First things first, even before we consider visiting any place in the world, we need to have at least some background of the place we’re visiting, especially if it’s our first time – no surprises there.
And knowing about a place isn’t really “knowing” if you don’t go deeper into the way people do things there. For example, when visiting any country in the Middle East, it’s important that we understand that majority of the people living there are practicing (and/or self-confessed) Muslims. Therefore, it’s important that we are aware of what that entails for us as visitors in their homeland, most especially during important seasons such as the Holy month of Ramadan.
5 Things to Know for Expats Visiting the Middle East during Ramadan
And since Ramadan is a month-long celebration in the Middle East, it’s important that we take note of the following basic things to do or observe during our stay in any of the countries there.
Bring Supplies
The Ramadan season lasts for an entire month, and those who intend to stay in the Middle East through this season should know that food supply in the region would be scarce. It’s not so much because of any kind of food shortage in the country, but it’s mostly due to the people’s habit and rituals involving long periods of prayer and fasting. On that note, it’s safe to assume that there won’t be a lot of (or any) food places such as restaurants or diners you can go to for a quick meal during this time. And if that’s something you can’t live without, it’s best to take care of your own supply of food to last you during your stay in the region.
Be courteous and discreet.
Even if you decide not to partake in the fast, you should at least be considerate enough not to eat or drink in public, as most of the people are curbing their appetites through this month-long event. Also, since we all know that hunger and thirst can affect one’s mood and psyche, it’s important that we do our best to be understanding of other people’s temperaments this season.
Take it Easy and Relax
As an outsider visiting a place where people are keen on abiding by their religious rituals and activities, it’s easy to feel alienated amidst all of this. But that should not be the case, since there are also a number of residents who are no more religious than the vast majority of citizens, and will perform the same ritual/s behind their own drawn blinds, so keep in mind to relax and to avoid getting anxious over this.
Furthermore, groups such as drivers and travelers no longer subject themselves to the requirements of the season to prevent cases of delirium and sickness on the road.
Get acquainted with the Festivities.
Surely visiting the Middle East as a non-Muslim will not keep you from exploring a country’s culture and traditions. That being said, take some time to get acquainted to the people’s rituals, and more importantly try to get a grasp of the reason for why they do this to make your stay much more meaningful and memorable – you’d even get a friendly nod from the locals when you manage to show your participation in their religiously held customs and practices, even if only for a day or two.
Maintain a Safe Distance.
As a tip, this one does not hold any safety or security value, but it’s more of a practical one. Imagine when people go on days without any food or drink, you will most likely encounter foul-smelling breaths from those participating in the fast. And so try not to get too close to others during this period to avoid finding yourself in uncomfortable situations. Even so, we should also mind our manners and try not to be rude to others by pointing this out, especially in public.
The Middle East is a charming place to experience, with all of its rich traditions and cultural values. As a visitor, it’s important to have a safe level of understanding about the people’s customs and practices, especially during the Ramadan period.
If you’ve given some thought about visiting any country in the Middle East anytime soon, you’d have probably been asked whether or not you would like to get travel insurance. It is very important to get an insurance so that you are covered in case there are any unforeseen incidents that may occur. After all, you don’t want to end up paying for unwarranted expenses such as hospital bills or loss of luggage in case these situations will happen.
And while this entirely depends on your preference, a better question to ask is “Why not?” After all, any form of insurance always has benefits in the long run, and hopefully this applies not only to “smart planners” but to everyone else out there.
How to Pick Travel Insurance for your Trip to the Middle East
Accidents and illnesses can occur anytime wherever you may be in the world. Not only can these emergency situations ruin your trip, they can also burn a big hole in your wallet when not properly prepared for. And for those who would like to get more out of their travel experiences not just in the Middle East, but anywhere in the world, an international travel health insurance will prove to be one of themost important investments in your lifetime.
Here are the things that you need to consider or look for when shopping for an international travel health insurance:
Medical and hospital coverage.
In cases where hospitalization in the Middle East is necessary, your insurance company must be able to cover the expenses directly so there wouldn’t be a need for you to pay from your pocket first, then ask for a reimbursement later.
Medical repatriation assistance.
In the event where something bad happens, you want to be assured of the option from your insurance company that you can be sent bank home to be treated.
An urgency hotline available 24/7/365.
Going back to our point earlier, no one knows when and where an emergency can take place, but you’ll want to be assured that someone, at any given time or day, can attend to your concerns, especially when you’re travelling on your own.
Civil Liability Coverage
And even when you’re very careful with your dealings, a good insurance plan should have you fully covered in the event when you (accidentally) hurt someone or damage a private property.
Many are wary of getting travel insurance because of the fact that this will be an additional expense on your part. But when you make sure that your plan fully covers you as it should, then you’ll realize there’s much added value to your purchase because it gives you that sense of security and peace of mind. And no amount of (extra) pocket money can give you that. And for smart measure, always keep a copy of and read the fine print so that you know what to expect and to look for when the situation calls for it.
When out shopping at your local grocery store, you may notice that there are certain food products which bear special labels on them. If you look closer you will see a symbol which says ‘halal-certified’ in some of them. While halal is a Muslim term, this special kind of food preference has branched outside of the Middle East, as Muslims (practicing or otherwise) can be found all over the world.
It is important to understand the local customs and Islamic traditions especially if this is your first time to visit the Gulf region. Halal doesn’t only describe non-pork items, but also include how the type of meat (whether fish, chicken, or beef) is cooked.
If you’re planning to visit the Middle East, it pays to know what food and drinks are considered halal and those that are haram.
Things to Know about Halal Food in the Middle East
In this post, we will provide details on what ‘halal’ is all about.
Islamic dietary food laws identify foods that are halal, which means lawful or permitted. On this note, the foods and drinks which Muslims avoid are called haram.
If you’re planning to visit the Middle East, it pays to know what food and drinks are considered halal and those that are haram.
Here are some of the basic things to note about the Islamic dietary food law:
Muslims only consume halal meat.
Now if you’re asking, “how does meat become halal?” We must first refer to the source of this law which is the Q’uran. According to the Islamic Shari’ah, to make meat halal or permissible, the animal or poultry must be slaughtered observing a ritual known as Zibah or Zabibah. To make it easier to understand, halal is somewhat equivalent to Jewish kosher, and Zibah is, with a few exceptions, almost the same as Shechita.
For halal purposes, it must be clear that:
An animal should not have died prior to slaughter
A Muslim should perform the slaughter
Any flowing blood of the carcass must be completely drained out of the body.
Choice of modern or newer method of food preparation has to be considered with caution, to ensure that the process abides to Islamic principles.
Pork is forbidden under Islamic laws, therefore:
Halal slaughtering must not be done in the same place where pigs are slaughtered, or within the same area.
As per animal welfare consideration, certain edits and rules have to be followed such as:
The animal has to be fed as usual and given water prior to slaughter;
Other animals must not see one of their kind being slaughtered;
The knife should be four times the size of the neck and razor sharp;
As much as possible, the slaughterer as well as the animal should face the Qibla or Mecca; and
The animal must not be suffering from any disease or injuries.
It’s quite interesting to find out why certain values and traditions are particularly important to a culture and group of people. Knowing this aspect of your travel adds value and meaning to your trip wherever it may be in the world.
Just recently, Dubai has announced that it will build its own Dubai Central Park. If you ever dreamed of visiting the New York’s Central Park but stuck here in Dubai for some reasons like work or insufficient time and money to travel, now is your chance to get the central park’s experience in this city!
Dubai is really making big steps to make a more entertaining environment for its residents. This is not just beneficial to the citizens of UAE but as well as to expats living and working in this city. When in Dubai, you won’t feel like you are a foreign national because the environment is designed for all the people of different countries.. No one would feel out of the place in this place. To know more about the future Dubai Central Park, here’s the things you need to know.
Location of Dubai Central Park
The Dubai Central Park will be located in City Walk. This is will be inspired by the original New York’ Central Park. If you always spend your time in City Walk, this will be a new attraction perfect for your entertainment cravings.
Everything About Dubai Central Park
The Dubai Central Park will be a 230,000 SQM establishment in the heart of City Walk. This will include a 12 mid-rise residential buildings with terraces. The 40,000 SQM of this place will be designated for private park. This tourist attraction will have tennis and basketball courts, several cafes, swimming pools, spa salon, and a large multi-purpose complex for games and plays.
Dubai has not released the date of the completion of the said central park yet. As far as we know, the residential buildings will compose of 187 units with one to four bedrooms where people can watch over the park and nearby establishments. There will also be large lobby with concierge and two huge rooftops that will be filled with different flowers and plants. What a great them, right?
Dubai Central Park is going to be a big hit for the city. For sure, there will be more tourists visiting its location upon its completion. The said attraction is just near City Walk’s retail malls and Dubai Arena that will be built soon. If you are a concert goer and shopaholic citizen of Dubai, this establishment will satisfy will surely satisfy your being!
Starting a new life or moving for work abroad is an exciting thing, but this definitely has to come with a lot of planning. Be advised that if you plan to work in certain countries in the Middle East, one of the mandatory points you need to secure is a health insurance. This is part of the initiatives in certain countries like the UAE where you should get insured so in case you may get sick, you are already covered. Health insurance should be covered by your sponsor (employer), or the person who took care of your residence visa. This is part of the requirements when you get your residence visa.
Among the few things that you need to consider when moving overseas, choosing the most suitable health insurance coverage for your (and your family’s) needs is probably one of the most crucial ones that you need to make. Not only will this give you some peace of mind, knowing that you’re prepared to take on a new phase in your life, but you’ll also get to secure your most important asset as a human being: your health.
Getting Health Insurance in the Middle East
As a foreign national, your international health insurance must definitely cover certain grounds that would serve your best interest as an alien resident in the Middle East or wherever you may be in the world.
Three Benefits of Availing International Health Insurance
International Coverage.
The big one about this is that your choice for the type of health insurance to get should cover your decisions for travel wherever in the world. A good choice for this would be one that has global access to a wide network of hospitals, clinics, as well as doctors.
Since you are given the choice to pick a plan or design one that would best suit your needs as an individual or a family, be sure to take advantage of this service – detailing everything that matters to you and for your loved ones.
Accessibility and Quick Response.
Being in a different place where you barely know anyone could leave some people feeling isolated, worse even helpless. But we don’t want that, so it’s important that we make sure that our health insurance will pick up whenever we need them or wherever we may be in the world.
Health insurance is a basic need, especially for expats who already have to deal with so much stress just from moving to a new place to live and work. Having the ability to ensure that your family’s healthcare needs are covered and prioritized (through health insurance) should give you the peace of mind and the opportunity to focus on your work-life priorities.
Whichever country you are working, you should be aware of this rule that you should be the one holding your passport. This is your right and you should not surrender it to anybody for safekeeping. If you lose your passport because somebody kept it, it’s still you who will go to your country’s embassy to renew it, not your employer.
Would employer be able to keep employee passport? NO! Since holding passport in UAE is illegal. Actually, UAE employers keeping employees’ passports could be imprisoned and fined up to 20,000 AED! The UAE government authorities more than once expressed that employer ought not to hold an employee’s passport.
Do not easily give your passport to anybody as this is your own responsibility to keep it.
Avoid Tolerating Your Employer to “Safekeep” Your Passport because this is NOT their responsibility
In Kuwait, the Kuwait Labour Law of 2006 is truly outstanding in the locale and even the world – representatives just work eight hours out of every day (a few nations go up to 12 hours), get end reimbursement, three months’ pink slip and numerous different advantages.
However, there are still a few people who don’t apply the law as they ought to and can be unlawful in their treatment of workers. It’s truly sad that a few supervisors exploit the way that a few expats don’t know about their rights and the laws with respect to work, even though the law states that it is illegal for passports to be held be the employers.
So it is nothing unexpected that there is a common concern and the locale about the treatment of employees socially.
Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and other countries in the Gulf region also mandates that the law that employers should not keep the passport of their employees.
Passports
A passport is a form of identification, typically authorized by the government of a country, which verifies its holder’s identity and nationality primarily for overseas travel specific purposes. Current standard passports may well hold data such as birth date, picture, signature and name of the owner. Several countries around the world move to include biometric information even in a micro-chip implanted somewhere in the passport, actually making this processor-legible and hard to falsify.
The travel document owner is qualified to come into the country that had approved the passport, although some passengers may not always be permanent residents with residence legal rights. A passport alone also does not develop any legal rights in the region visited or obligate the country concerned in any way, such as consular assistance. Certain passports certify that they are a diplomat or other official entitled to rights and protections, like complete immunity even from detainment or trial.
Keeping your passport safe
Your passport fills in as your identity card in many spots. It will recognize you as a legitimate citizen of your country. It will likewise help recognize you as either an individual on a work allow visa, a visitor on a vacation or as an understudy with a legitimate residency in a school or learning foundation.
You have to protect your international ID on the grounds that without it your rights may be constrained. You can be considered without a country and you have surrendered a portion of your rights. Should your international ID be stolen, harmed or lost, you have to answer to your closest consulate for help.
Employers Keeping Passport of their Employees
A few bosses employers that their employees submit and turnover their identifications and other critical records to them to the HR office. They more often say that this is for supervision purposes. They say this is for their insurance and yours also.
Passport Retention by Employers
Passport retention is illegal in UAE. Your passport is typically the property of the legislature that issued it (as referenced in the little print in your identification, which for the most part contains words to that impact), and every visa holder is in charge of its care.
The passport is an individual archive of its holder, and its final authority is the issuing government. It is an official record that confirms holders’ personality and citizenship enabling them to travel abroad under its security. Consequently, it is to a greater degree an individual report, to be kept possessing the holder.
Holding identifications is in fact illicit in the UAE, despite the fact that the training is across the board, particularly among organizations that contract substantial number of expat laborers.
In spite of the fact that it is alright to handover your passport to different authorities such as border control officials, embassies and consulates of other countries, police departments etc., around the globe if the circumstance requires it, you shouldn’t handover your identification to unapproved bodies. What’s more, your manager isn’t an approved body to hold your passport.
My boss says he will keep my passport inside an accessible place, would it be advisable for me to surrender my visa?
No is as yet the appropriate response. Regardless of whether you will approach your passport you ought not to surrender it to them. Leaving your identification intentionally in your organization assigned locker while you work is worthy. This is viewed as substantial for protection purposes since you hold use and responsibility for passport after your day of work is done.
When is it considered legal for my employer to keep my passport?
You can surrender your passport to your manager just if there is a legitimately recognized record that you both signed. The record would express that you deliberately presented your passport for protection and different conventions. The record ought to likewise express that you would be under the security of your boss and that your passport would be come back to you toward the finish of the settled upon date.
What are the laws that express that we ought not to surrender our identification to our boss
While this might be acceptable, we don’t recommend that you do this. It very well may be viewed as a surrender of your basic human right to freedom. It tends to be viewed as being put in obligated administration or intentional servitude.
On the off chance that your manager demands keeping your passports, gently tell them that the law states,”…it is not allowed for any party to detain the passport except by the official parties with a judicial order and according to the law. Consequently it will be considered as an illegal action to detain the passport…”
My manager still demands keeping my passport subsequent to advising him that I realize that it is illicit for him to do as such. What will I do?
Ask help from authorities such as your embassy and Ministry of Interior. Forcing you to surrender your passport can result in penalties from the government because it violates the succeeding regulation.
How can I assure my organization that I cannot leave all through the duration of my agreement?
There are different methods that you can try this. We do advocate that you stick with the explanation which you take into account that any violation for your end would possibly result to a ban from the country. Aside from the corresponding consequences in local legal guidelines.
Last Notion
It is unlawful for your manager to request the surrender of your passport not just on account of the overall laws. It is all the more significantly due to the association of your passport to your perceived human rights.
It does not depend if their cause is to make certain your compliance of the details of your agreement. It doesn’t rely if its miles deemed more secure with them. It does not count if it’s far enterprise policy. Preserve your passports with you, inside your attain at all times.
On no account ought to you give up your passport in your organization. While they’ll insist, you need to gently remind them that the triumphing regulation respects your human rights and retention of your passport is covered in it. Your passport is a part of your identity and also you do now not need to relinquish your identification to a person else.
Try to remind your agency that you are going to honor your settlement or in case you’re going to interrupt it, you will procedure and surrender nicely. On this state of affairs, you have to expose which you are honest together with your movements to gain your corporation’s self-belief.
There are certain rules and policies that you should follow when using social media or doing online activities in the UAE. Just like other Middle East countries such as Qatar, Saudi, etc., the UAE has strict laws and imposes Fines and penalties if somebody complains about what you post. So please check out these rules to be aware how to behave online.
Internet is indeed one of the greatest millennial invention. Because of the internet, we are able to access files and data whenever and wherever we are. We are able to communicate with our loved ones across the globe as well. In fact, some people have found the life of their lives via online. These are just few helpful things among many the technology has produced for us. Do you wonder what our life would be without the internet?
Learn about online activities and social media policies in the UAE.
6 Major Rules of Using Social Media in UAE
Commonly, people used social media platforms in order to connect to the online world. Popular apps such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram have gained billions of user, still counting. If you are frequent user of these apps and happened to be in United Arab Emirates, you must know that there are some rules to follow when you use social media. For better understanding, we listed 6 common rules an expat in UAE should be aware of.
No to online prostitution. Online prostitution is considered illegal in UAE. So if you don’t want to be fined and serve time in jail, better use social media as conservative as you can.
Respect each other’s privacy. Although the internet can be too open sometimes, privacy should still be observed. If you are caught violating this rule, you will have to pay up to AED 1,500,000.
Rumors or gossips are as bad a crime. Using the social media to post rumors and gossips are not allowed in UAE, especially when it involves the security, peace, and order of the country. Avoid this so you don’t have to spend a second in jail.
Get consent first before posting someone’s picture or information. The sentence is as clear as sky. Getting one’s permission post is a must. If you happen to break this rule, you are going to pay up to AED 150,000 and even spend time in prison. Better yet, just avoid posting photos of others.
No sharing or posting of information that are against the Islamic moral and values. When you use the social media, use it rightly. We should be aware that anything that will hurt the Islamic moral and values is an offense and has an equivalent punishment.
No to illegal online sites. There are apps that are banned in UAE, Skype and Facetime for example. If you’re caught using illegal channels or without a license to use those apps, you’re going to face at least 1 year in jail or pay fine equivalent up to AED 250,000. VPNs area also illegal in the UAE.
Be careful what you post as it can get back to you if you post something negative, demeaning and invading other’s privacy. This is done with extra caution if you are in the gulf region as there are corresponding (and sometimes ridiculously huge) fines and sanctions for violators.
Social media platforms are a big help to all of us. If users remain responsible, there won’t be any problems with its usage. You must be aware of the rules wherever you are because knowing the rules can save you. After all, you don’t want to end up in jail or pay these penalties.
In case you are planning to visit a country for a holiday but end up getting a job, you have to make sure that you convert your current tourist visa or visit visa into an employment visa, or at least get a valid work permit accredited by the government of that specific country.
Getting an employment visa can be processed through your employer or the company who hired you. It is illegal to report to work when you do NOT have a permit yet. So please assert your rights and keep this into mind.
In fact some countries do NOT even allow people travelling to a destination but with the intention of job-hunting in the process. Take for example, Canada and USA, if you enter their country under a tourist visa, you cannot go searching for a job when you enter their territory. However, in certain countries in the Middle East, policies are a bit lenient. Some countries with this set-up include those in the Middle East like the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, etc.
In these countries, there are plenty of those who intend to secure employment. But we would like this post to serve as a warning to make sure you do not work until your documents have already been processed. Otherwise, you will lose rights and if you have complaints in your new-found work, your complaints will be put to waste because basically what you are doing is illegal.
On another thought, employers may take advantage of the remaining number of days of your visit visa and then NOT process your papers. In the end, you will be left with no job and you will need to exit the country.
Remember that you are only allowed to legally work in a country if you already have a work permit or it is already process by your employer.
working while on visit visa illegal
Heavy Fines On Working in Under Visit Visa
Job Hunting on a Tourist Visa
Many job seekers apply for a tourist visa but actually they are on a job hunt. Thus, if you are looking for a work at UAE while under tourist visa, it is somewhat okay as authorities are lenient on this. Other countries are quite strict and you cannot even search for a job if you are under a visit visa.
However, if you have already found a job or working already instead of traveling, it is still very vital that prior reporting to your work you already process or have a working permit or else there could be vast penalties and consequences that you might face if got caught.
In the UAE, there is a 50,000 AED penalty if you got caught working under tourist visa and you will be banned from entering UAE, even in tourist visa. And the employer who allows to work will also have to face penalties.
Deciding To Work Without Work Permit Or Employment Visa
If you opt to work without obtaining a work permit (which I suggest you shouldn’t) you’ll get a chance of getting blacklisted, which means you cannot go back to the country. And if anything happens or any issues at your work, there will be no bearing since you are working illegally.
Applying A Working Visa Myself
You can’t apply a working on your own. It should be your employer. Middle East countries, especially in the Gulf region works within the system of sponsorship. This means that your employer should be the one who will process your employment visa and residency. So you have to get hired first before processing the application of your employment visa.
Starting To Work Immediately
Once you are hired, most employers will ask you to work immediately to keep their business running, well business is business.
However, be mindful of the rules on Labour because some may hire you but will not process your working permit they will just use all the days on your tourist visa. And end up not getting any rights and visa.
Obviously, if an employer asking you to start working immediately without valid employment visa think thoroughly about it, because it is not compliant with legal requirements.
So be aware, this is not to frighten you that some employers may take advantage with you. This is for you to know your rights. Always remember that your employer will make a formal application for your visa and should be prepared by the time you start to work. However there is a grace period within 60 days for the process to be completed so keep this in mind. So there is no excuse for your employer to delay your visa as for the records can be checked easily and the process will only take for weeks.
When Your Visa Expires And Didn’t Leave The Country
Generally speaking, you need to leave the country before the expiry date of your visa or else you are illegally staying in the country. In this case with UAE, you will not be deported immediately however, you will be charged per day in your stay in UAE until you have settled or provide your visa.
You can pay all fines in the airport at immigration desk and you must leave the country.
Before coming and looking for a job hunt, make sure that you have all your requirements, and know all your rights and benefits once you are hired.
Anyone who is planning to work, you need your valid work and residency permit to work and live legally. And this will be processed by again, YOUR EMPLOYER. Reiterate that on your mind that you cannot your process your own working visa, it is all in the employer. And working without proper working visa is illegal.
There are many cases where expats are left clueless so we hope this article will help enlighten you of your rights and responsibility. Please take note of it so that you are aware of the set-up and what you will need to do in order to have legal documents for your own protection. Good luck!
We all know that social media becomes a big part of our generation nowadays. Because of that, people tend to be more expressive in posting every single thing that is happening in their everyday lives. Well, it’s a way something different in Qatar. Residents of Qatar only used Internet for communication and information though news and social media websites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and etc. In this article, we will be able to know the things that should be avoided to do on Social Media in Qatar.
The Emir of Qatar signed a law that contains rules and regulations to protect social media users from abusive activities happening online. This also promotes social values not only in their country but also to others. Here are some of the things that people should not do on social media in Qatar.
There are strict laws governing social media and usage of online sites when you are in the Gulf region. Please be aware of them and follow them accordingly.
Qatar Social Media Law – Online Violations, Penalties and Fines
Please make sure you follow these guidelines and you should be aware that you cannot freely post your sentiments online. There are strict policies and practices you should follow and be aware of to avoid penalties and fines.
Spreading False News
Any fake news regarding the information of the state’s safety, public order, and international peace that are spread on the internet by any Qatar resident shall be fined up to 500,000 Riyals, or up to 3 years of imprisonment.
Producing Pornographic Materials
Any pornographic materials that are spread or shared on the internet by Qatar residents shall be fined with 500,000 Riyals, and up to 5 years of imprisonment.
Violating Social Values or Principles
Any news, pictures, or videos, posted by Qatar residents to the internet regarding to the person’s family without their permission or consent shall be fined with 100,000 Riyals, and up to 3 years of imprisonment.
Posting disrespectful contents against religious beliefs
According to the Social Crimes Chapter of the Qatar Penal Code, if a resident posted any disrespectful content against any religion shall be fined with 10,000 Riyals, or up to 10 years of imprisonment. On the other hand, according to “Crimes Related to Religions and the Violability of the Dead”, the person who violated the rule shall be fined with 100,000 Riyals, or up to 1 year of imprisonment.
Spreading Private Information of People
According to Article 333 of Qatar Penal Code, “whoever illegally intrudes into another person’s private life and without consent” through different means such as taking pictures of other people in a private place using any type of device, shall be fined up to 5,000 Riyals, or up to 1 year of imprisonment.
Slandering or Threatening a Person Online
Insults, slanders, threats, and blackmails in the internet are also can be subjected similarly with criminal sanctions. Any blackmail, bullying, or threatening activities of a person on the internet shall be fined with 100,000 Riyals, and 3 years of imprisonment.
All of these violations on social media rules in Qatar give rise to criminal sanctions which can be attributed with fines or imprisonment. Additionally, if there are foreign nationals who violate these rules,they may be deported as per the court order.
So please take note of these properly to avoid issues in the future. These may be specific to Qatar, but for any country in the Gulf region, it is always best to understand them as they are also applicable in other countries where you are residing in the Middle East as an expat.
Before accepting a job offer in the United Arab Emirates, please read this article. We share some important details on what you should expect and what your rights are. Better learn and go through the details listed to get an idea about certain rights and rules as per UAE Labour.
Expatriates preparing to travel to the UAE for business ought to equip themselves with workers’ rights – a lot of legitimate rights identified with connections administering laborers with bosses. These rights identify with transactions on workers’ wages, motivations, and safe working conditions.
When you get your work offer, your business operator or the business you have contracted with ought to clarify the terms and states of your work before you land in the UAE. It is mandatory to take note of the terms and states of the activity offer, including your activity title, duties, pay, benefits and point by point states of work before you sign the activity offer.
Great if you received a job offer to work in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or the rest of the emirates in the UAE. But be advised of your rights and responsibilities and be aware of the law to protect yourself.
UAE Labour Guide: 9 Tips to Follow Before Travelling to UAE for Work
Each activity offer will have the itemized add appended to it which will place you as your rights and obligations stipulated in the UAE Labor Relations Regulatory Act and the choices made. In particular, approach your manager for a duplicate of the activity offer and keep it with you in a protected place.
1. Employees don’t have to pay travel and recruitment cost
The policy of the Ministry of Labour is that an employer is responsible for the costs of taking on an employee. The expense of a trip to get to the UAE is frequently paid by a employer, particularly if an individual won’t land to get a legitimate employer related visa from the beginning. It isn’t unprecedented for nationals of countries where tourist visas are accessible on entry to enter on that premise and for a business to deal with the full residency visa in the coming weeks and it is lawful to take a shot at two conditions: right off the bat the application for the residency visa ought to be made following the worker begins work and furthermore the procedure must be finished in under 60 days. UAE Labor Law allows a most extreme probation time of a half year, so anybody utilized for longer than this naturally turns into a permanent employee. On the off chance that SM is on an unlimited contract, he may leave whenever, but doing so within one year would result in an employment ban in the UAE.
2. Keep a duplicate of your signed job offer.
Prior to your work in the UAE, your manager ought to clarify the states of the agreement. You should see each important details like your duties and different advantages. Above all, you have to watch that the first job offer matches the agreement.
3. The employer must pay the residency permit
All expatriate employees must be sponsored by a local UAE entity for UAE work permit and residency visa purposes. UAE nationals are required to have an appropriate and valid work permit regulating their employment in the UAE. There are no mandatory requirements for:
expatriates to be employed under fixed-term contracts; or
employment to be tied or equal to the duration of an expatriate’s residency visa or work permit.
Employers have a statutory obligation to repatriate expatriate employees on cancellation of their visa sponsorship (limited exceptions apply).
4. Keep the receipts of all payments you made
All receipts that you paid for must be kept, you may require these receipts for evidence of every one of your costs in the UAE.
5. You are entitled to keep your personal documents (passport, etc.)
Passport retention is illegal in UAE. Your passport is generally the property of the government that issued it (as referenced in the little print in your passport, which normally contains words to that impact), and every passport holder is in charge of its supervision.
The passport is a personal document of its holder, and its last authority is the issuing government. It is an official document that guarantees holders’ character and citizenship enabling them to travel abroad under its assurance. In this way, it is all the more an individual report, to be kept possessing the holder.
Holding passport is actually illicit in the UAE, despite the fact that the training is across the board, particularly among organizations that enlist expansive number of expat laborers.
In spite of the fact that it is alright to handover your passport to different authorities, for example, fringe control authorities, government offices and offices of different countries, police offices and so on. sAround the globe if the circumstance requires it, you shouldn’t handover your passport to unapproved bodies. What’s more, your boss isn’t an approved body to hold your passport.
6. Have a problem at work? Report it to the Labour Office (Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation – MOHRE)
An employee or an employer can file a case in the court for employment-related issues inside a time of one year as per Article 6 of the Federal Law No. 8 of 1980 (the ‘Work Law’) managing Labor Relations in the UAE, which states: “Without prejudice to the provisions concerning collective labour disputes stated in this Law, if the employer or the worker or any beneficiary thereof raised a claim concerning any of the rights accruing to any of them according to the provisions of this Law, he shall submit a request thereof to the labour department concerned. ” This office will call the two parties to the debate and will take whatever it esteems important to settle the question genially.
7. Keep a photocopy of the signed contract
When you signed your labour contract, make sure to have a copy for safety.
8. You can leave your place of employment and make sure to follow legal steps to do as such
Regardless of whether you are miserable or have discovered another chance, you shouldn’t be guilty if you’re looking for a superior position, a greater pay-check or an increasingly palatable job. This is what you have to remember. Before you make it official, know your rights Ensure you uncover your work contract and read it cautiously. It ought to contain details of your pay, tip, travel, and so forth. Ensure you’re not disregarding any confidentiality agreements you’ve signed with your current employer.
9. You can contact the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE), for help and assistance.
You can contact this agency through the following options:
Dubai
62 Doha Road
P.O. Box: 5025
Tel 971 4 7023333 Fax 971 4 4494293 Email[email protected] Working Hours From 7:30 AM to 2:30 PM Direction
Longitude : 55.3779605 Latitude : 25.2802057
Abu Dhabi
Sultan Bin Zayed the First Street
P.O. Box: 809
Tel 971 4 7023333 Fax 971 4 4494293 Email[email protected] Working Hours From 7:30 AM to 2:30 PM Direction
Longitude : 54.391797 Latitude : 24.459942
You have rights as an employee so you should become knowledgeable about them to help protect yourself in case of unfortunate instances in your employment. Knowing your rights as well as your responsibilities before accepting that job offer will definitely guide you in having a smooth transition as you build your career in this country in the Middle East.
