The Dubai resident was on an unlimited employment contract and working for a mainland company in the emirate. Photo: Getty Images
The Dubai resident was on an unlimited employment contract and working for a mainland company in the emirate. Photo: Getty Images
The Dubai resident was on an unlimited employment contract and working for a mainland company in the emirate. Photo: Getty Images
The Dubai resident was on an unlimited employment contract and working for a mainland company in the emirate. Photo: Getty Images

'Can I get company compensation for flights I didn't take?'


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I am employed by a company in Dubai and the contract states I am entitled to a flight to my home country every year. I submitted my resignation upon completing two years and eight months of service. I understand I am not entitled to a repatriation ticket because I will be joining another company, but I am looking to get compensation for the flight tickets I was entitled to for years one and two. I was not given a ticket or cash and I took holidays to other places other than my home country. Would I be able to claim compensation for the cost of the flights that I did not take? LP, Dubai

Whether LP is able to claim compensation for the flights depends on the exact wording in her employment contract. Many contracts are specific about flights, in that they are only for travel to a home country, whereas others will allow travel anywhere provided the cost is no higher. As is the case with annual leave, there is no legal entitlement for days to be carried forward and often it is ‘use it or lose it’.

LP should have checked this issue at the time, as well as the precise contract wording or staff handbook, as few employers will make payment in lieu for flights that should have been taken in the past. There is no legal obligation for the employer to make such a payment if an employee does not make a claim at the relevant time.

I run a business in Jafza (Jebel Ali Free Zone Area) and was recently sent a letter, on official-looking letterhead, from an organisation called UAE Register of Commerce. All our business information was shown on there correctly and it said that we hadn't paid our annual premium and the invoice they had sent us was outstanding. This is the first I had heard of this and we haven't been sent any invoice or received anything in the past. The amount they are asking is in US dollars, in the amount of $1,177 (Dh4,103). We don't want to get in trouble, so can you tell us if this is a real organisation and if we have to pay this bill? FM, Dubai

FM sent me a copy of this letter and it does look rather official and is on a letterhead in UAE colours. This is a scam, though, and the giveaway signs are that they are requesting payment in US dollars, as the UAE Government would only ask for payments in UAE dirhams, and at the bottom of the letter there is an address in Germany.

The bank details are not for a UAE bank, although this is harder to spot, but all UAE bank IBANs start AE and this starts DE. The letter refers recipients to a website which looks like it could be real until you get to the contact page which is for an address and phone number in Germany. The UAE authorities do not usually send official correspondence by standard post. Instead communication is usually electronic these days and contact details will always be in the UAE.

There seems to be a significant increase in scammers targeting the UAE in the past few months and many of their approaches look realistic at first glance. It pays to be cautious and check whether any requests for money or personal information are genuine. Dubai residents can report cybercrimes via the Dubai Police website or app.

I left the UAE last year but I still have an outstanding debt of Dh47,000 on a loan and a credit card. I haven't made any payments since December 2017 when I left. I would like to know if there will be a problem if I transit through Dubai or Abu Dhabi airport. Can they arrest me in the airport even if I don't enter the country but stay at the airport for hours before my next flight as this is my cheapest option? BG, Pakistan

Anyone who has an outstanding police case registered for debt should be flagged on the UAE immigration computer system which means that they will be detained upon entering the country. BG has not mentioned a police case, but once three months’ repayments are missed most banks will go down the route of registering a police case against an individual.

In theory, if you are simply in transit then you will not enter the UAE or go through immigration, but if a flight is delayed you may be permitted to exit the airport or asked to go through the relevant process, which could lead to an arrest for non-payment of the outstanding debt. Until monies owed are repaid, there will always be a risk of arrest when travelling through the UAE.

Keren Bobker is an independent financial adviser and senior partner with Holborn Assets in Dubai, with over 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

India squad for fourth and fifth Tests

Kohli (c), Dhawan, Rahul, Shaw, Pujara, Rahane (vc), Karun, Karthik (wk), Pant (wk), Ashwin, Jadeja, Pandya, Ishant, Shami, Umesh, Bumrah, Thakur, Vihari

Citizenship-by-investment programmes

United Kingdom

The UK offers three programmes for residency. The UK Overseas Business Representative Visa lets you open an overseas branch office of your existing company in the country at no extra investment. For the UK Tier 1 Innovator Visa, you are required to invest £50,000 (Dh238,000) into a business. You can also get a UK Tier 1 Investor Visa if you invest £2 million, £5m or £10m (the higher the investment, the sooner you obtain your permanent residency).

All UK residency visas get approved in 90 to 120 days and are valid for 3 years. After 3 years, the applicant can apply for extension of another 2 years. Once they have lived in the UK for a minimum of 6 months every year, they are eligible to apply for permanent residency (called Indefinite Leave to Remain). After one year of ILR, the applicant can apply for UK passport.

The Caribbean

Depending on the country, the investment amount starts from $100,000 (Dh367,250) and can go up to $400,000 in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take between four to five months to receive a passport. 

Portugal

The investment amount ranges from €350,000 to €500,000 (Dh1.5m to Dh2.16m) in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take a maximum of six months to receive a Golden Visa. Applicants can apply for permanent residency after five years and Portuguese citizenship after six years.

“Among European countries with residency programmes, Portugal has been the most popular because it offers the most cost-effective programme to eventually acquire citizenship of the European Union without ever residing in Portugal,” states Veronica Cotdemiey of Citizenship Invest.

Greece

The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Greece is €250,000, making it the cheapest real estate residency visa scheme in Europe. You can apply for residency in four months and citizenship after seven years.

Spain

The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Spain is €500,000. You can apply for permanent residency after five years and citizenship after 10 years. It is not necessary to live in Spain to retain and renew the residency visa permit.

Cyprus

Cyprus offers the quickest route to citizenship of a European country in only six months. An investment of €2m in real estate is required, making it the highest priced programme in Europe.

Malta

The Malta citizenship by investment programme is lengthy and investors are required to contribute sums as donations to the Maltese government. The applicant must either contribute at least €650,000 to the National Development & Social Fund. Spouses and children are required to contribute €25,000; unmarried children between 18 and 25 and dependent parents must contribute €50,000 each.

The second step is to make an investment in property of at least €350,000 or enter a property rental contract for at least €16,000 per annum for five years. The third step is to invest at least €150,000 in bonds or shares approved by the Maltese government to be kept for at least five years.

Candidates must commit to a minimum physical presence in Malta before citizenship is granted. While you get residency in two months, you can apply for citizenship after a year.

Egypt 

A one-year residency permit can be bought if you purchase property in Egypt worth $100,000. A three-year residency is available for those who invest $200,000 in property, and five years for those who purchase property worth $400,000.

Source: Citizenship Invest and Aqua Properties

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Results

2-15pm: Commercial Bank Of Dubai – Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (Dirt) 1,400m; Winner: Al Habash, Patrick Cosgrave (jockey), Bhupat Seemar (trainer)

2.45pm: Al Shafar Investment – Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: Day Approach, Ray Dawson, Ahmad bin Harmash

3.15pm: Dubai Real estate Centre – Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Celtic Prince, Richard Mullen, Rashed Bouresly

3.45pm: Jebel Ali Sprint by ARM Holding – Listed (TB) Dh500,000 (D) 1,000m; Winner: Khuzaam, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson

4.15pm: Shadwell – Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Tenbury Wells, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer

4.45pm: Jebel Ali Stakes by ARM Holding – Listed (TB) Dh500,000 (D) 1,950m; Winner: Lost Eden, Andrea Atzeni, Doug Watson

5.15pm: Jebel Ali Racecourse – Handicap (TB) Dh76,000 (D) 1,950m; Winner: Rougher, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson

'Worse than a prison sentence'

Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.

“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.

“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.

“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.

“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.

“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”

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Know before you go
  • Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
  • If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
  • By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
  • Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
  • Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.

 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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
MATCH INFO

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