I have a small business and am about to hire two more employees. The visa costs are quite high and I am worried that if they leave before working for two years, it is going to be expensive for me. Is there a way that I can protect my business by getting the new employees to sign papers that say they will pay part of the visa costs if they quit less than 12 months into their contract? AP, Abu Dhabi
While I understand that visa expenses can be significant for small businesses, it is illegal for companies to ask employees to reimburse them for any costs incurred in employing them. This is covered in Ministerial Order 52 of 1989, Article 6a, which makes it clear that the employer is “responsible for the recruited labourer, the bearing of his recruitment expenses” and that this cannot be passed on.
To ask any employee to sign documentation that contravenes government orders and the UAE Labour Law is illegal, and the employee has the right to register a complaint against a company that follows this course of action.
A better legal option is to have a rigorous and robust recruitment process in place to ensure that no mistakes are made, employees are happy and will not want to leave the company. An employer can provide a fixed-term contract, where if the employee decides to leave before the end of the contract term, a penalty is payable. However, this can only be for a set calculation. In addition, the employer must be aware that if they terminate employment, they must also pay a penalty to the employee.
I will finish my employment contract at the end of December and have completed two contracts, each spanning two years. I plan to return to the Philippines and not work in the UAE again. I have asked my employer to pay for my repatriation ticket, but he says it is too expensive and does not want to foot the bill. I want to leave, but how do I make my employer pay for my ticket? MV, Sharjah
The employer is liable to pay the repatriation costs of an employee who finishes a contract and decides to return to their home country. This is set out in Article 131 of the UAE Labour Law: “The employer shall, upon the termination of the contract, bear the expenses of repatriation of the worker to the location from which he is hired, or to any other location agreed upon between the parties. Should the worker, upon the termination of the contract, be employed by another employer, the latter shall be liable for the repatriation expenses of the worker upon the end of his service.”
It is not optional for a mainland employer to pay this cost. While some flights may be expensive right now, that is unfortunate and the employee should not be disadvantaged or delayed because of this reason.
The employer is liable to pay the repatriation costs of an employee who finishes a contract and decides to return to their home country
If the employer refuses to pay for the flight ticket that MV is entitled to, she will need to file a case against them with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation. They can be contacted on 800 65 or via the chat function on their website.
My parents are due to travel to Dubai soon to visit us for New Year. They have just told us that their passports are only valid for five months. I was told by a friend that people need six months' passport validity to enter the UAE, but that sometimes three months' validity is also acceptable. Will my parents be able to travel here without having to renew their passports? TB, Dubai
As is the case with most other countries, the UAE requires visitors to have a passport with a validity of at least six months upon entry. Without that, a person is unlikely to be permitted to check in for the flight as airlines have initial responsibility, and they can be fined if they allow someone to board an airplane without the correct documentation.
There can sometimes be exemptions for compassionate reasons, but not for a holiday. TB’s parents will need to arrange new passports before flying to the UAE. This is as stated on both the UK and UAE government websites.
For expatriates with UAE residency visas who wish to enter the UAE, the minimum passport validity required is three months.
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
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
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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
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15 years, 181 days old
- Max Dowman (Arsenal)
15 years, 235 days old
- Jeremy Monga (Leicester)
15 years, 271 days old
- Harvey Elliott (Fulham)
16 years, 30 days old
- Matthew Briggs (Fulham)
16 years, 68 days old
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- A fuel tax protest by French drivers appealed to wider anti-government sentiment
- Unlike previous French demonstrations there was no trade union or organised movement involved
- Demonstrators responded to online petitions and flooded squares to block traffic
- At its height there were almost 300,000 on the streets in support
- Named after the high visibility jackets that drivers must keep in cars
- Clashes soon turned violent as thousands fought with police at cordons
- An estimated two dozen people lost eyes and many others were admitted to hospital
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
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Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Company Profile
Company name: OneOrder
Started: October 2021
Founders: Tamer Amer and Karim Maurice
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Industry: technology, logistics
Investors: A15 and self-funded
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
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Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
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Read more from Aya Iskandarani
Indoor cricket World Cup:
Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23
UAE fixtures:
Men
Saturday, September 16 – 1.45pm, v New Zealand
Sunday, September 17 – 10.30am, v Australia; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Monday, September 18 – 2pm, v England; 7.15pm, v India
Tuesday, September 19 – 12.15pm, v Singapore; 5.30pm, v Sri Lanka
Thursday, September 21 – 2pm v Malaysia
Friday, September 22 – 3.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 3pm, grand final
Women
Saturday, September 16 – 5.15pm, v Australia
Sunday, September 17 – 2pm, v South Africa; 7.15pm, v New Zealand
Monday, September 18 – 5.30pm, v England
Tuesday, September 19 – 10.30am, v New Zealand; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Thursday, September 21 – 12.15pm, v Australia
Friday, September 22 – 1.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 1pm, grand final
UAE SQUAD
Omar Abdulrahman (Al Hilal), Ali Khaseif, Ali Mabkhout, Salem Rashed, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Khalfan Mubarak, Zayed Al Ameri, Mohammed Al Attas (Al Jazira), Khalid Essa, Ahmed Barman, Ryan Yaslam, Bandar Al Ahbabi (Al Ain), Habib Fardan, Tariq Ahmed, Mohammed Al Akbari (Al Nasr), Ali Saleh, Ali Salmin (Al Wasl), Adel Al Hosani, Ali Hassan Saleh, Majed Suroor (Sharjah), Ahmed Khalil, Walid Abbas, Majed Hassan, Ismail Al Hammadi (Shabab Al Ahli), Hassan Al Muharrami, Fahad Al Dhahani (Bani Yas), Mohammed Al Shaker (Ajman)
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Company profile
Company name: Dharma
Date started: 2018
Founders: Charaf El Mansouri, Nisma Benani, Leah Howe
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: TravelTech
Funding stage: Pre-series A
Investors: Convivialite Ventures, BY Partners, Shorooq Partners, L& Ventures, Flat6Labs
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)
