Question: I found out that a bank in Dubai has registered a police case against me, although I have not heard anything from the bank yet. I have debts that I cannot pay and do not have the money to make monthly payments. I have missed four months of repayment after I lost my job.
I want to leave the country so I do not go to jail and want to know if I can fly from the airport in Abu Dhabi instead of Dubai? RV, Dubai
Answer: If a police case for debt is registered against someone, it will show up on immigration department computer systems across the entire country. Dubai and Abu Dhabi are separate emirates but still part of the same country, so any legal cases like this are applicable across all emirates.
Non-payment of debt is a federal offence and while there are fewer criminal consequences than in the past, it is still against the law.
This means anyone who has a case outstanding for non-payment of debt is likely to be prevented from leaving the country through any point of exit as the case will show up once a passport is scanned.
If someone leaves the country, a debt is not written off and the person can sometimes be traced to their home country to repay it through a collection agency.
Q: I am thinking about changing jobs but am hesitating as it could be risky. A particular new role looks great, but the company has been operating for only a few months and is in a field that has challenges. As I have a mortgage to pay and a family to support, it is making me hesitate although it could be a great opportunity.
I would like to know if I could add something to the contract that I want to have a minimum of, say, two years of employment to get the new venture to a point of better security and only after can they terminate my employment, if need be.
This would mean I would have a guaranteed income for two years, so even if my contract was terminated after six months, they would have to pay me for another 18 months. Would this hold up and be enforced by the law for the company to honour if we made such a contract? How do I go about doing it and is there any kind of UAE government body to attest the contract, or a lawyer? TM, Abu Dhabi
A: Provided a contract of employment abides by all the minimum requirements of UAE Labour Law, it is possible to include a variety of additional terms on the basis required, so long as this is fully accepted by both parties.
I would strongly recommend taking advice from a lawyer who is experienced in this area to ensure the contract is fully binding on both parties and will stand up if challenged. It is very unusual to see terms like this in the UAE, but it could be done if both parties are willing.
It would be best if the contract was not only signed by both parties, but also witnessed by a respected third party, such as a lawyer in their professional capacity, or the notary public, to ensure there is no degree of coercion from either side.
What needs to be borne in mind is that only the version of a contract that is registered with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (or relevant body if in a free zone) is legally recognised. In addition, if a company closes for financial reasons, TM could still have issues in being paid any dues.
Q: I have accepted a role in Saudi Arabia and have been issued an entry visa. However, the start date needs to be postponed by two months for multiple reasons, mainly due to my family issues. By the time of the new start date, the entry/employment visa will have expired. Is it easy to apply for an extension? PJ, USA
A: The validity of an employment entry visa for Saudi Arabia can vary depending on the type, but it is often valid for a two-month period. Such visas cannot be extended, so PJ has two options.
He can either ensure he has entered the country before the expiry date, even if just by a day, or the whole process has to start again. That means the prospective employer will have to reapply.
It would be best to have a chat with the employer as they are unlikely to want the additional expense and hassle. PJ could start with some additional goodwill by avoiding that.
Contact Keren Bobker 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
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
Where to submit a sample
Volunteers of all ages can submit DNA samples at centres across Abu Dhabi, including: Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec), Biogenix Labs in Masdar City, NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City, NMC Royal Medical Centre, Abu Dhabi, NMC Royal Women's Hospital, Bareen International Hospital, Al Towayya in Al Ain, NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain
Emiratisation at work
Emiratisation was introduced in the UAE more than 10 years ago
It aims to boost the number of citizens in the workforce particularly in the private sector.
Growing the number of Emiratis in the workplace will help the UAE reduce dependence on overseas workers
The Cabinet in December last year, approved a national fund for Emirati jobseekers and guaranteed citizens working in the private sector a comparable pension
President Sheikh Khalifa has described Emiratisation as “a true measure for success”.
During the UAE’s 48th National Day, Sheikh Khalifa named education, entrepreneurship, Emiratisation and space travel among cornerstones of national development
More than 80 per cent of Emiratis work in the federal or local government as per 2017 statistics
The Emiratisation programme includes the creation of 20,000 new jobs for UAE citizens
UAE citizens will be given priority in managerial positions in the government sphere
The purpose is to raise the contribution of UAE nationals in the job market and create a diverse workforce of citizens
Last-16
France 4
Griezmann (13' pen), Pavard (57'), Mbappe (64', 68')
Argentina 3
Di Maria (41'), Mercado (48'), Aguero (90 3')
Results:
5pm: Maiden (PA) | Dh80,000 | 1,200 metres
Winner: Jabalini, Szczepan Mazur (jockey), Younis Kalbani (trainer)
5.30pm: UAE Arabian Derby (PA) | Prestige | Dh150,000 | 2,200m
Winner: Octave, Gerald Avranche, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round 3 (PA) | Group 3 Dh300,000 | 2,200m
Winner: Harrab, Richard Mullen, Mohamed Ali
6.30pm: Emirates Championship (PA) | Group 1 | Dh1million | 2,200m
Winner: BF Mughader, Szczepan Mazur, Younis Al Kalbani
7pm: Abu Dhabi Championship (TB) | Group 3 | Dh380,000 | 2,200m
Winner: GM Hopkins, Patrick Cosgrave, Jaber Ramadhan
7.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) | Conditions | Dh70,000 | 1,600m
Winner: AF La’Asae, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
The specs: 2018 Maserati Levante S
Price, base / as tested: Dh409,000 / Dh467,000
Engine: 3.0-litre V6
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 430hp @ 5,750rpm
Torque: 580Nm @ 4,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 10.9L / 100km
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%3Cp%3EAriana%E2%80%99s%20Persian%20Kitchen%3Cbr%3EDinner%20by%20Heston%20Blumenthal%3Cbr%3EEstiatorio%20Milos%3Cbr%3EHouse%20of%20Desserts%3Cbr%3EJaleo%20by%20Jose%20Andres%3Cbr%3ELa%20Mar%3Cbr%3ELing%20Ling%3Cbr%3ELittle%20Venice%20Cake%20Company%3Cbr%3EMalibu%2090265%3Cbr%3ENobu%20by%20the%20Beach%3Cbr%3EResonance%20by%20Heston%20Blumenthal%3Cbr%3EThe%20Royal%20Tearoom%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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Bio
Age: 25
Town: Al Diqdaqah – Ras Al Khaimah
Education: Bachelors degree in mechanical engineering
Favourite colour: White
Favourite place in the UAE: Downtown Dubai
Favourite book: A Life in Administration by Ghazi Al Gosaibi.
First owned baking book: How to Be a Domestic Goddess by Nigella Lawson.
More on Quran memorisation:
Iran's dirty tricks to dodge sanctions
There’s increased scrutiny on the tricks being used to keep commodities flowing to and from blacklisted countries. Here’s a description of how some work.
1 Going Dark
A common method to transport Iranian oil with stealth is to turn off the Automatic Identification System, an electronic device that pinpoints a ship’s location. Known as going dark, a vessel flicks the switch before berthing and typically reappears days later, masking the location of its load or discharge port.
2. Ship-to-Ship Transfers
A first vessel will take its clandestine cargo away from the country in question before transferring it to a waiting ship, all of this happening out of sight. The vessels will then sail in different directions. For about a third of Iranian exports, more than one tanker typically handles a load before it’s delivered to its final destination, analysts say.
3. Fake Destinations
Signaling the wrong destination to load or unload is another technique. Ships that intend to take cargo from Iran may indicate their loading ports in sanction-free places like Iraq. Ships can keep changing their destinations and end up not berthing at any of them.
4. Rebranded Barrels
Iranian barrels can also be rebranded as oil from a nation free from sanctions such as Iraq. The countries share fields along their border and the crude has similar characteristics. Oil from these deposits can be trucked out to another port and documents forged to hide Iran as the origin.
* Bloomberg
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre, twin-turbo V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 582bhp
Torque: 730Nm
Price: Dh649,000
On sale: now
