Question: I have been approached about moving to Saudi Arabia to take up a senior role. I am getting conflicting information, so would like to know if I would be able to sponsor my husband? I was told by one person that women cannot sponsor their husbands but someone else said it is possible.
I can’t move without my spouse and our young children, so need to know before I make any decisions. RC, UK
Answer: It can be possible, but it depends on the type of visa and contract that RC is offered. It needs to provide for family sponsorship, so the potential employer needs to confirm that.
The contract of employment must state “family status”. It is extremely hard to change to this if that is not how the initial contract and Iqama (residence permit) are set up.
RC can apply for residency permits for her husband and children after hers has been issued, and it is always easier if the employer assists. Her husband’s iqama will state that he is not permitted to work. If he wishes to take up employment at some time in the future, he will need to be sponsored by his employer.
Q: My father is due to travel to Abu Dhabi soon to stay with us for a few weeks. He sent us a copy of his passport and there are only five months left before it expires. I was told by a friend that people need six months to enter the UAE, but that sometimes three months is OK.
I’d like to know if he can travel here to visit us without having to renew his passport. ON, Abu Dhabi
A: The rules are generally strict regarding having six months’ validity on a passport to enter the UAE, or indeed any country, unless someone has residency or is a citizen.
As in most of the world, the UAE requires visitors to have a passport with validity of at least six months upon entry. Without that, a person is unlikely to be permitted to check in for the flight as the airlines have initial responsibility and can be fined if they allow someone to board an aircraft without the correct documentation and passport validity.
I have heard of cases where people have been able to board a non-national carrier and been refused entry at UAE immigration. That is not a risk anyone should take.
There can sometimes be exemptions given for compassionate reasons, but not for a holiday. ON’s father will need to renew his passport before travelling to the UAE.
For expatriates with valid UAE residency visas who wish to enter the UAE, the minimum validity is three months.
Q: I have resigned from my job and am working through my notice period. I have another job lined up and will start that soon after a short holiday.
I don’t want my bank account to be frozen as I have bills to pay. My question is whether my employer has to notify my bank that it is my last payment from them?
I also have a small balance outstanding on a credit card. Is there anything I can do to stop my account being frozen? AL, Dubai
A: When someone receives their last salary payment before leaving employment, it is standard for the payment to be marked as “final settlement”. Indeed, the employer is obliged to do this, especially when they are aware that someone may have outstanding liabilities, such as a personal loan or other debts.
A company can be fined for failing to follow the law. Once a bank is informed of a final salary payment, they are likely to freeze an account, especially where there are outstanding liabilities.
The reason for this is that so many people have withdrawn their money and left the country without repaying what they owe. This course of action reduces the debt problems for banks.
The timescale of a bank unfreezing an account will vary. If there are no debts, then an account should be unfrozen very quickly.
Where an individual expects an account to be frozen, it would be wise to withdraw some cash before the last salary payment
Some banks will apply the final salary payment and any end-of-service gratuity against the debt, so AL needs to check the terms of his account.
Where there is an outstanding debt, certain banks will only unfreeze an account on being shown sight of a new job offer or a new employment visa. Some will not unfreeze an account until the first new salary payment is made.
In a situation where an individual expects an account to be frozen, it would be wise to withdraw some cash before the last salary payment so that they can manage for a few weeks.
Having a good relationship with a bank and advising them of circumstances may also be helpful as it shows that there is every intention of repaying the debt and the bank may then be more amenable.
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
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
PROFILE OF STARZPLAY
Date started: 2014
Founders: Maaz Sheikh, Danny Bates
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment/Streaming Video On Demand
Number of employees: 125
Investors/Investment amount: $125 million. Major investors include Starz/Lionsgate, State Street, SEQ and Delta Partners
Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
When is VAR used?
• Goals
• Penalty decisions
• Direct red-card incidents
• Mistaken identity
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 3
Danilo (16'), Bernardo Silva (34'), Fernandinho (72')
Brighton & Hove Albion 1
Ulloa (20')
Sun jukebox
Rufus Thomas, Bear Cat (The Answer to Hound Dog) (1953)
This rip-off of Leiber/Stoller’s early rock stomper brought a lawsuit against Phillips and necessitated Presley’s premature sale to RCA.
Elvis Presley, Mystery Train (1955)
The B-side of Presley’s final single for Sun bops with a drummer-less groove.
Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two, Folsom Prison Blues (1955)
Originally recorded for Sun, Cash’s signature tune was performed for inmates of the titular prison 13 years later.
Carl Perkins, Blue Suede Shoes (1956)
Within a month of Sun’s February release Elvis had his version out on RCA.
Roy Orbison, Ooby Dooby (1956)
An essential piece of irreverent juvenilia from Orbison.
Jerry Lee Lewis, Great Balls of Fire (1957)
Lee’s trademark anthem is one of the era’s best-remembered – and best-selling – songs.
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%3Cp%3EName%3A%20DarDoc%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Abu%20Dhabi%3Cbr%3EFounders%3A%20Samer%20Masri%2C%20Keswin%20Suresh%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20HealthTech%3Cbr%3ETotal%20funding%3A%20%24800%2C000%3Cbr%3EInvestors%3A%20Flat6Labs%2C%20angel%20investors%20%2B%20Incubated%20by%20Hub71%2C%20Abu%20Dhabi's%20Department%20of%20Health%3Cbr%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%2010%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
TUESDAY'S ORDER OF PLAY
Centre Court
Starting at 2pm:
Malin Cilic (CRO) v Benoit Paire (FRA) [8]
Not before 4pm:
Dan Evans (GBR) v Fabio Fogini (ITA) [4]
Not before 7pm:
Pablo Carreno Busta (SPA) v Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) [2]
Roberto Bautista Agut (SPA) [5] v Jan-Lennard Struff (GER)
Court One
Starting at 2pm
Prajnesh Gunneswaran (IND) v Dennis Novak (AUT)
Joao Sousa (POR) v Filip Krajinovic (SRB)
Not before 5pm:
Rajeev Ram (USA) and Joe Salisbury (GBR) [1] v Marin Cilic v Novak Djokovic (SRB)
Nikoloz Basilashvili v Ricardas Berankis (LTU)
'THE WORST THING YOU CAN EAT'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
The Bio
Name: Lynn Davison
Profession: History teacher at Al Yasmina Academy, Abu Dhabi
Children: She has one son, Casey, 28
Hometown: Pontefract, West Yorkshire in the UK
Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite Author: CJ Sansom
Favourite holiday destination: Bali
Favourite food: A Sunday roast
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
