A few years ago, I accepted a credit card offer from an agent who was representing a bank in the UAE.
The agent contacted me by phone; it was a cold call and I don’t know how they got my number.
I didn’t check the terms and conditions set by the card issuer, but thought it was easy credit at the time and I could use it for emergencies if needed.
I have never used the card and, in hindsight, should never have agreed to go ahead with the agent’s offer.
However, I have recently discovered that the credit card carries an annual fee after checking an old email account that I rarely use.
As I haven’t paid any of the annual fees, it has increased quite a lot because of late penalties and interest charges.
Is there a way to convince the bank to waive the fees as I have not used the card? And will this be reflected on my credit score? EG, Dubai
Debt panellist 1: R Deepakchandran, group head of retail products at Emirates NBD
Credit cards can be broadly classified into two types: fee-based and free of annual fees, each designed to cater to different customer segments.
Fee-based credit cards charge an annual fee to cover administrative and maintenance costs.
They also offer additional features and perks, such as higher reward rates, membership or points programmes, discounts and promotions, travel insurance, airport lounge access and concierge services that are exclusive and meant to enhance a customer's lifestyle.
Hence, while applying for a credit card, it is important to review the terms and conditions and the schedule of charges applicable to your account.
In your current scenario, it is advisable to contact your bank and explain your present situation given the circumstances.
Most banks will reverse the annual maintenance fees (AMF) and subsequent charges if there is no spending activity on the card.
Once the outstanding amount is cleared, the system will automatically resolve the issue and clear your credit report.
If you are not interested in paying the AMF or keeping the card, I suggest contacting your bank to inquire about changing it to a fee-free option.
It is commendable you are reaching out for assistance and taking control of the situation.
Debt panellist 2: Jaya Ratnani, managing partner at Freed Financial Services
Unlike debit cards, credit cards come with multiple charges associated with them, which most of us tend not to understand.
These fees and charges, however, accumulate over time and stack up into a heap of inescapable debt.
To avoid debt, it is important to be aware of the charges that are applicable to your credit card.
The annual fee depends on the type of card you own. The higher the benefits, the higher the fees.
We normally tend to not remember this charge as it is an annual fee. Some cards normally come with an advertisement of no annual fee; however, this is usually for only the first year.
Your situation is indeed ironic and a common phenomenon, where the fees are accrued on a credit card that is not used.
You need to understand that your account is automatically activated when your application is approved.
Watch: The debt cycle
This means that even if you do not activate the credit card, you will still have to pay the annual fee associated with it unless you cancel it.
I recommend setting up an in-person meeting with a senior officer at the bank and explaining your situation to them. If you are an existing customer of the bank, you can ask them to waive the annual fees that have been accumulated so far.
Once the issue is resolved with the bank, request a no-liability letter.
The bank should notify Al Etihad Credit Bureau in its monthly report about the closure of the card.
When AECB receives the new data, it will update your credit report, which will lead to a change in your credit score.
Debt panellist 3: Alison Soltani, founder of Leap Savvy Savers
You can contact the bank’s relationship manager, offer to pay the total annual fee and request that they waive the interest and charges.
It may be more effective to visit the branch and explain your situation. Take in all your statements to show that you have not used the card.
If you have any other ties with the bank such as accounts, cards or loans that you pay regularly, show the statements to prove that, under normal circumstances, you are a reliable customer.
However, the fact that you signed the contract and activated the card means that the bank has a right to levy the fees, as long as they are set out in the terms and conditions of the credit card contract.
They also sent you the statement by email so they can claim that they informed you about the charges.
The fact that you signed the contract and activated the card means that the bank has a right to levy the fees, as long as they are set out in the terms and conditions of the credit card contract.
Alison Soltani,
founder of Leap Savvy Savers
Depending on the amount owed, you could enlist the services of a solicitor to negotiate with the bank on your behalf, but it may be worth paying it off and chalking it up to experience.
The issue is expected to affect your credit score, but this should recover quickly once the charges are cleared and as long as you keep up with your other payments and bills.
It is easy to check your credit score with AECB by filling in the form on its website or calling 800 287 328. You can download a full individual report for Dh84 (including VAT).
Your credit score is calculated based on a number of factors, including credit history, payment history, credit utilisation, types of account and total credit inquiries.
A score above 700 is considered creditworthy. Therefore, if you have other bills and accounts that are paid on time, then this outstanding debt may not be unduly detrimental to the overall score.
To prevent this issue in the future, it’s useful to keep track of all your accounts, loans, cards and investments in a spreadsheet or notebook and regularly check your credit report for inconsistencies.
Checking once or twice a year normally suffices to identify any irregularities in your finances, at which time you can investigate and resolve the issue before the charges become unmanageable.
The Debt Panel is a weekly column to help readers tackle their debts more effectively. If you have a question for the panel, write to pf@thenational.ae
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Scoreline
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Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
25-MAN SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Daniel Akpeyi
Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina, Abdullahi Shehu, Chidozie Awaziem, William Ekong, Leon Balogun, Kenneth Omeruo, Jamilu Collins, Semi Ajayi
Midfielders: John Obi Mikel, Wilfred Ndidi, Oghenekaro Etebo, John Ogu
Forwards: Ahmed Musa, Victor Osimhen, Moses Simon, Henry Onyekuru, Odion Ighalo, Alexander Iwobi, Samuel Kalu, Paul Onuachu, Kelechi Iheanacho, Samuel Chukwueze
On Standby: Theophilus Afelokhai, Bryan Idowu, Ikouwem Utin, Mikel Agu, Junior Ajayi, Valentine Ozornwafor
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
Company Fact Box
Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019
Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO
Based: Amman, Jordan
Sector: Education Technology
Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed
Stage: early-stage startup
Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)
Power: 141bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh64,500
On sale: Now
Landfill in numbers
• Landfill gas is composed of 50 per cent methane
• Methane is 28 times more harmful than Co2 in terms of global warming
• 11 million total tonnes of waste are being generated annually in Abu Dhabi
• 18,000 tonnes per year of hazardous and medical waste is produced in Abu Dhabi emirate per year
• 20,000 litres of cooking oil produced in Abu Dhabi’s cafeterias and restaurants every day is thrown away
• 50 per cent of Abu Dhabi’s waste is from construction and demolition
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
If you go
The flights
There are various ways of getting to the southern Serengeti in Tanzania from the UAE. The exact route and airstrip depends on your overall trip itinerary and which camp you’re staying at.
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Kilimanjaro International Airport from Dh1,350 return, including taxes; this can be followed by a short flight from Kilimanjaro to the Serengeti with Coastal Aviation from about US$700 (Dh2,500) return, including taxes. Kenya Airways, Emirates and Etihad offer flights via Nairobi or Dar es Salaam.
