a high-performance culture. The Executive Leadership Programme will involve 18 senior leaders, while the Management Training Programme will develop 120 mid-level managers. Chief executive Ghaith Al Ghaith said: “Our people are at the heart of flydubai’s success." The programmes focus on translating strategy into action and building a sustainable leadership pipeline, supporting the airline's long-term transformation and growth ambitions.
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WORKFORCE

Saudi Arabia employs more than 500k Sudanese workers

The number of Sudanese workers in Saudi Arabia has surpassed 500,000, said Mutassim Ahmed Saleh, Sudan's Minister of Human Resources and Social Welfare. They work primarily in the agriculture and animal husbandry sectors. Saleh noted that agreements are in place to train Sudanese workers before their arrival, using Saudi expertise. He highlighted the need for vocational training due to the loss of qualified personnel amid ongoing conflict in Sudan, and praised Saudi Arabia's labour market transformation, which has created over 6m jobs since 2015.
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TECHNOLOGY

Shaffra expands autonomous AI teams across GCC

Shaffra, an AI research and applications company building autonomous AI teams for enterprises and governments, has announced the deployment of fully autonomous AI teams at national and enterprise scale across the Gulf, marking one of the region's most significant operational AI rollouts to date. The teams are now supporting government and enterprise organisations across Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, and the UAE, delivering measurable productivity and transforming traditional workflows.
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CORPORATE

DIC boosts foreign direct investment inflows to Dubai

The Dubai International Chamber reported significant achievements for 2025, highlighting its role in attracting foreign direct investment. The chamber welcomed 373 companies, an 80.2% increase from 2024, including 64 multinational corporations and 309 small and medium-sized enterprises. Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman of the chamber, said: "Dubai continues to reinforce its position as a global destination for foreign direct investment." The chamber also expanded its international network, inaugurating nine new offices and organising 505 roundtable discussions to promote Dubai as a leading business hub.
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INTERNATIONAL

EU plans to extend 90-day rule for some non-EU workers

The European Commission is to look into allowing certain non-EU professionals to stay in the EU beyond the current 90/180-day rule. “The Commission will work closely with Member States to identify pragmatic solutions to accommodate extended short stays for selected categories of third-country nationals, ensuring a security and economic benefit for the Union, as well as legal clarity for travellers," the commission outlined in its strategy to allow longer short-stay Schengen visas for certain professional categories.

Bank employees in Bihar strike for five-day week

Bank employees in Bihar participated in a nationwide strike on Tuesday last week, as they advocated for a five-day work week. The Indian Bank Employees' Union reported that over 40,000 workers joined the protest in Bihar, which was part of a larger movement involving 8 lakh workers across India. Utpal Kant, general secretary of the union, said: "Most of the financial sectors across the country have a five-day work week and we want this too." Union leaders warned of an indefinite strike if the issue remains unresolved by March, following an inconclusive meeting with the Indian Banks' Association.

Singapore strategy aims to help workers navigate AI impact on jobs

Singapore is launching a national workforce strategy to enhance artificial intelligence literacy among its workers. The Economic Strategy Review (ESR) committees emphasised the need for continuous learning to adapt to technological changes. Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong said that growth no longer guarantees job creation due to the increased profile of automation. He highlighted the importance of skills upgrading and education to prepare workers for future challenges. The strategy includes integrating training with work and enhancing AI fluency across the workforce, ensuring Singaporeans remain competitive in a rapidly evolving economy.

Bangladeshi workers tricked into fighting on Russia's frontline

An Associated Press investigation has found that many Bangladeshi workers who were lured to Russia under the false promise of civilian work were coerced into combat roles in Ukraine. AP spoke with three Bangladeshi men who escaped from the Russian military, who said that after arriving in Moscow they were told to sign Russian documents that turned out to be military contracts.
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OTHER

Saudi Arabia launches 54-Day Ramadan sales season

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Commerce has announced a 54-day Ramadan sales season running from February 1st to March 26th, covering both in-store and online retailers. The initiative, which spans through Eid al-Fitr, encourages early shopping and allows businesses to obtain electronic sales permits without affecting their annual discount quotas. Consumers can verify discounts using QR codes, while inspection teams will monitor compliance nationwide.
 
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