Question: I have a question about my Emirates ID card. I have recently got married and plan to change my surname, but I am going to delay doing this legally until my visa is renewed early next year.
I have several questions. Is it OK to delay changing my name? I am not sure if I can update my passport now and my EID later. Can I call myself by my married name before changing my documents? Do I need to notify anyone in the UAE about my change of marital status? HR, Dubai
Answer: There is no legal requirement for any woman to change her surname on marriage. It is simply a personal choice and often a cultural expectation so you can make a change at any time if you wish.
A person can also use their married name before updating it legally but it will only be official once all documents have been updated.
If you update your passport, you must also update other documents. The visa and identity card will need to be updated and reissued. Failure to do so can result in fines and also the suspension of government services as the EID is technically invalidated.
This can also affect banking services as the account can be suspended or frozen without a valid EID.
If someone is an employee, they should first notify their employer as some companies will handle this process. Following changes in 2023, individuals can now update all details online via the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (known as ICP) website or app. Your UAE Pass login details are required.
As well as passport and EID copies, a letter from any sponsor is also required, whether the employer is from mainland or a free zone.
Once logged in, select the Update Personal Information option and follow instructions. The total cost should be around Dh300 ($81.60).
If someone does not wish to use the website or app, they can visit a customer happiness centre or an approved typing centre to go through the same process but the fee will be a little higher.
Whether or not a woman chooses to change her surname, she should notify the UAE authorities. The ICP website advises that even “if no such change occurs, you must visit one of the customer service centres of the Emirates ID with the necessary documents to update the date in the ID card and in the population register system".
Q: My husband has a company registered in the Sharjah Media City free zone (known as Shams). I am an employee of the company and have a residency visa.
Due to family issues, I will be living in Australia for the next 18 months. My question is whether I will still have to be back in the UAE every six months to keep the visa active? I don’t want to come back just for this and I heard that rule was no longer in force. SM, Melbourne, Australia
A: For the majority of residency visas, the six-month rule still applies. A residency visa is invalidated if someone is out of the country for a period exceeding 180 days, but it is not cancelled and that is problematic if trying to re-enter the UAE.
This is confirmed in the new immigration law, Federal Decree No. 29 of 2021 on the Entry and Residence of Foreigners, and subsequent implementing regulations. Article 59 of the law states "a foreigner's residence permit is considered cancelled if the period of stay outside of the UAE exceeds 180 continuous days."
There are a few exceptions such as people with student visas, foreign wives of Emiratis and golden visa holders.
Q: I have just had my American passport renewed. My problem is that my iqama is in my old passport. Is that likely to cause a problem? Do I have to arrange and pay for the permit to be transferred to the new passport for it to be legal? HD, Riyadh
A: It is not unusual for residents across the GCC to have their current residency permit or visa, an iqama in Saudi Arabia, in a passport that has expired.
The simple course of action is to travel with both passports, so that officials can see they have both a current passport and a current iqama.
Just keep them together and if you are required to provide a copy as proof of identity, make sure you provide copies of the information pages from both passports, as the residency visa will show the old passport number.
When you come to get your visa renewed, it will be placed in the current passport and you simply remove the old one.
Note that the passports should be joined by an elastic band but should not be stapled. Staples can damage the chip in the document and cause issues with airport scanners.
Keren Bobker is an independent financial adviser and senior partner with Holborn Assets in Dubai, with more than 30 years' experience. Contact her at keren@holbornassets.com or at www.financialuae.com
The advice provided in our columns does not constitute legal advice and is provided for information only
England-South Africa Test series
1st Test England win by 211 runs at Lord's, London
2nd Test South Africa win by 340 runs at Trent Bridge, Nottingham
3rd Test July 27-31 at The Oval, London
4th Test August 4-8 at Old Trafford, Manchester
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
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Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
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Asia Cup 2018 Qualifier
Sunday's results:
- UAE beat Malaysia by eight wickets
- Nepal beat Singapore by four wickets
- Oman v Hong Kong, no result
Tuesday fixtures:
- Malaysia v Singapore
- UAE v Oman
- Nepal v Hong Kong
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
Saudi Cup race day
Schedule in UAE time
5pm: Mohamed Yousuf Naghi Motors Cup (Turf), 5.35pm: 1351 Cup (T), 6.10pm: Longines Turf Handicap (T), 6.45pm: Obaiya Arabian Classic for Purebred Arabians (Dirt), 7.30pm: Jockey Club Handicap (D), 8.10pm: Samba Saudi Derby (D), 8.50pm: Saudia Sprint (D), 9.40pm: Saudi Cup (D)
Analysis
Maros Sefcovic is juggling multiple international trade agreement files, but his message was clear when he spoke to The National on Wednesday.
The EU-UAE bilateral trade deal will be finalised soon, he said. It is in everyone’s interests to do so. Both sides want to move quickly and are in alignment. He said the UAE is a very important partner for the EU. It’s full speed ahead - and with some lofty ambitions - on the road to a free trade agreement.
We also talked about US-EU tariffs. He answered that both sides need to talk more and more often, but he is prepared to defend Europe's position and said diplomacy should be a guiding principle through the current moment.
RACE CARD
4pm Al Bastakiya – Listed (TB) $150,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
4.35pm Dubai City Of Gold – Group 2 (TB) $228,000 (Turf) 2,410m
5.10pm Mahab Al Shimaal – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (D) 1,200m
5.45pm Burj Nahaar – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (D) 1,600m
6.20pm Jebel Hatta – Group 1 (TB) $260,000 (T) 1,800m
6.55pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 – Group 1 (TB) $390,000 (D) 2,000m
7.30pm Nad Al Sheba – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (T) 1,200m
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'Brazen'
Director: Monika Mitchell
Starring: Alyssa Milano, Sam Page, Colleen Wheeler
Rating: 3/5
England squads for Test and T20 series against New Zealand
Test squad: Joe Root (capt), Jofra Archer, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jack Leach, Saqib Mahmood, Matthew Parkinson, Ollie Pope, Dominic Sibley, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes
T20 squad: Eoin Morgan (capt), Jonny Bairstow, Tom Banton, Sam Billings, Pat Brown, Sam Curran, Tom Curran, Joe Denly, Lewis Gregory, Chris Jordan, Saqib Mahmood, Dawid Malan, Matt Parkinson, Adil Rashid, James Vince
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
A Long Way Home by Peter Carey
Faber & Faber
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Tips for used car buyers
- Choose cars with GCC specifications
- Get a service history for cars less than five years old
- Don’t go cheap on the inspection
- Check for oil leaks
- Do a Google search on the standard problems for your car model
- Do your due diligence. Get a transfer of ownership done at an official RTA centre
- Check the vehicle’s condition. You don’t want to buy a car that’s a good deal but ends up costing you Dh10,000 in repairs every month
- Validate warranty and service contracts with the relevant agency and and make sure they are valid when ownership is transferred
- If you are planning to sell the car soon, buy one with a good resale value. The two most popular cars in the UAE are black or white in colour and other colours are harder to sell
Tarek Kabrit, chief executive of Seez, and Imad Hammad, chief executive and co-founder of CarSwitch.com
Seemar’s top six for the Dubai World Cup Carnival:
1. Reynaldothewizard
2. North America
3. Raven’s Corner
4. Hawkesbury
5. New Maharajah
6. Secret Ambition
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