It's fairly safe to say that most medium to large-scale corporate organisations have some form of training scheme for employees these days.
And it's natural that employers want their staff to have the level of skills they need to perform to the highest possible standards in their roles within the company. It's also not unreasonable to suggest that it's mutually beneficial for an employee to progress through the ranks of an organisation.
So in-house training sessions, with a computer whiz or sales maestro delivering talks, are offered, or staff are sent to training camps, lectures and conferences to network and learn more about their craft. Some more recession-proof employers may even send staff on fact-finding missions overseas, if they're lucky.
But few opt for the method adopted by General Motors Middle East Operations when trying to equip their staff with the mental tools required to do the job.
A trip to the Dubai Autodrome on an otherwise innocuous Tuesday morning last week made me realise that the competition GM was putting on for its technicians was both novel and hugely profitable for the company. Not profitable in a monetary sense necessarily, but certainly in the way that it aids employee well-being and development.
On arrival I was greeted in the paddock area of the race track with a massive banner stating: "Welcome 2 Dealer Technician Skills Competition 2011".
Inside three of the bays, men in black polo shirts were studiously going about locating, diagnosing and repairing problems on GMC, Chevrolet and Cadillac cars while men in white polo shirts were standing over them, watching every move and checking boxes on a form. Meanwhile, men in blue polo shirts were walking around taking in the overall picture of what's happening.
This competition was GM's way of giving the forgotten men of the company - the technicians - their 15 minutes of fame.
"These guys are the ones out back quietly going about their business, repairing, making things work again," said Manny D Suriel, GM's regional services manager in the Middle East. "They don't usually get much praise for what they do so this is their time to be in the spotlight."
And in the spotlight they certainly were. Banners bearing each of the 36 finalists' images are draped everywhere, along with the tagline, "Fix-it-right-first-time Heroes - No sacrifice, no victory!"
The preparation and organisation that was put into the two-day finals event was quite impressive. But when you consider that GM Middle East invests US$10 million in technical and customer care training annually, you realise how seriously the company takes training and retaining the best staff.
More than 3,000 technicians from around the region entered the competition by first answering questions online. The top 50 per cent were then set a written examination and, from that group, 36 were selected to appear in the finals in Dubai. They arrived from seven countries and were made up of five nationalities; many had developed at GM's purpose-built training academy in the Philippines before going on to be stationed in cities such as Riyadh, Jeddah, Muscat and, of course, Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
They were in the black tops, while a total of 56 white-topped judges looked on. The blue shirts were eager GM Academy students trying to learn as much as they can.
"Preparation for the whole competition took three months starting from February," said Harrie van der Schoot, GM's regional training manager. "These guys have all worked hard to get here and they are all very eager to win."
Over the two days the technicians had to visit 12 stations in the paddocks, covering every detail of fixing a variety of cars that come under the GM banner, such as Chevrolet Camaros and GMC Yukons. And the stakes were high, too.
Sponsors provided prizes such as a Dh18,367 gold bar and an Apple iPhone 4 for the winner and trophies for the top five technicians; one sponsor even offered Dh23,877 worth of diagnostics technology to the winning technician's dealership. There was also a prizegiving dinner for all involved in the finals, where the competitors donned their glad rags and played the part of A-lister for the night.
And Noel Pangan, of Universal Motors Agencies Dealership in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, must have felt like a Hollywood superstar: he was crowned the overall winner of the competition.
It's apparent that GM sees the internal benefits of running such a competition but, said Luay Al Shurafa, the firm's regional customer service director, the customer also reaps the rewards. "Since we started this competition three years ago, we've had a 30 per cent improvement in customer feedback," he said. "And at GM we have a fix-it-right-first-time policy that is benefiting from a competition like this - we've had a 12 per cent improvement in first-time fixes this year alone."
For GM, at least, it seems that the unsung heroes finally have something to sing about.
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20IPHONE%2014
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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
On Instagram: @WithHopeUAE
Although social media can be harmful to our mental health, paradoxically, one of the antidotes comes with the many social-media accounts devoted to normalising mental-health struggles. With Hope UAE is one of them.
The group, which has about 3,600 followers, was started three years ago by five Emirati women to address the stigma surrounding the subject. Via Instagram, the group recently began featuring personal accounts by Emiratis. The posts are written under the hashtag #mymindmatters, along with a black-and-white photo of the subject holding the group’s signature red balloon.
“Depression is ugly,” says one of the users, Amani. “It paints everything around me and everything in me.”
Saaed, meanwhile, faces the daunting task of caring for four family members with psychological disorders. “I’ve had no support and no resources here to help me,” he says. “It has been, and still is, a one-man battle against the demons of fractured minds.”
In addition to With Hope UAE’s frank social-media presence, the group holds talks and workshops in Dubai. “Change takes time,” Reem Al Ali, vice chairman and a founding member of With Hope UAE, told The National earlier this year. “It won’t happen overnight, and it will take persistent and passionate people to bring about this change.”
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
57%20Seconds
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Rusty%20Cundieff%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJosh%20Hutcherson%2C%20Morgan%20Freeman%2C%20Greg%20Germann%2C%20Lovie%20Simone%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2%2F5%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs: 2018 BMW R nineT Scrambler
Price, base / as tested Dh57,000
Engine 1,170cc air/oil-cooled flat twin four-stroke engine
Transmission Six-speed gearbox
Power 110hp) @ 7,750rpm
Torque 116Nm @ 6,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 5.3L / 100km
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
Bio
Born in Dubai in 1994
Her father is a retired Emirati police officer and her mother is originally from Kuwait
She Graduated from the American University of Sharjah in 2015 and is currently working on her Masters in Communication from the University of Sharjah.
Her favourite film is Pacific Rim, directed by Guillermo del Toro
