THE HOT STORY

Kuwait ramps up deportation efforts

Kuwait's Ministry of Interior deported around 6,300 expatriates during May and June 2025 as part of a campaign to enforce residency and labour laws. The Deportation and Detention Department reported that many deportees were referred by various internal sectors and some were subject to judicial rulings. The department aims to expedite deportation procedures while ensuring humane treatment for detainees. Ongoing security operations target expatriates living or working illegally, with those arrested processed for further action. The Ministry has intensified enforcement efforts to regulate the labour market and uphold immigration laws, as stated by Khitam Al Amir.

Gulfnews.com

TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

AI internship programme breaks records

The Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) has successfully concluded its 2025 Undergraduate Research Internship Program (UGRIP), featuring a record 57 students from 24 countries. This fully funded, four-week residency allowed participants to engage in cutting-edge AI research across various disciplines, including machine learning and robotics. Professor Timothy Baldwin, MBZUAI's Provost, stated: “UGRIP is a cornerstone of our mission to open up AI education and research to the brightest talent globally.” With a mere 4% acceptance rate, the programme saw nearly 2,000 applications, marking a 91% increase from the previous year. The university invites STEM students with a CGPA of 3.5 or above to apply for the 2026 edition, opening in January.

Zawya EN

Micro-internships bridge experience gap

The challenge of securing work experience is hindering many young people from entering the workforce, with the Institute for Public Policy Research revealing that two in five 18 to 24-year-olds have never completed any work experience. Employment experts attribute this trend to increased regulations and the high costs associated with traditional internships. Micro-internships, which can range from one-day online experiences to short in-house programmes, provide flexibility for students to gain valuable experience while managing their studies. Lizzie Crowley, skills adviser at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, explained: "Traditional internships remain out of reach for many young people, so micro-internships can offer a route in."

The Times

Lockheed Martin's summer internship soars

Lockheed Martin has launched its summer internship programme at the Center for Innovation and Security Solutions (CISS) in Abu Dhabi, welcoming 44 interns, a significant increase from last year's 32. This diverse cohort includes UAE nationals, US citizens, and residents from 16 other countries, highlighting the UAE's status as a global innovation hub. Interns will work on advanced projects in areas such as space systems and artificial intelligence, contributing to the UAE's long-term capabilities. Since 2017, the CISS internship programme has graduated over 250 students, many of whom have pursued careers in aerospace and engineering. Hala Majeed, manager of Lockheed Martin CISS, emphasised the programme's role in turning knowledge into impact.

Trade Arabia

PRODUCTIVITY

AI takes over the workplace

In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Salesforce chief executive Marc Benioff stated: “Artificial intelligence (AI) is doing 30%-50% of the work,” highlighting the significant impact of AIon the workplace. The World Economic Forum reports that over 40% of employers are restructuring or planning to automate roles, with white-collar jobs being particularly affected. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy echoed this sentiment, predicting a reduction in the corporate workforce due to efficiency gains from AI. The report indicates that while approximately 92m jobs may be lost to AI, an estimated 170m new jobs will be created, resulting in a net increase of 78m jobs. To safeguard their careers, individuals are encouraged to develop skills in applied AI, critical thinking, and personal branding, ensuring they remain competitive in an evolving job market.

Forbes

HIRING

Banks tighten rules on PE recruiting

Private-equity recruiting is pressuring first-year banking analysts with gruelling speed-dating-style interviews and job offers for roles starting years later. Firms compete aggressively to secure top talent early, sometimes reaching out before graduates even begin their jobs. In response, major banks like Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs have introduced stricter disclosure policies. JPMorgan now warns incoming analysts they risk termination if they accept future-dated offers within their first 18 months. Base pay in private equity can exceed $300,000, attracting young professionals despite repetitive early tasks and high stress. The intensity of this recruiting cycle has led some PE firms to delay offers, with Apollo and General Atlantic pausing their 2027 class hires. Though banks benefit from future client relationships with ex-employees, senior leaders like Jamie Dimon condemn the system as unethical. Some banks now aim to balance transparency and workforce management by excluding soon-to-depart analysts from sensitive deal work.

Wall Street Journal

LEGAL

Court rules in favour of employee

The Court of Cassation in Abu Dhabi has mandated an employer to compensate a former employee for 13 years of unused annual leave, awarding Dh59,290. The employee, who worked from 2009 until June 2022, claimed he had not taken any leave during his tenure. Dr Habib Al Mulla, founder of Habib Al Mulla and Partners, stated that this ruling sets a significant precedent in labour disputes regarding unused leave in the UAE. Navandeep Matta, senior associate at Kochhar & Co. Inc., described the decision as a landmark in UAE employment law, emphasising that “the employer's legal responsibility to prove that the employee either took their leave or was compensated for it” is crucial. The ruling highlights the importance of accurate leave tracking and compliance for employers.

Khaleej Times Online

REMUNERATION

Meta offers mega pay for AI talent

Bloomberg reports that Meta Platforms has made record-breaking compensation offers to attract artificial intelligence (AI) experts to its “superintelligence” team, including a package exceeding $200m for ex-Apple engineer Ruoming Pang. These multi-year offers combine base salary, cash bonuses, and heavily performance-tied Meta stock. Apple reportedly did not counter due to internal pay norms. Meta’s AI recruitment push also includes former GitHub chief executive Nat Friedman and Scale AI’s Alexandr Wang, now Meta’s chief AI officer via a $14.3bn equity deal. Offers rival CEO pay at major banks and are structured to reward long-term loyalty and Meta stock performance. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said some employees received $100m signing bonuses but stayed due to OpenAI’s innovation culture. Nonetheless, Meta has hired over 10 OpenAI researchers along with talent from Anthropic and Google. The AI talent war continues, with Altman and Zuckerberg expected to cross paths at the Allen & Co. conference in Sun Valley.

Bloomberg

Bonuses for school staff return!

H E Lolwah bint Rashid bin Mohammed Al-Khater, the Minister of Education and Higher Education, announced the resumption of allowances and bonuses for school staff during official holidays. This decision follows the issuance of Decision No. 23 of 2025, which amends the employment regulations for school staff, specifically repealing Article 14 from Decision No. 32 of 2019.The amendment aims to protect the financial rights of educational professionals and enhance job stability, contributing to the overall quality of education in line with Qatar National Vision 2030. The decision took effect on June 25, 2025, and applies to all employees of government schools in the country.

The Peninsula

TALENT MANAGEMENT

Cyberstarts launches $300m employee fund

Cyberstarts, a venture capital firm founded by Gili Raanan, has established a $300m employee liquidity fund aimed at retaining talent within its portfolio companies. This initiative allows employees to cash out a portion of their vested shares annually without leaving their jobs, fostering a culture of long-term commitment and innovation. The fund comes at a time when the Israeli tech workforce is facing challenges due to the ongoing war, with approximately 8,300 tech employees having relocated since the conflict began. Cyberstarts has raised over $1bn across six funds and has invested in 30 companies, significantly impacting the cybersecurity market.

The Times of Israel

TECHNOLOGY

Mercans revolutionises payroll management

Mercans has launched advanced features for its global payroll platform, enhancing flexibility and efficiency in response to client demands. The new multi-frequency payroll capability allows organisations to manage various pay cycles, including monthly, weekly, and biweekly, within a single system. The updates also include improved timesheet management tools for accurate tracking and validation of work hours, streamlining payroll calculations. These enhancements reflect Mercans' commitment to simplifying payroll operations for multinational businesses and ensuring compliance across over 160 countries. Clients can access these features immediately through the Mercans platform, which offers real-time processing and support from payroll experts.

Khaleej Times Online

INTERNATIONAL

Indian workers unite for Bharat Bandh

Hundreds of thousands of workers across India participated in a one-day strike, dubbed "Bharat Bandh," in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's privatisation efforts and economic reforms. Organised by a coalition of 10 major trade unions, the strike disrupted public services, manufacturing, and transportation. Activist Aishe Ghosh highlighted the precarious situation of workers, stating: "You can be fired any day from work. Your labour has no value in this country." The unions demand higher wages, a halt to privatisation, and the withdrawal of new labour laws. Despite the government's push for foreign investment and economic reforms, trade unions remain unconvinced, with Amarjeet Kaur, general secretary of the All India Trade Union Congress, asserting that the government aims to suppress workers under the guise of business ease. The strike reflects growing discontent among workers and farmers over their rights and economic conditions.

West Australian

The Times of India

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