Residents and tourists whose visas expired or were cancelled before March 1 must leave the country within the next three weeks to take advantage of the recent amnesty extension announced by the government.
People will not face a ban on re-entry if they leave by the December 30 deadline.
Experts said those who continue to live in the UAE after the end of the year, in the hope of finding a new job, rectifying their status or to attempt to get a tourist visa extension, will face penalties.
They will not be covered by the amnesty spelt out by the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship for people whose visas expired before March 1.
The grace period to leave the country was extended from August to November and finally to the end of December to assist residents and travellers stuck in the UAE because of global travel restrictions.
The National interviewed Haider Hussain, a partner at Fragomen, an immigration services company, for an overview of the rules.
A detailed update covers guidance for residents who have overstayed, tourists with expired documents, people outside the Emirates for more than six months, parents with newborns and students.
When is the amnesty deadline?
The final day of the grace period is December 30, 2020. People must leave the country on or before this date to be eligible for the visa amnesty.
What is the penalty for not leaving the UAE by the end of December?
Residents whose visas were cancelled or expired before March 1, 2020, and have not left the country before December 31, will face overstay fines of Dh25 a day, as well as Dh20 per day for an expired Emirates ID card.
The financial penalties imposed for a lapsed Emirates ID can reach up to Dh1,000.
They will also be charged Dh250 as an administration charge by airport immigration.
The same applies for all dependents.
What is the penalty if my tourist visa expired before March 1, 2020?
For tourists whose permits expired before March 1, the penalty will be Dh200 for the first day and Dh100 for every subsequent day.
Will I face a travel ban when I apply for amnesty?
UAE authorities are clear there is no ban on people whose documents expired or were cancelled before March 1 and make use of the amnesty. Once a resident or tourist leaves, their files will be closed and they are free to obtain an employment or tourist visa to return.
How can I ensure I am exempt from fines?
If your visa expired or was cancelled before March 1, 2020, you must arrive at the airport with your passport and flight ticket dated before December 31.
All dependents sponsored by the resident must also depart.
Residents who are investors or business partners must liquidate the company or give up their legal capacity in the company.
Where do I go? Who do I approach?
To apply for the exemption, go to any airport in the UAE. Authorities suggest you arrive six to eight hours before departure to complete all procedures. For Dubai, visit the Dubai Civil Aviation Security Centre, next to Terminal 2, at least 48 hours before departure.
I have been promised a job. Can I amend my visa while staying in the UAE after the grace period ends?
People whose visa expired or was cancelled before March 1 but have not resolved their immigration status should leave the UAE and re-enter on a new entry permit.
Residents who continue to live in the Emirates and change to a new visa will be subject to overstay fines. The waiver is applicable only for those who leave the country.
If offered a new job, the advisable approach is to leave the UAE, have your prospective employer file an "out of country" entry permit to enable your return. You will not have a travel ban if you avail of the amnesty. If you remain without an appropriate visa, you could face fines and a travel ban.
What about people whose visas were cancelled or expired after March 1?
People whose residency visa expired or was cancelled between March 1 and July 12 had until October 10 to rectify their status by renewing, finding new employment or leaving the country.
The standard 30-day grace period to change their status applies to people whose residence permit expired after July 12, after which overstay fines apply.
Tourists with expired visas after March 1 do not fall under the October grace period. They had 30 days to leave the country, obtain a new in-country tourist visa or extend their tourist visa for another 30 days.
What about people with residency visas who have been overseas for more than six months?
Individuals overseas for more than 180 days should check their visa validity on the residency websites.
They are allowed to enter the UAE but need to obtain approval from the General Directorate of Residence and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) to enter Dubai.
Approval is granted by the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) portal for Abu Dhabi and other emirates.
Once they enter the country, they have 30 days to renew their visa without any fines. They can approach Amer centres or renew their residency permits via their employer.
To check visa status and validity for Abu Dhabi and the Northern Emirates, check this website.
Dubai residents can check visa status here.
What is the procedure for families with a newborn outside the UAE?
If the main sponsor is in the UAE, they can file an out of country entry permit for the baby.
If the entire family is still out of country, the employer can file a permit for the baby.
Are work permits being issued?
Outside free zones, work permit applications are suspended for people who are overseas.
Companies based in free zones can file an out of country entry permit for new hires.
I’m leaving on holiday, what approvals do I need?
If you are travelling from Dubai, a GDRFA permit is needed to return. For any other emirate, you need ICA approval.
Obtaining the clearance is not a requirement when you leave. It is recommended for your peace of mind to obtain this prior to departure.
It is mandatory to have the permit when you come back into the country.
What is the residency visa procedure for students over the age of 18?
Unmarried girls with family in the UAE can be sponsored by their father. If studying at a university in the UAE, they can be sponsored by the educational institution.
Males over the age of 18 can get a residence permit from the education institution in the UAE.
If sponsored by a parent or guardian, the visa will be renewed on a yearly basis for sons over the age of 18.
Paperwork must confirm the individual is a student overseas, does not have other means of support and is a dependent.
When studying at a university overseas, males between the age of 18 to 21 need a letter confirming they are enrolled in an education programme abroad. This then goes for humanitarian review and approval.
There is no age limit for females on residency visas through their father’s sponsorship.
What are the fines for an expired Emirates identity card?
The penalty is Dh20 a day if not renewed in time, up to a maximum of Dh1,000.
The Emirates identity card is renewed as part of the residency process.
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
West Indies v India - Third ODI
India 251-4 (50 overs)
Dhoni (78*), Rahane (72), Jadhav (40)
Cummins (2-56), Bishoo (1-38)
West Indies 158 (38.1 overs)
Mohammed (40), Powell (30), Hope (24)
Ashwin (3-28), Yadav (3-41), Pandya (2-32)
India won by 93 runs
Company profile
Name: The Concept
Founders: Yadhushan Mahendran, Maria Sobh and Muhammad Rijal
Based: Abu Dhabi
Founded: 2017
Number of employees: 7
Sector: Aviation and space industry
Funding: $250,000
Future plans: Looking to raise $1 million investment to boost expansion and develop new products
SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201.5-litre%204-cylinder%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20101hp%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20135Nm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20Six-speed%20auto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh79%2C900%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
QUALIFYING RESULTS
1. Max Verstappen, Netherlands, Red Bull Racing Honda, 1 minute, 35.246 seconds.
2. Valtteri Bottas, Finland, Mercedes, 1:35.271.
3. Lewis Hamilton, Great Britain, Mercedes, 1:35.332.
4. Lando Norris, Great Britain, McLaren Renault, 1:35.497.
5. Alexander Albon, Thailand, Red Bull Racing Honda, 1:35.571.
6. Carlos Sainz Jr, Spain, McLaren Renault, 1:35.815.
7. Daniil Kvyat, Russia, Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda, 1:35.963.
8. Lance Stroll, Canada, Racing Point BWT Mercedes, 1:36.046.
9. Charles Leclerc, Monaco, Ferrari, 1:36.065.
10. Pierre Gasly, France, Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda, 1:36.242.
Eliminated after second session
11. Esteban Ocon, France, Renault, 1:36.359.
12. Daniel Ricciardo, Australia, Renault, 1:36.406.
13. Sebastian Vettel, Germany, Ferrari, 1:36.631.
14. Antonio Giovinazzi, Italy, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:38.248.
Eliminated after first session
15. Antonio Giovinazzi, Italy, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:37.075.
16. Kimi Raikkonen, Finland, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:37.555.
17. Kevin Magnussen, Denmark, Haas Ferrari, 1:37.863.
18. George Russell, Great Britain, Williams Mercedes, 1:38.045.
19. Pietro Fittipaldi, Brazil, Haas Ferrari, 1:38.173.
20. Nicholas Latifi, Canada, Williams Mercedes, 1:38.443.
The five stages of early child’s play
From Dubai-based clinical psychologist Daniella Salazar:
1. Solitary Play: This is where Infants and toddlers start to play on their own without seeming to notice the people around them. This is the beginning of play.
2. Onlooker play: This occurs where the toddler enjoys watching other people play. There doesn’t necessarily need to be any effort to begin play. They are learning how to imitate behaviours from others. This type of play may also appear in children who are more shy and introverted.
3. Parallel Play: This generally starts when children begin playing side-by-side without any interaction. Even though they aren’t physically interacting they are paying attention to each other. This is the beginning of the desire to be with other children.
4. Associative Play: At around age four or five, children become more interested in each other than in toys and begin to interact more. In this stage children start asking questions and talking about the different activities they are engaging in. They realise they have similar goals in play such as building a tower or playing with cars.
5. Social Play: In this stage children are starting to socialise more. They begin to share ideas and follow certain rules in a game. They slowly learn the definition of teamwork. They get to engage in basic social skills and interests begin to lead social interactions.
NEW%20UTILITY%20POLICY%3A%20WHAT%20DOES%20IT%20REGULATE%3F
%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Agreements%20on%20energy%20and%20water%20supply%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Applied%20service%20fees%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Customer%20data%20and%20information%20privacy%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Prohibition%20of%20service%20disconnections%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Customer%20complaint%20process%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Management%20of%20debts%20and%20customers%20in%20default%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Services%20provided%20to%20people%20of%20determination%20and%20home%20care%20customers%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Recent winners
2002 Giselle Khoury (Colombia)
2004 Nathalie Nasralla (France)
2005 Catherine Abboud (Oceania)
2007 Grace Bijjani (Mexico)
2008 Carina El-Keddissi (Brazil)
2009 Sara Mansour (Brazil)
2010 Daniella Rahme (Australia)
2011 Maria Farah (Canada)
2012 Cynthia Moukarzel (Kuwait)
2013 Layla Yarak (Australia)
2014 Lia Saad (UAE)
2015 Cynthia Farah (Australia)
2016 Yosmely Massaad (Venezuela)
2017 Dima Safi (Ivory Coast)
2018 Rachel Younan (Australia)
Fight card
1. Bantamweight: Victor Nunes (BRA) v Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK)
2. Featherweight: Hussein Salim (IRQ) v Shakhriyor Juraev (UZB)
3. Catchweight 80kg: Rashed Dawood (UAE) v Khamza Yamadaev (RUS)
4. Lightweight: Ho Taek-oh (KOR) v Ronald Girones (CUB)
5. Lightweight: Arthur Zaynukov (RUS) v Damien Lapilus (FRA)
6. Bantamweight: Vinicius de Oliveira (BRA) v Furkatbek Yokubov (RUS)
7. Featherweight: Movlid Khaybulaev (RUS) v Zaka Fatullazade (AZE)
8. Flyweight: Shannon Ross (TUR) v Donovon Freelow (USA)
9. Lightweight: Mohammad Yahya (UAE) v Dan Collins (GBR)
10. Catchweight 73kg: Islam Mamedov (RUS) v Martun Mezhulmyan (ARM)
11. Bantamweight World title: Jaures Dea (CAM) v Xavier Alaoui (MAR)
12. Flyweight World title: Manon Fiorot (FRA) v Gabriela Campo (ARG)
The years Ramadan fell in May
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Profile of Udrive
Date started: March 2016
Founder: Hasib Khan
Based: Dubai
Employees: 40
Amount raised (to date): $3.25m – $750,000 seed funding in 2017 and a Seed round of $2.5m last year. Raised $1.3m from Eureeca investors in January 2021 as part of a Series A round with a $5m target.
