I’ve always been interested in how work is conducted and how it impacts productivity. I find myself influenced by the space I am working in and by the time of day.
For example, I conduct my best work during the early morning hours. I also produce my best work in sunlit rooms.
The Covid-19 pandemic and latest advancements in artificial intelligence and ChatGPT shifted the way leaders perceive work.
For many, they witnessed how working remotely didn’t affect productivity and have thus embraced the new system or a hybrid working model.
I work a lot with freelancers, from designers to writers and IT experts, and one thing I know that works best in my industry is providing freelancers with work targets instead of certain work hours.
A writer I worked with produces her best work during the early morning hours. Sticking to a 9 to 5 job format wouldn’t have been the best work set-up in her case.
But she loves to meet in person when it comes to discussing ideas. We had a hybrid working model for her; she would come into the office for meetings and work from home when she needed to write.
Employees across the world now look for perks provided by a job in addition to a good paycheque, such as the option to work from home at least one day a week.
This year, the UAE announced that 70 per cent of public sector employees can work remotely on Fridays during Ramadan. The decision has been popular with many.
Remote and hybrid working models are here to stay. A 2022 survey by management consultant McKinsey reveals that 87 per cent of Americans would work remotely if given the option. Upwork and DropBox offer permanent work from home options.
The future of work is one of the most popular discussions on Twitter, especially with concerns around ChatGPT and AI affecting work cultures.
Leaders need to acknowledge that change is sweeping the workplace. The faster this fact is accepted, the quicker leaders can move towards the future of their businesses.
Change, especially when it affects work cultures, should be implemented in co-ordination with staff.
Depending on the size and nature of an organisation, leaders should take the concerns of their employees into consideration.
How many people would like to work remotely? And how many actually want to work in an office? Leaders need to acknowledge that people work differently and there is no one size that fits all.
If an hybrid or remote working option is provided to staff, then leadership needs to ensure that employees are equipped for that set-up with laptops or other devices and through workshops that teach them how to manage their time and achieve their goals away from the office.
This also means that risk measures should be in place to prevent data breaches.
AI is advancing quickly and while it could mean the end of some roles, it could also mean that we need to repurpose roles.
There has never been a time in history — until now — that technology could serve and aid us in leading teams seamlessly across the world.
Leaders need to study how they could repurpose roles of their employees in a way where technological advancements work hand in hand with employees and help businesses prosper.
In a changing business world, workplace cultures that appreciate their employees’ needs, embrace change and repurpose roles in light of the technological advancements are the ones that will thrive.
Manar Al Hinai is an award-winning Emirati writer and communications consultant based in Abu Dhabi
What is a black hole?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
MATCH INFO
Red Star Belgrade v Tottenham Hotspur, midnight (Thursday), UAE
THE BIO
Ms Davison came to Dubai from Kerala after her marriage in 1996 when she was 21-years-old
Since 2001, Ms Davison has worked at many affordable schools such as Our Own English High School in Sharjah, and The Apple International School and Amled School in Dubai
Favourite Book: The Alchemist
Favourite quote: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail
Favourite place to Travel to: Vienna
Favourite cuisine: Italian food
Favourite Movie : Scent of a Woman
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre supercharged V8
Power: 712hp at 6,100rpm
Torque: 881Nm at 4,800rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 19.6 l/100km
Price: Dh380,000
On sale: now
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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1971: The Year The Music Changed Everything
Director: Asif Kapadia
4/5
Should late investors consider cryptocurrencies?
Wealth managers recommend late investors to have a balanced portfolio that typically includes traditional assets such as cash, government and corporate bonds, equities, commodities and commercial property.
They do not usually recommend investing in Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies due to the risk and volatility associated with them.
“It has produced eye-watering returns for some, whereas others have lost substantially as this has all depended purely on timing and when the buy-in was. If someone still has about 20 to 25 years until retirement, there isn’t any need to take such risks,” Rupert Connor of Abacus Financial Consultant says.
He adds that if a person is interested in owning a business or growing a property portfolio to increase their retirement income, this can be encouraged provided they keep in mind the overall risk profile of these assets.
Griselda
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Countdown to Zero exhibition will show how disease can be beaten
Countdown to Zero: Defeating Disease, an international multimedia exhibition created by the American Museum of National History in collaboration with The Carter Center, will open in Abu Dhabi a month before Reaching the Last Mile.
Opening on October 15 and running until November 15, the free exhibition opens at The Galleria mall on Al Maryah Island, and has already been seen at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta, the American Museum of Natural History in New York, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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