DED enforces amendments relating to businesses

The Department of Economic Development, Abu Dhabi, has announced the enforcement of amendments made to its Table of Fines in line with the Abu Dhabi Executive Council Resolution No. 47 for 2017 on the violations relating to businesses or establishments licensed for economic activities as per Article 6 of Law No 2 of 2009.

The amendments come in response to the DED monitoring of repeated violations committed by establishments licensed for economic activities in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, said Mohamed Munif Al Mansouri, the Acting Executive Director of Abu Dhabi Business Centre for Business, an DED affiliate, noting that the new additions are premised to curb wrongful practices that fly in the face of economic laws and regulations applied in the emirate and ultimately help reinforce the investment-friendly environment in the country.

They cover those violations made by establishments licensed for economic activities, or at their premises, advertising hoardings, advertisements and trademarks, as well as those related to trade fraud, consumer protection, activities of their vehicles, along with the infringements relating to industrial establishments licensed by the Industrial Development Bureau, he added.

Al Mansouri called upon all establishments to carefully go through the new amendments and to abide by relevant regulations in order to avoid such fines which range from formal warnings and varying fines as per the nature of the violation.

Mr. Al Mansouri added that most of the fines are issued for activities carried out without obtaining required permissions and licenses or against those owning, marketing, producing, or purchasing fake or counterfeit goods, materials or products from unlicensed vendors, a market, or from outside the country for the purpose of marketing the same inside the UAE, and the selling, displaying, or owning of consumables or non-consumables or services that do not conform with the local standards and specifications, which could thus harm public or consumer health.

Non-Muslim expats require a will in U.A.E

Death is something we don’t usually think of, but something we should plan for, but rarely do. Friends Provident International (FPI), a financial institution, on Monday released a guide for non-Muslim expatriates on how they can take care of their families in the event of premature death in the UAE.

Titled ‘A matter of life and death’, the guide covers the 14 key issues for expatriates, should the worst happen.

Issues like frozen bank accounts when the account holder dies, leaving a will, and other issues most expatriates are not aware of are addressed to make it easier for families to handle the assets of the deceased.

Having a will for non-Muslim expatriates is important as there is no right of survivorship in the UAE. This means assets are not automatically passed on to the surviving joint owner upon the death of the other unlike in many countries.

When a non-Muslim expatriate dies, in the absence of a will, the courts will automatically apply Sharia to distribute assets.

If there is a will, inheritance will be governed by the person’s national law under the Civil Transactions Law of the UAE. Note that whether a will is present or not, fixed or immovable assets such as property in the UAE are still subject to Sharia.

Marcus Gent, managing director of the Middle East and Africa at FPI, said many expatriates are not aware of the repercussions of a death in the family when living in the UAE.

“While no one likes to think about dying — and indeed no one should spend too much time thinking about it — knowing that you have taken steps to ensure your family is taken care of, even if you’re not around, can be a great source of comfort,” Gent said.

Philip Cernik, chief marketing officer, Middle East and Africa at FPI, said life as an expatriate in the UAE can be fulfilling, but complications can arise when it comes to death unless plans are made accordingly.

This is where the checklist is helpful as it covers such matters as writing a will, how to register a death and how to arrange for the burial, cremation or repatriation of remains.

But writing a will is not for everyone, said attorney Barney Almazar, a licensed legal consultant and partner at Gulf Law.

“The writing of a will should not be seen as morbid, but as a wake-up call for residents who have substantial assets. So obviously, if you have valuables to pass on, write a will,” Almazar told Gulf News.

Almazar said there are many ways to write a will. A lawyer can draft a will for the testator in accordance with his or her country’s national laws, and the testator can have it notarized in his or her embassy and then attested at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the UAE.

Another option is to have it done at the Notary Public of the Dubai Courts for roughly Dh2,250.

For those who prefer wills drawn up in English, another option is available through duly licensed legal consultants registered with the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Wills and Probate Registry.

This may cost between Dh2,500 and Dh5,000 for a single will and from Dh4,000 to Dh10,000 for mirror wills.

With the DIFC will, you no longer need to have everything is translated into Arabic and heard using Sharia. You can simply proceed with your will in English and use the internationally recognised Common Law.

Points non-Muslim expatriates must remember

1) Leave a will.

2) Ensure your children are taken care of.

3) Outline who should inherit your property in your will.

4) Structure your bank accounts carefully.

5) Consider inheritance taxes in your home country.

6) Use a trust or beneficiary nomination for your life insurance.

7) Make sure you nominate beneficiaries for your end of service gratuity.

8) Check whether you qualify for death in service benefits.

9) Think about how your death would impact your dependents’ residency.

10) Think about your digital life.

11) Registering a death in the UAE and repatriation of remains. (Guide is on their website)

12) Burial and cremation. (Guide is on their website)

13) Prepare a checklist of people that need to be informed if you pass away.

14) Make sure you have adequate cover.

Residency permit processing time in UAE reduced 50%

The ministries of Interior, Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Health and

Prevention, and Human Resources and Emiratization and Emirates Identity Authority have announced measures to reduce by 50 per cent the time required to process a transaction for the issue of a residency permit.

The move is part of the world's first government accelerators, a new government approach that will accelerate the achievement of the National Agenda of the UAE Vision 2021.

Launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the accelerators have multiple tasks and responsibilities to boost the pace for achieving the goals of the National Agenda and projects.

The government bodies will also be tasked with implementing joint projects in record time to transform government services to advanced standards by 2021.

Dr. Hussain Al Rand, Assistant Under-Secretary for Health Centres and Clinics, Ministry of Health, stressed the ministry had established the happiness station at the Ajman Preventive Medicine Centre with other partners to streamline the process of issuing the residency permit.

''The Ministry of Health is committed to co-operating with other government stakeholders to deliver the objectives of the government accelerators regarding the residency permit for private sector staff in 100 days,'' he affirmed.

Decree for Restructuring Ajman Realty Offices

His Highness Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ajman, has issued Emiri Decree No. 12 of 2017 pertaining to the reorganisation of real estate offices and the supervision of their working mechanisms to ensure that they keep abreast of the urban development witnessed by the emirate.

The decree, which includes 24 articles, stipulates the classification of real estate functions that may be exercised by real estate brokers within the Emirate of Ajman under the provisions provided in the Decree. These include real estate inspection and valuation services, the buying and selling of properties by the broker, real estate leasing and management activities, mortgage broker functions, field training, representation offices, auctions, exhibitions, and registration processes with the Land and Properties Department in Ajman.  The decree also details information on the issuance of real estate business licenses, whereby persons are prohibited from carrying out any real estate activity unless the organisation is licensed by the Ajman Department of Economic Development (Ajman DED) and is also registered with the Land and Properties Department.

According to the decree, the Ajman DED may not issue a new licence, or renew or modify a valid license for a real estate office to engage in any real estate activity, unless the applicant fulfils a set of conditions, most important of which is that individuals pursuing licenses must be UAE citizens or GCC nationals, or are representatives who have been licensed by the DED to engage in real estate activities within the Emirate of Ajman, and are accountable to official bodies for the management of the real estate office concerned.

The decree shall be published in the Official Gazette of the Emirate of Ajman and shall be circulated among concerned parties and authorities to follow its provisions. - Wam

RTA Implement New Rules for driving license from July 1

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai will start on July 1, 2017, the implementation of the new Executive Regulation of the Federal Driving and Traffic Law as revised by the Ministerial Resolution No. (177) for 2017 (Article 84 governing the issuance and renewal of driver licenses).RTA’s commitment to implement the Resolution is in line with its efforts to serve the public interest in this field. 

Detailing the news, Ahmed Bahrozyan, CEO of RTA Licensing Agency, said, “Article (84) of the Ministerial Resolution (177), which will be implemented as of July 1 this year, sets several stipulations for issuing and renewing driver licenses. It sets the initial validity of Driver Licenses issued or replaced, as 2 years for citizens, GCC nationals and other nationalities aged 21 years and above. It sets the validity of renewal of driver licenses as 10 years for citizens and GCC nationals aged 21 years and above, and five years in respect of other nationalities of the same age group. 

“For those aged less than 21 years, be it citizens, GCC nationals or other nationalities, the initial validity of the driver license issued, replaced or renewed shall be one year as currently applied,” he explained.

“RTA is always keen to comply with the Federal and Ministerial Laws governing the issuance, renewal or age limits related to driver licenses out of its keenness to serve the public interest and realise its vision of providing Safe and Smooth Transport for All,” added Bahrozyan.