As many will be aware, I have been writing about UAE employment regulations, and other matters, in my weekly column in The National newspaper since 2008. This is addition to my main business as an Independent Financial Adviser. All columns are online but in view of the current economic situation in relation to COVID-19, I thought it would be useful to clarify both employee and employer rights at this time.
Due to changes in legislation, this article has been updated and rewritten to so please see the latest one.
Thank you
HMRC (Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs) has announced that it will be giving special treatment to non-residents who are forced to stay in the UK exceeding their permitted number of days. With quite a few expats unable to leave due to closed borders and lock downs, I was expecting an announcement and this is helpful news.
I published an article on this topic on 4th March but with the ongoing situation and further stock markets falls, it is time for another.
With worries and panic across the world in respect of both health and all the knock-on economic issues, we have seen substantial falls in all stock markets so many people are asking what they should do regarding their investments. The falls have been more than anyone expected as the current situation in regard to COVID-19 are simply unprecedented. As before, my general advice is not to sell now, not least as you would simply be crystallising a loss. My clients are all diversified and have suitable risk profiles, in line with their preferences, although I understand if some want to reduce the risk levels a little. Please read on to find out more about what is happening, why, and what we can expect.
This is the first budget of this Government and the first by Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, less than a month after taking over at the Treasury.
This article is a brief overview of some of the main points with particular reference to any changes that have relevance to those living outside of the UK. The UK press will cover many points in detail but much of this is not directly relevant to expats so this article focuses of the relevant points for us. I have included specific measure related to COVID-19 as this has a significant impact on the economy and a wide-ranging, knock-on effect.
This articles has been update so please see the below link for the article from August 2024
Living in the UAE. 10 major money mistakes you want to avoid
Living in the UAE. 10 major money mistakes you want to 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.