Dubai - Nine top officials are sacked after Dubai ruler holds impromptu desk inspection at 7:30am.

Not the day to pull a sickie! Nine top officials are sacked after Dubai ruler holds impromptu desk inspection at 7:30am and finds LOTS of empty seats. Dubai's ruler has ordered a shake-up of the city state's management, including the retirement of nine senior officials, a day after he conducted a surprise spot check of government offices at 7.30am and found a significant number of employees absent. On Sunday, his government posted a video on Instagram of him making an unannounced visit to the Land Department and Department of Economic Development office and finding it empty, an exercise which a Dubai media official said was intended to 'send a message'. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum casually wandered around the deserted office with empty seats, picking up an employee's book and flicking through it. The visit should not have caught so many people out as Sheikh Mohammed is known for his early-morning inspections 'to ensure government services are up to Dubai's globally admired standards'. In Dubai, public sector workers usually work from 7.30am to 2.30pm, while in the private sector usual business hours are from 8am to 1pm, resuming after the temperatures have begun to cool from 4pm. He ordered the retirement on Monday of nine members of Dubai Municipality's executive management, including directors and assistant director-generals in departments such as legal affairs and planning, the United Arab Emirates' state news agency WAM reported. On Monday, Sheikh Mohammed thanked the nine retired officials for their service but said he wanted to allow a new generation of young leaders to take control and provide top-quality services to the public, WAM reported. Mona Al Marri, director general of the Dubai Media Office told The National newspaper: 'Timeliness starts at the top, and we won't go after the employees when their bosses aren't there.'