I am Irish and a resident in the UAE. I have a work visa and Emirates ID and they are valid until February 2022. I have just realised that my passport expired last month. I have a flight booked to visit my family in Ireland and can get a new passport when I am at home. Is it possible to exit the UAE on a return ticket with a recently expired passport? NH, Abu Dhabi
A passport is an internationally recognised document that proves a person’s identity. An expired passport is no longer a valid travel document, so it is not possible to exit the UAE with it (although there are exceptions).
NH will need to obtain a new passport before leaving the UAE and can apply online at Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs website. Once the new passport has been received, she will need to travel with both of them as the residency visa will be in the old one. The passports can be joined by an elastic band but should never be stapled together.
The current turnaround time is 10 working days plus delivery time, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs. The Irish Embassy in the UAE does not issue passports.
I moved to Abu Dhabi for a permanent job in January of this year. I now need to send some of my income to the UK to pay my mortgage there, but I am worried that I will be taxed on this if I send anything from the UAE. I plan to stay in the UAE for five years in case that makes a difference but will need to send money back several times a year. SP, Abu Dhabi
The UK has clear rules about tax residency and these were last updated in 2013, when the Statutory Residency Test came into effect. This sets out when a person is deemed to be a UK resident for tax purposes and is liable to pay income tax. It is not simply a case of being out of the UK and employed overseas.
It is the responsibility of a company to cancel a visa and work permit as soon as an employee finishes working for them
Keren Bobker
A person is not formally considered a UK non-resident for tax purposes until they have been living overseas for a full tax year, from April 6 in one year to April 5 the following year.
However, it is assumed by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, the UK’s tax authority, that someone will indeed do that once they leave the UK to work overseas. For SP, this means that he must remain a resident in the UAE until at least April 5, 2022.
As SP intends to remain in the UAE for several years, he is able to remit UAE income to the UK without having to pay UK income tax on these monies, provided he does not breach the provisions of the Statutory Residency Test.
UK tax can be complex, so this is a simple overview.
I left my old job and found a new one with another company. The new company has already given me an offer letter and wants me to join as soon as possible but my old employer has not yet cancelled my visa. Can I join the new company without my current visa being cancelled? KS, Sharjah
It is the responsibility of a company to cancel a visa and work permit as soon as an employee finishes working for them. The process should only take a few days.
As KS is moving to a full-time job, the new employer must apply for a new residency visa and work permit by the time he starts working for them. But they cannot obtain the visa until the existing one has been cancelled.
There is a short grace period for this to be completed but he cannot work for a new employer without a new residency visa. To do so is illegal and both the employee and employer can be fined. In addition, KS would have no protection under the law.
If the previous employer fails to cancel a visa in a timely manner, assuming that they are a mainland employer or in a free zone that has adopted the UAE Labour Law, KS should register a case against them with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, which should then contact the previous employer to get them to take action without further delay.
Keren Bobker is an independent financial adviser and senior partner with Holborn Assets in Dubai, with more than 25 years’ experience. Contact her at keren@holbornassets.com. Follow her on Twitter at @FinancialUAE
The advice provided in our columns does not constitute legal advice and is provided for information only
MATCH INFO
Fixture: Ukraine v Portugal, Monday, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: BeIN Sports
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN MARITIME DISPUTE
2000: Israel withdraws from Lebanon after nearly 30 years without an officially demarcated border. The UN establishes the Blue Line to act as the frontier.
2007: Lebanon and Cyprus define their respective exclusive economic zones to facilitate oil and gas exploration. Israel uses this to define its EEZ with Cyprus
2011: Lebanon disputes Israeli-proposed line and submits documents to UN showing different EEZ. Cyprus offers to mediate without much progress.
2018: Lebanon signs first offshore oil and gas licencing deal with consortium of France’s Total, Italy’s Eni and Russia’s Novatek.
2018-2019: US seeks to mediate between Israel and Lebanon to prevent clashes over oil and gas resources.
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
The biog
Age: 59
From: Giza Governorate, Egypt
Family: A daughter, two sons and wife
Favourite tree: Ghaf
Runner up favourite tree: Frankincense
Favourite place on Sir Bani Yas Island: “I love all of Sir Bani Yas. Every spot of Sir Bani Yas, I love it.”
Andor
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The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
JOKE'S%20ON%20YOU
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TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How the bonus system works
The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.
The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.
There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).
All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
