UAE: Troubles Faced By Expats

Life overseas is both exciting and financially rewarding for many expatriates, but there are also a number of problems associated with relocating abroad.

According to a legal expert, who is well-versed in helping UAE-based expatriates in distress, many foreign workers, regardless of their passport, have found themselves in trouble due to a number of issues.

The top five of these are inability to repay debt, having sex outside marriage, using or possessing controlled substances, having a dispute with their employer and forging documents.

A lawyer in Dubai explained why these woes came about and offered advice on how to avoid some of these.

Indebtedness

A number of expatriates have fallen into a debt trap and landed behind bars. The cases stemmed from failure to repay credit card debt or personal loan, and paying with cheques that later bounced.

Others have been unable to borrow again because they have been blacklisted by banking authorities, while some are facing the difficulty of leaving the country because their passport has been used as a guarantee by a troubled borrower.

According to Almazar, there have been several expatriates of different nationalities who have turned to them for advice or legal assistance to deal with indebtedness, among other problems.

It is very easy to get credit cards and loans in the UAE. Most will come here looking for better opportunities. Credit cards and easy cash loans give you a false belief that you have so much money at your disposal,he explained.

For many expats, things start getting complicated when they lose their jobs or when their employers fail to pay their salaries.

This is the start that they use their cards heavily and not being able to pay until the banks cash their security cheques.

Because of the police case, they will not be able to renew their visa. So the situation gets worse.
If they are still employed, their employer will have to let go of them since their visas cannot be processed. If they are already unemployed, they won’t be able to join another company since their visas can’t be processed due to the police case.

Expats are advised that if they default on credit card or loan payments or the cheques they use to settle their bills have bounced, they are likely to end up in jail.

Immorality

There have been reports of expatriates facing legal issues after having sex outside marriage or getting pregnant out of wedlock. Others are also in trouble for having extra-marital affairs.The local laws, for example, do not allow unmarried couples to share the same roof. The punishment for consensual sex is one-year detention, pursuant to Article 356 of the Penal Code.

Almazar said expatriates usually seek assistance when an illegal affair has resulted in pregnancy. If we will include marital disputes involving extramarital affairs or presence of third parties, I would deal with an average of ten cases a month, said Almazar.

Most of the time, the problem will lead to a court case if the act resulted to pregnancy and the mother has to deliver in Dubai. Other instances are when there are unexpected complications with pregnancy requiring medical attention,which means disclosing the fact of engaging in premarital sex. In some cases, the complication was due to induced abortion majority are those left by their partners.

Intoxication/illegal drugs

Another problem faced by many expatriates, according to Almazar, is intoxication or possession of prohibited drugs. Drinking without a licence to purchase regulated beverages is illegal and can land expatriates in jail. Anyone caught violating the law may face a detention of less than a month to six months, or a fine of Dh1,000.

Unfortunately, not many expats are probably aware of such prohibition, so they end up in trouble. Expats are well advised to avoid driving after having drinks at the bar on a night out or bringing home/transporting regulated beverages if they don’t have a permit.

Dispute with employer/ illegal recruitment

A number of expatriates have found themselves in a legal dispute with their employer due to non-payment of salaries. Contract substitution, employment ban and working for a different sponsor are also the usual issues faced by expatriates in the UAE. In certain communities, particularly among Asians, one of the most common problems is illegal recruitment.

Almazar said certain expats are particularly vulnerable to illegal recruiters due to the absence of laws that protect the rights of migrant workers.

Improper use of documents

Sometimes, people have to jump through hoops just to get things done, and this can include forging some documents. Many cases faced by expats stem from the use of fake educational qualifications. Other cases involve tenancy contracts and fraudulent birth certificates.

These cases are usually about educational qualifications - some employers will accept the document even if they know it to be fake so that when the employee resigns, they will use the fake document against him. Submission of
fake document is not only criminal but also a ground to lose your gratuity pay,said Almazar.

Other instances are tenancy contacts,since you cannot sponsor your wife or children if you do not have a tenancy contract under your name.


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UAE: Baskin Robbins Ice Cream Rumour To Negatively Affect Popular Ice Cream Chain

Its hot, the temperature’s above average, and the last thing you need is mould on your ice cream.

A video has been circulating on social media recently, an alleged resident of Dubai claims to have found mould in their tub of Baskin Robbins ice cream.

In the video, the so-called resident also blames Dubai Municipality for not implementing stricter rules against food establishments.

In response, Dubai Municipality launched an investigation into the allegations and announced that this rumour is completely false.

On its official Facebook page, Dubai Municipality confirms that the video was filmed in one of the Gulf countries and not in Dubai, or the UAE.

Dubai Municipality confirms that it has an integrated system consisting of strict procedures to ensure control of all traded food in the emirate.

The municipality also uses the self-monitoring method on food institutions to ensure full compliance with all specifications and legislations adopted in the country,it said.

The municipality also said it deplores those who publish any false information without confirming the source.

Meanwhile, An Indian nurse was found dead in her apartment in Karama on Saturday, family sources said.

The deceased has been identified as 30-year-old Santhi Thomas, who hailed from the state of Kerala.

According to a family friend, it was Santhi’s husband who found her hanging from the ceiling fan in their apartment when he got back from work.

He said Santhi, who has a three-year-old daughter, had been married for four years and had joined her husband in Dubai over two years ago. She was working with a private hospital.

“Santhi’s parents said the couple had some discord between them and the child is living with her father’s parents. They said she had earlier booked a ticket to go home and it was cancelled,” the family friend said.

Dubai Police, which is investigating the case, has interrogated the husband, he added.

Police has not commented.

Meanwhile, Before you head off for your summer holiday and fly to your dream destination, here’s a quick checklist to keep your house safe and your utility bills to a minimum this summer.

The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) has launched its annual ‘Tips before Travelling’ campaign as part of its efforts to raise awareness on the sensible use of electricity and water, reducing waste, and following safety guidelines.

Now in its fifth year, the move is part of Dewa’s annual ‘Let’s Make this Summer Green’ campaign.

Since many families leave the UAE during summer for long periods of time, ensuring that these guidelines are kept will not only conserve natural resources but also give residents peace of mind.

“As part of its role as a socially-responsible government organisation, Dewa puts environmental protection and sustainability of natural resources at the forefront of its priorities.

We organise an integrated set of initiatives, programmes and activities throughout the year to raise awareness about the importance of rationalising energy and water use and adopting a conscious and sustainable lifestyle,” said Khawla Al Mehairi, Vice-President of Marketing and Corporate Communications at Dewa.

Amal Koshak, Senior Manager of Marketing Communications at Dewa, said the tips are quick and easy to do and beneficial.
“Simple tips that can be followed at home before travelling for summer vacations are a quick and effective way to protect natural resources, reduce costs, and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.

For example, not repairing a small leak in the kitchen that wastes one drop of water each second, could lead to wasting 32,000 gallons of water per year,” Koshak said.

Toilets can account for almost 30 per cent of all indoor water use, more than any other fixture or appliance, according o Dewa.

But even more worrisome is an average of 20 per cent of toilets leak. It is better then to check toilets periodically for leaks and repair them promptly before leaving UAE.

If you have a swimming pool which and don’t want to drain it, cover it to reduce evaporation. An average size pool left uncovered can lose as much as 1,000 gallons (3,785 litres) of water per month.