Bounced cheque cases don’t end with prison term or a fine in UAE

Contrary to the popular belief that bounced cheque cases in the UAE can be closed by just paying a fine. It is within the rights of the victims to file civil cases against those who issue such cheques.

The legal order legislation approved by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, through Law No (1) of 2017, helps to improve the judiciary’s efficiency and reduces its workload while fast-tracking the litigation process in Dubai.

According to the Legal Order Law No 1 of 2017 which came into effect on December 2017, people with bounced cheques worth less than Dh200,000 can be punished by the prosecution without the case being referred to the judges, with the payment of a maximum fine of Dh10,000.

Judge Ayman Al Hakam of the Dubai Courts said the issuer of a bounced cheque should not think that he can pay the fine and get absolved, as the receiver of the cheque can assert his rights by going to the Civil Court.

“The issuer of the bounced cheque may think all that he needs to do is pay a fine if he can’t settle the case. But the victim can still exercise his rights by opening a civil case against the issuer of the cheque for the amount of the cheque plus compensation. Bounced cheque cases don’t end with paying the fine,” he noted.

The order fined people accused of issuing bad cheques for amounts not exceeding Dh200,000 between Dh2,000 and Dh10,000 depending on the cheque value. “But paying a fine is not the end to this case, the plaintiff can legally file a civil lawsuit against the person who issued the cheque to claim its value.” if the Civil Court rules in favour of the plaintiff, a 12 per cent interest rate will also be added to the value of the cheque starting from its issue date. The accused is obliged to pay the amount along with legal charges.

Fines for bounced cheques
    Bounced cheques worth Dh1 to Dh50,000: Dh2,000
    Bounced cheques worth Dh50,000 to Dh100,000: Dh5,000
    Bounced cheques worth Dh100,000 to Dh200,000: Dh10,000

In the case of Civil Case: If Civil Court rules in favour of the plaintiff, the accused could be asked to:

•     Pay full value of the cheque
•     Pay 12 per cent interest starting from the issue date
•     Pay Legal charges
•     Face travel ban
•     Have assets frozen until final judgement

New Expat family sponsorship Rule in UAE takes effect

Now any resident in the country earning Dh4,000 without accommodation or Dh3,000 with company-provided accommodation can sponsor his family in the UAE, the Federal Authority for Identity and Emiratisation announced.

The decision permits a foreigner who is residing in the country, whether male or female, to bring family members (spouse and children under the age of 18 or unmarried daughters) to stay in the UAE, provided the family income (husband and wife) or one of them is Dh3,000 with company provided accommodation, or Dh4,000 without housing conditions, the authority explained.

The authority launched its services in line with the Council of Ministers’ Decision No. 30 of 2019.

The UAE Cabinet had earlier adopted a decision to amend provisions of the resolution on sponsoring of foreign workers to their families in the country.

According to an earlier statement by the General Secretariat of the Cabinet, the amended provisions indicate “income” as a requirement for sponsoring family members, as opposed to the previously listed “professions” which allowed workers to sponsor their families.

The amendment is in line with international developments and accordance with best practices, it added.

“The decision aims at enhancing family stability of foreign workers and social cohesion, as well as attracting highly skilled workers while maintaining a healthy balance between professional and personal life,” the statement continued.

Now any resident in the country earning Dh4,000 without accommodation or Dh3,000 with company-provided accommodation can sponsor his family in the UAE, the Federal Authority for Identity and Emiratisation announced.

The decision permits a foreigner who is residing in the country, whether male or female, to bring family members (spouse and children under the age of 18 or unmarried daughters) to stay in the UAE, provided the family income (husband and wife) or one of them is Dh3,000 with company provided accommodation, or Dh4,000 without housing conditions, the authority explained.

The authority launched its services in line with the Council of Ministers’ Decision No. 30 of 2019.

The UAE Cabinet had earlier adopted a decision to amend provisions of the resolution on sponsoring of foreign workers to their families in the country.

According to an earlier statement by the General Secretariat of the Cabinet, the amended provisions indicate “income” as a requirement for sponsoring family members, as opposed to the previously listed “professions” which allowed workers to sponsor their families.

The amendment is in line with international developments and accordance with best practices, it added.

“The decision aims at enhancing family stability of foreign workers and social cohesion, as well as attracting highly skilled workers while maintaining a healthy balance between professional and personal life,” the statement continued.

UAE long-term visa cost announced

Long-term UAE residency visas with 10-year validity, which were rolled out earlier this year, can now be obtained for as low as Dh1,150 while the five-year-visa will cost only Dh650, the UAE government announced.

According to eligibility criteria announced earlier, investors in public investment or senior professionals working with the investors, as well as exceptional talents and researchers in various domains, qualify for the 10-year visas.

Investors and professionals falling in the approved categories can apply to issue or renew the 10-year visa for Dh1,150 (Dh150 for the application and Dh1,000 for issuance). Family members of the applicants can also avail 10 years’ visas at the same cost.

Five-year visa

Meanwhile, the authorities also announced the cost of five-year visas, which will be issued for D650 (Dh150 for application and Dh500 for issuance).

Those eligible for five-year visas include investors in real estate, entrepreneurs, executive directors of entrepreneurs and retired expatriate professionals as well as their family members. Top achievers among students with exceptional talents and their family members can also get the five-year visas at Dh650.

Children sponsored by their parents after completing 18 years or after finishing high school or university can apply for a one-year renewable visa at Dh100.

Widows and divorced women and their children can also extend their one-year residency visas for Dh100. These two categories will be charged Dh100 for the issuance of the visa while no application cost will be charged.

The authorities also announced fee details for single and multi-entry visas for exceptional talents and researchers in various sectors. Both single and multi-entry visas valid for 180 days will cost Dh1,100 (Dh100 for the application and Dh1000 for issuance).

UAE Amnesty 2018,6-month visa for violators who seek jobs

A six-month visa announced by the UAE government for amnesty seekers to stay back and search for jobs is a golden opportunity for them to start life afresh here.

Although the UAE has granted amnesty to residency law violators several times in the past, it is the first time that amnesty seekers are getting a temporary visa to aid in their job hunt.

Amnesty seekers who already have a job offer can immediately move to a residency visa during the amnesty period. Those who want to stay back but have not managed to find a job can avail of the six-month visa.

However, the six-month temporary visa and new residency visa will be issued to those who entered the UAE through legal channels only, as others who came here illegally will get a two-year entry ban. They can leave the country without facing any legal action including fines but can re-enter the UAE only after two years.

The six-month visa will be issued to the amnesty seeker on his or her own sponsorship, said a statement issued by the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (FAIC).

The visa holder will be eligible to find a job in the government or private sector during these six months. If they get a new job during this period, they can move to the new residency visa.

However, if they don’t find a job within six months, they have to leave the UAE, FAIC said in a statement. It is understood that they can come back to the UAE on a new visa as they are not subject to an entry ban.

The authority is expected to announce the cost and procedures for the six-month visa soon.

Amnesty seekers looking for a job can also register on a portal of the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE), which will help them find jobs.

Foreign diplomats of the majority labour-sending countries to the UAE told Gulf News that they welcomed this new step by the UAE and urged their compatriots to utilise the opportunity.

“My congratulations to the UAE government for this initiative. We welcome the move because it gives a second chance to Indians who may have overstayed their visas for technical reasons,” said Navdeep Singh Suri, the Indian Ambassador to the UAE.

“We have already been trying to assist these individuals on an informal basis. The proposed MoHRE portal would be of great value to workers who find themselves stranded simply because they were laid off by their employers,” Suri said.

Mohammad Imran, the Bangladeshi Ambassador to the UAE, said the six-month visa for amnesty seekers is an important step in helping such people. “Hope this will help Bangladeshi nationals who want to find a new job here.”

Rowena Pangilinan Daquipil, chargé d’affaires at the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi, said, “Yes, of course, we welcome this move. But we leave the decision of whether to exit or stay within this amnesty period to our compatriots.”

She noted that those who exit can come back as no ban will be imposed on them. “Both options are good, so we leave it to our nationals to decide for themselves,” she said.

Sabarullah Khan, chargé d’affaires at the Sri Lankan Embassy in Abu Dhabi, said the six-month visa will be a golden opportunity for amnesty seekers who want to stay back and search for a new job. He urged his compatriots to utilise this opportunity.