It is not uncommon for expats for make a few financial mistakes when they move to another country but proper planning, research and the right advice will mean you do the right things. This is a list of the most common errors and while some may seem obvious, they are all made regularly. Knowledge is power so have a read and make sure you aren’t making mistakes that you could easily avoid.
These are the official dates of public holidays for the UAE for the coming year, as well as notable dates, so you can make a note in your diary now and plan ahead. Actual days of holiday for both the public and private sector should be the same and these are the dates announced by the UAE Government.
As usual, dates of Islamic holidays will be subject to slight variation, dependent on moon sighting, and others may also change.
With this in mind, this article will be updated throughout the year as any changes are announced.
| Occasion | Date | Day of the week | No. of Days |
| New Year’s Day | January 1st | Wednesday | 1 |
| Beginning of Ramadan* | April 24th | Friday | 0 |
| Eid Al Fitr* | May 23rd | Saturday | 4 |
| Arafat (Haj) Day* | July 29th | Wednesday | 1 |
| Eid Al Adha* | July 30th | Thursday | 3 |
| Hijri New Year’s Day* | August 23rd | Sunday | 1 |
| Prophet’s Birthday | October 29th | Thursday | 1 |
| Commemoration Day | December 1st | Tuesday | 1 |
| UAE National Day | December 2nd & 3rd | Wednesday & Thursday | 2 |
| *Islamic holiday dates are dependent on moon sighting and all are subject to confirmation and may change | |||
I write articles such as this one as part of the holistic personal financial planning service and that I provide to expats, and the general consumer, financial and legal information that I provide in The National newspaper, on Capital Radio UAE, and on the Facebook group British Expats Dubai.
To arrange a meeting to discuss any aspect of your personal financial planning, please email me at keren@holbornassets.com Please take a look at the other useful articles on this website.
Source: UAE Government Communications Office
Every year, we hear familiar songs on the radio but have you ever stopped to wonder just how much the writers and performers receive from the repeated airplay? The amounts may surprise you as for the biggest songs the amounts are very large indeed. No wonder some artists refer to these hits as their pension funds!
The revenue goes to writers and performers, not always the same people, but if they both write it and perform it, the income is even bigger. Many artists have given it a go but not all are successful. The actual amounts below are amalgamated from multiple sources as the Performing Rights Society does not release this information.
Most of the best loved Christmas songs are not recent ,with the 70s and 80s being a golden era in terms of the UK charts, so the total royalties have really added up over the years. The law in the UK changed in 2011 so that now royalties last the entire life of the songwriter and another 70 years after they have passed away. In the US, they are payable for 95 years following a similar change in legislation in 1998. These earnings can support not only the writers and artists but also their dependents.
Here are some facts and figures about some of the biggest earners.
As we head rapidly towards the end of 2019 the prospect of Christmas and New Year is daunting for many due to the cost of the celebrations. With Christmas being as much a cultural as a religious event for most people, and New Year being a party time too, this article is all about some hints and tips for budgeting at this time of year.
The holidays are a time when people want to splash out but it is all too easy to get carried away with all the advertising, tempting shop displays, and the associated pressure to make everything perfect.
The cost of living in the UAE is higher than ever and with many people having concerns about expenditure, and even job security, there are ways to cut back but still have a good time.
Whilst most people are aware that Sharia law is the legal framework used in the GCC countries, not all expats have realised that this can affect them and their money.
November 2020. Some information in this article has been superceded by new legislation so please see this article for the lastest details regarding the laws on death while in the UAE:
New personal laws in the UAE but what do they really mean for you?
A few weeks ago I asked people to complete a survey to see how 2019 is going for them, from a largely financial and work perspective. Everyone was asked a series of questions about stability of work, the property market, what was impacting their personal finances, personal debts and how they felt about their life going into the second half of 2019.
Over 400 replied with just over 51% being in the 31 to 45 age group. The next largest group of respondents was aged 46 to 60 years (35%) and 70% of total respondents were married.
We’re approaching the hottest time of the year in the UAE, a time when many people think about going on holiday to avoid the heat for a while. The long school summer holiday starts shortly so many families and teachers will travel during this time. With this in mind, I’d like to give you a few hints and tips for saving and safeguarding money when travelling.
We’re nearly half way through the year, (and isn’t it going fast?) so I’d like to take a look at how UAE residents are finding it so far from a personal financial perspective. I would therefore be grateful if you could take just a few minutes to complete this survey.
Survey. 2019: how is it going for you?
The information gathered will be used in a future article on this website and for a show on Capital Radio UAE ( http://www.cruae.ae) on 30th June, as one of my weekly Everything UAE segments which are broadcast every Sunday, just after 6pm.
Your input is very much appreciated. Thank you.
I write articles such as this one as part of the holistic personal financial planning service and that I provide to expats, and the general consumer, financial and legal information that I provide in The National newspaper, on Capital Radio UAE and on the Facebook group British Expats Dubai. If I can assist you with any personal financial issues, please contact me at keren@holbornassets.com You will find many other useful articles on this website.
If you have yet to come across Capital Radio UAE, the station re-launched in the UAE in September 2018. You can listen online at http://www.cruae.ae or is the MyTuner Radio app with FM coming soon. The station, a franchise of London’s famous Capital Radio, is aimed at the over 35s so plays the songs you know from the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s.
Verified listeners for my weekly segment on Capital are in excess of 315,000 and growing fast so listen in to hear useful information every week.
This is not intended to be a definitive guide to the holy month, but is a simple overview and more importantly, a ‘what not to do’ for those who are not fully aware or are new to the UAE.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar and the month in which the Quran was revealed. The annual observation of the fast during the month is one of the five pillars of Islam and is a serious matter for Muslims as a test of faith. It is also a month to take things a little easier and to spend time with family.
This year Ramadan is expected to start on or around Sunday 5th May and at time of writing the date was yet to be confirmed. The UAE usually follows the announcement of Saudi Arabia but also has its own moon-sighting committee. The dates move forward by some 10 to 12 days each year as the Hijari calendar is slightly shorter than the Gregorian one that is in common use.