Living in the UAE. 10 major money mistakes you want to avoid

Moving to the UAE is a big change. Living in the UAE, or even the wider GCC, is not quite like life elsewhere.

It is not uncommon for expats for make a few financial mistakes but proper planning, some research, and the right advice will make for a better experience, and a better life generally.

This article has 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.

Continue reading

Need to know: UAE Labour Law in the time of Coronavirus

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.

Continue reading

UAE Insolvency law – overview & information

In November 2019, the UAE Government announced a new law for personal insolvency, to assist people with debt problems, and this has now come into effect. This is a real game changer as it will give people in difficulties an opportunity to repay what they owe with manageable payments and removes the threat of jail time.

In this article I will cover some of the main points and requirements but I will also update it, if and when there are any changes.

Continue reading

UAE Public Holidays for 2020

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

 

How to negotiate a rent reduction

Most people are aware that rents are falling across the UAE so many of us will be expecting a reduction in our rent at renewal. But what if your landlord hasn’t got the message and doesn’t want to give you a reduction in line with general markets? Here are some hints and tips to try to persuade them.

Continue reading

Need to know: UAE Consumer Protection Regulations

 The UAE has had legislation in place to protect consumers for quite a few years but the details are not as well known as they might be so this article is an overview of the law and your rights when purchasing goods and services.

Continue reading

10 tips for dealing with debt in the UAE

It is sadly all too common for people to get into debt whilst living in the UAE, for multiple reasons, so this article is designed to give you the steps to work through to deal with any debt problems you may have.

It is really important that this is dealt with as non-payment of monies owed is a criminal issue under UAE law and can lead to serious consequences.

These are the steps you need to take to get back in control and to deal with the banks.

Continue reading

300 On Your Side columns

When I started writing the On Your Side column for The National newspaper nearly six years ago I never imagined that we’d still be going strong 300 columns later. 300 feels like a milestone and in that time I have answered over a thousand queries in print, solved numerous problems for readers and received thousands of emails.

Continue reading

Happy Anniversary to On Your Side

Time certainly does fly. I have been writing the On Your Side column in the Saturday edition of The National newspaper for five years. That’s 262 columns to date and something like 800 questions answered and problems solved.

Continue reading