I would appreciate it if you can answer some of my queries with regard to credit cards. I used cards to pay for the educations of my three children. But lately, my salary is not enough to make payments on all my credit cards, and I am being harassed by some banks because I had not been making the minimum payment, and there are also late-payment charges. Can you please advise me how to obtain the necessary payment restructuring with HSBC? The bank has repeatedly told me that they cannot restructure.
MC Abu Dhabi
Although banks have been overly keen to give credit in recent years, there is also a responsibility upon the individual to repay monies borrowed. It has always been clear that loans and credit cards must be repaid, and it is foolish to borrow money without the means to repay it. Minimum payments on credit cards are generally low compared to the amount borrowed, and non-payment of this sum is a default and breach of the conditions.
The bank has the right to take action if non-payment continues. In many cases, a cheque is provided by the borrower as surety, and the bank can cash the cheque, so that either the outstanding amount is repaid from the individual's bank account or the cheque bounces, which will allow the bank to take legal action against a defaulting borrower. As MC mainly has outstanding debts with HSBC Bank Middle East, I put the query to the bank, which responded as follows: "Having sound credit policies will minimise risk and ensure healthy banking business. In uncertain times like we are experiencing today, it is all the more important that banks act prudently, and equally, that bank customers plan prudently for their financing needs. For those few customers who have difficulties making payments, HSBC has a specialised department which helps customers who are in those circumstances. We have a wide range of solutions to help people and the emphasis is to find a solution which best suits each customer and to implement that as soon as possible to avoid additional fees or distress.
We have a variety of solutions to offer and will listen to the customers, understand the problem and propose the right solution for them.
Some customers are worried and may be reluctant to contact us; however, we would always recommend that they call us as soon as possible. Our experience is that early contact gives us a much better opportunity to help the customer. The debt counselling service is available on the following numbers: 04 390 6884/6805/1604. These lines are private and confidential."
I have been in Dubai for just over two years, but have been paying into a UK pension. Could you please confirm that I am allowed to do so as, unlike initially anticipated, I now do not see myself returning to the UK for many years. I am currently paying £200 (Dh1,177) a month to a plan I have had for more than 10 years.
AV Dubai
In most cases only limited ongoing pension contributions can be made to a UK pension plan while someone is non-resident. Provided a personal pension or stakeholder pension scheme was already in force on your departure from the UK, you may make contributions of up to £3,600 per annum for up to five years after your departure from UK residency. Basic rate tax relief is available at source, so the amount you may pay is £2,880, but the tax relief assessed at source means the amount credited to the plan would be £3,600. After the initial five-year period of non-residency has expired, contributions should cease. Different rules apply to company pension schemes.
I have seen a few people fishing off the breakwaters on Dubai beaches and would like to go fishing there myself. I was told by one fisherman that I do not need a licence, but can you confirm if that is correct before I buy any equipment?
RO Dubai
Dubai Municipality rules state that you should have a licence before fishing in the specific areas where this is permitted. I understand this is part of a federal decree and that the police beach patrols will occasionally check for licences. Applications are handled by the Environment Department and the following items are required: application form (available from municipality or on their website), copy of passport with residency visa, copy of labour card, copy of tenancy contract or DEWA bill if property owner, copy of your driving licence and two passport sized photographs. There are no fees. These items must be taken to counter 11 in the main Municipality Customer Service Centre on Baniyas Road in Deira. Working hours are 7.30am to 2.30pm, Sunday to Thursday. The department can be contacted on 04 206 4260, or via e-mail at marabdulla@dm.gov.ae
Keren Bobker is an independent financial adviser with Holborn Assets in Dubai. Write to her at keren@holbornassets.com
Letters can also be sent to onyourside@thenational.ae
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
MATCH INFO
Jersey 147 (20 overs)
UAE 112 (19.2 overs)
Jersey win by 35 runs
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
Profile
Name: Carzaty
Founders: Marwan Chaar and Hassan Jaffar
Launched: 2017
Employees: 22
Based: Dubai and Muscat
Sector: Automobile retail
Funding to date: $5.5 million
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Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
RESULT
Copa del Rey, semi-final second leg
Real Madrid 0
Barcelona 3 (Suarez (50', 73' pen), Varane (69' OG)
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20IPHONE%2014
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Ordinary Virtues: Moral Order in a Divided World by Michael Ignatieff
Harvard University Press
The years Ramadan fell in May
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
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The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)
Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes
Favourite hobby: Football
Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk
Andor
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THE SPECS
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 275hp at 6,600rpm
Torque: 353Nm from 1,450-4,700rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Top speed: 250kph
Fuel consumption: 6.8L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: Dh146,999
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
Cultural fiesta
What: The Al Burda Festival
When: November 14 (from 10am)
Where: Warehouse421, Abu Dhabi
The Al Burda Festival is a celebration of Islamic art and culture, featuring talks, performances and exhibitions. Organised by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development, this one-day event opens with a session on the future of Islamic art. With this in mind, it is followed by a number of workshops and “masterclass” sessions in everything from calligraphy and typography to geometry and the origins of Islamic design. There will also be discussions on subjects including ‘Who is the Audience for Islamic Art?’ and ‘New Markets for Islamic Design.’ A live performance from Kuwaiti guitarist Yousif Yaseen should be one of the highlights of the day.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: SimpliFi
Started: August 2021
Founder: Ali Sattar
Based: UAE
Industry: Finance, technology
Investors: 4DX, Rally Cap, Raed, Global Founders, Sukna and individuals
JAPANESE GRAND PRIX INFO
Schedule (All times UAE)
First practice: Friday, 5-6.30am
Second practice: Friday, 9-10.30am
Third practice: Saturday, 7-8am
Qualifying: Saturday, 10-11am
Race: Sunday, 9am-midday
Race venue: Suzuka International Racing Course
Circuit Length: 5.807km
Number of Laps: 53
Watch live: beIN Sports HD
Bert van Marwijk factfile
Born: May 19 1952
Place of birth: Deventer, Netherlands
Playing position: Midfielder
Teams managed:
1998-2000 Fortuna Sittard
2000-2004 Feyenoord
2004-2006 Borussia Dortmund
2007-2008 Feyenoord
2008-2012 Netherlands
2013-2014 Hamburg
2015-2017 Saudi Arabia
2018 Australia
Major honours (manager):
2001/02 Uefa Cup, Feyenoord
2007/08 KNVB Cup, Feyenoord
World Cup runner-up, Netherlands
The Transfiguration
Director: Michael O’Shea
Starring: Eric Ruffin, Chloe Levine
Three stars
Best Foreign Language Film nominees
Capernaum (Lebanon)
Cold War (Poland)
Never Look Away (Germany)
Roma (Mexico)
Shoplifters (Japan)
Summer special
