Prompt response follows Direct Line appeal; housing and financial assistance measures announced
Sharjah: Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has ordered immediate intervention to resolve humanitarian cases involving government employees and directed the creation of a fast, flexible mechanism to address similar situations in the future.
The directive came during the “Direct Line” programme after a Sharjah government employee, Amal Al Junaibi, raised concerns about the handling of her leave while accompanying her husband — a person of determination — for medical treatment.
Immediate intervention
Al Junaibi explained that her husband, who uses a wheelchair and requires frequent hospital visits, underwent surgery last year and is scheduled for another procedure on February 26. She had been granted medical companion leave and submitted all required documentation confirming the necessity of her presence.
However, she later discovered that her entire leave balance had been deducted and her salary withheld for three consecutive months.
Responding live on air, Sheikh Sultan said the measures taken against her clearly violated existing regulations.
“I would like to clarify that the action taken in the case of our daughter, Amal Al Junaibi, violates the existing regulations. There are no rules that govern this process in this manner,” he said.
He stressed that the employee responsible had acted independently without referring to relevant instructions or the general administration, describing the actions as incorrect.
Sheikh Sultan added that Abdullah Ibrahim Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Sharjah Department of Human Resources, had been contacted and instructed to intervene immediately.
Al Zaabi later called into the programme to assure Al Junaibi that her case would be fully reviewed and her leave balance restored. He described it as an exceptional humanitarian case and emphasised that Sharjah’s HR laws take social and humanitarian circumstances into account.
He confirmed that all government entities would be contacted to implement a rapid-response mechanism, with immediate solutions provided through a dedicated section within the Human Resources Department.
Housing relocation in Kalba
In a separate call, a resident from Kalba raised concerns about sewage issues caused by nearby apartment buildings. Sheikh Sultan confirmed that the matter would be addressed as part of the development plan.
He announced that residents of affected homes in Khor Kalba would be relocated within six months to a new residential complex in the University District opposite Khor Kalba.
“We have done everything possible to complete the project quickly,” he said, noting that handover could take place within six months or even earlier. Approximately six homes are set to be relocated.
New lodge in Kalba
Sheikh Sultan also announced the upcoming opening of a new lodge in Kalba, similar to Al Rayaheen Retreat. The lodge will feature a private beach and fully equipped homes named after their owners instead of numbered units, forming part of ongoing redevelopment efforts in the area.
He further urged residents who have yet to receive housing compensation in old Khor Kalba to contact the municipality.
Tuition and medical support
In another humanitarian gesture, Sheikh Sultan directed Al Diwan Al Amiri to cover one academic year’s tuition fees for the daughter of a Kalba resident studying at the University of Sydney. The student had temporarily lost her merit scholarship after narrowly missing a required grade, resulting in a Dh300,000 tuition burden for the current academic year. The scholarship is expected to resume thereafter.
He also instructed the Chairman of Al Diwan Al Amiri to coordinate with the Friends of Patients Society to reinstate medical assistance for Umm Abdulrahman, who suffers from multiple health conditions and lacks health insurance or a stable source of income.
The directives underscore Sharjah’s continued focus on humanitarian and social support initiatives, reinforcing the emirate’s commitment to community welfare.
