Dh100,000 fine for credit card surcharge

Ministry of Economy decided to impose fines up to Dh100,000 on commercial facilities and outlets that impose a surcharge on consumers using credit cards, reported 'Emarat Al Youm' newspaper.

“The decision is in line with the new amendments to the Consumer Protection Act approved by the Council of Ministers,” said Dr Hachim Al Nuaimi, Director, Department of Consumer Protection, MoE.

He was speaking at a meeting with representatives of economic departments and local municipalities on Monday, which was convened to to implement decisions of the Supreme Committee for Consumer Protection.

The decision curently applies to purchases of goods by individuals; it will be extended to different kinds of services later, he added.

Al Nuaimi said commercial foundations and retail outlets charging extra on credit cards will be fined between Dh5,000 and Dh100,000, in accordance with the Consumer Protection Act as well as taking into account factors determining the value of the violation and the number of times the party has erred.

The meeting agreed to form working groups to discuss the mechanisms of implementation of the resolution and to increase customer awareness.

Al Nuaimi urged consumers to defend their rights and file complaints when they see violations of their rights.

Private sector workers sacked during their probation period must leave the UAE

Private sector workers sacked during their probation period must leave the UAE after obtaining their dues from the employer as they are not exempt from the one-year job ban under the new law, according to the ministry of labour.

The ministry outlines this rule during its open-day meeting held every week to consider complaints from workers or their employers in line with new work laws introduced early this year to regulate the controversial ban period.

During the meeting on Monday, an expatriate female public relations employee and several other workers from the same company complained that they have just been sacked a few months after they were appointed and asked the ministry to allow them to shift to another firm and exempt them from the one-year ban.

“The ministry made clear that in case the probation period of those workers is six months and their services have been terminated during that period, then they must get their dues and leave the UAE,” Alittihad newspaper said.

“But if the probation period is set at three months in their job contract, this means they have completed their probation and they will be allowed to move to another company without having a ban since the employer violated the job contract.”

Dubai government plans to offer pensions to expats

The Dubai government is evaluating plans to give pensions to foreign workers, based on suggestions by World Bank on how to improve employment laws including staff benefits, UAE daily The National reported on Sunday

 Representatives of the UAE and the ILO have also discussed the establishment of a pension fund for expatriate workers so that the Government can guarantee that workers receive end-of-service benefits.

"The employer would have to pay regularly to a fund supervised by a Government entity," said Maurizio Bussi, the deputy regional director for Arab States at the International Labour Organization (ILO).

"This especially indicates that the UAE is not looking for short-term labour contracts," said Azeem Ibrahim, an economic adviser to the government of Pakistan. "This sends a message that their contributions will be valued."

Nasser Munder, the Filipino labour attaché in Abu Dhabi, said a pension fund for the expatriate workforce would guarantee that workers receive their end-of-service benefits from their employers.

"Workers have said they often find it difficult to get their full and final settlement from their employers at the end of their contract," he said

"We are providing technical assistance in the area of employment policy. It covers the areas of expatriate benefit treatment including pensions," the paper quoted a senior World Bank official in the region as saying.

"There's a lot of experience globally on pension schemes including some that pertain to portable pension schemes, which could be applied to expatriate labour," the official added.

Dubai employers do not provide pensions for expatriates. Financial experts say the prospect of offering pensions could help to woo more foreign workers to the emirate as well as encourage them to stay longer in the country, the paper reported.

A possibility of converting the end-of-service gratuity system into pensions is also being considered, the paper cited an informed source.

Under a federal law dating back more than three decades, companies have to provide only end-of-service gratuities to employees who have completed one or more years of service, the report said.                                                                                             

Goodbye Ban: Employees Free to Switch Jobs Without NOC in the UAE

This is a collection of answers provided by Major General Mohammad Ahmad Al Merri, Director-General of the General Department for Residency and Foreigners' Affairs in Dubai, likely from a period before the most recent visa law changes.

I have updated the information with current regulations where applicable, especially regarding salary requirements and the sponsoring of a single parent, as UAE laws have evolved significantly.

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👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Current UAE Residency Rules: A 2025 Update

The following is broad information on the questions, with updated details based on the latest UAE residency laws (as of late 2024/2025).

1. Job Change (Employment Ban)

Original Answer

Updated Information (2025)

Original: You need to complete two years at the existing job. People can change work from private to government or semi-government without the need to complete two years.

Update: Under the current labour law, the concept of a mandatory six-month employment ban is largely removed for those on unlimited contracts, especially if the employee gives notice as per the contract. NOC is generally NOT required for an employee to switch to a new employer after completing the probationary period or if the contract is unlimited and they follow notice period rules. A worker can switch to a government/semi-government job without restriction. Final confirmation should always be checked with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE).

2. Sponsoring Parents-in-Law

Original Answer	Updated Information (2025)
Original: You can apply for visa for them and obtain one-year residence visa.	Update: You can generally sponsor your parents-in-law for a one-year residence visa (renewable), provided you meet the required salary and accommodation criteria. This process is often treated as a special request and requires specific documentation. The process may be easier in Dubai (GDRFA) and Abu Dhabi (ICP/TAMM).

3. Maximum Stay Outside the UAE

Original Answer	Updated Information (2025)
Original: They have to enter the country before the end of the six months. According to the Federal Residency Law the residence permit granted to a foreigner shall be deemed as cancelled if the period of his/her stay outside the UAE exceeds six months.	Update: This rule has a significant EXEMPTION for holders of the Golden Visa. For standard residency visa holders, the rule that a visa is cancelled if the stay outside the UAE exceeds six months still generally applies. They must re-enter before the 180-day mark.

4. Sponsoring Mother: Salary Requirement

Original Answer

Updated Information (2025)

Original: To sponsor family members your salary should be Dh 10,000 and you should be of job category who can sponsor family members and you need to pay deposit Dh 5,000 and the visa will be valid for one year only and it can be renewed.

Update (Critical Change): The requirement to sponsor parents is often AED 10,000 to AED 15,000 per month (varies by Emirate/circumstance). You are no longer required to be in a specific job category. The key requirements are: * Salary: $\text{AED 10,000 - AED 15,000}$ (varies). * Sponsor Both Parents: You must generally sponsor both parents together. * Single Parent: If you wish to sponsor only your mother, you must provide official, attested proof that the other parent is deceased or legally divorced/separated (as per the question below). * Deposit: A refundable security deposit of AED 5,000 per parent is usually required. * Duration: The visa is granted for one year, renewable annually. * Health Insurance: Mandatory valid health insurance for the parent(s) for the entire duration of the visa.

5. Sponsoring a Single Parent (Mother only)

Original Answer

Updated Information (2025)

Original: As per current UAE laws, one needs to sponsor both the parents... You need to sponsor them both or to prove that they are separated or one of the passed away.

Update (Confirmation of Rule): This rule remains largely true. To sponsor only one parent (like your mother), you must provide attested legal documents to justify it. Required documents may include: * An Attested Death Certificate (if the father is deceased). * An Attested Divorce Certificate (if they are divorced). * An Affidavit/Certificate of Sole Support from your country's consulate in the UAE, attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), stating that you are her sole provider and there is no one else to care for her in the home country.

6. Health Issues (HB Positive)

Original Answer

Updated Information (2025)

Original: The residents’ visa will be issued or renewed depending on the medical report if it stated that the person is fit then the residents’ visa will be issued.

Update: Medical fitness rules have been updated and are subject to change. For a residency visa renewal, testing for Hepatitis B is generally not required, unless the worker is in one of the specific categories (like those in nurseries, health sector, or food handlers) where mandatory testing is required. For a new residence visa, a medical fitness test including tests for HIV and Tuberculosis (TB) is mandatory for those over 18. Active Pulmonary TB is a cause for rejection and deportation.

If you have a specific, new question about your situation, please let me know and I will try to find the most current and relevant information.

Is there a specific question you have based on these updated rules, or would you like me to research the current MoHRE rules regarding your ability to change jobs?

 

medical examination for licence seekers who are 60 years and above

Roads and Transport Authority is planning to introduce medical examination for licence seekers who are 60 years and above. This includes even those who wish to renew their expired licence. The move aims to ensure drivers are healthy and free from illnesses, reported 'Emarat Al Youm'.

Ahmed Bahrouzyan, Executive Director of the Licensing Department, RTA, said: "RTA will undertake a comprehensive study to modify and develop procedures for obtaining driving licence in coordination with the Interior Ministry and the Dubai Health Authority (DHA)."

RTA has not yet determined the age category where the new procedures will be applied, but in all probability it would cover those above 60 years, he added.

He said the body meets regularly with the Dubai Health Authority, to identify the types of medical examinations and age groups that should be subjected to tests as well as to identify chronic diseases that would aggrevate due to driving.

Bahrouzyan said the RTA seeks to implement best global practices in the service of security and safety on the roads.

He added the RTA is currently considering the application of a British study related to drivers of commercial vehicles and heavy vehicles to transport hazardous materials. It would later be submitted to the DHA to be discussed and modified to implement in the region.

The licencing department issued 33,142 licences in the first quarter of this year, he said and added that the success rate in obtaining driving licences witnessed a significant increase of 29 per cent.

RTA is seeking to develop its services to ensure the success of raising the proportion of applicants for driving licence by 35 per cent.