Residents can now apply, renew residency visa on Dubai’s official app DubaiNow

The immigration authority in Dubai is the latest government entity to offer its services at the touch of a button.

The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai has recently launched services on the DubaiNow app to provide residents with the facility of applying, managing and cancelling residency visas for their spouse and / or children.

The DubaiNow app is an initiative carried out by Smart Dubai – a government entity charged with facilitating Dubai's citywide smart transformation, to empower, deliver and promote an efficient, seamless, safe and impactful city experience for residents and visitors.

Available services on DubaiNow

Utilities and bills

Pay your DEWA, Etisalat, du, Dubai Municipality bills. Pay your Dubai Police traffic fines. Top up your Salik, NOL, Dubai Customs Accounts Donate to Dubai Cares and Al Jalila Foundation.

Driving

Renew your vehicle registration. Top up your parking time. Explore street speed limits. View road accident notifications to plan your travel efficiently. Find your nearest petrol station and Tasjeel centres.

Public Transport

Track Dubai Airport flight departures and arrivals. Call a Taxi. View the Road and Transport Authority (RTA) metro map. Plan your journey to and from any point, and view the best routes.

Education

Find schools registered with Dubai's Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) and universities’ information and filter by name, rating, annual fees, curriculum and location.

General

View Dubai Calendar and Dubai’s daily weather conditions. Find your nearest ATM, and use the fastest route to reach Track Emirates Post (Empost) shipments and view shipping rates. Send your feedback or report complaints regarding any government department service in Dubai. Access Makani to locate specific buildings and addresses in Dubai, a service provided by Dubai Municipality

Islam

View daily prayer timings, find your nearest mosque and select the fastest route to get there.

Security

Report a violation to Dubai Police. Find the nearest Dubai Police Station and select the fastest route to get there. Inquire about the status of Dubai Court’s cases. Call emergency numbers like Dubai Police, Ambulance, Fire Department, and DEWA.

Business

Search for trade activity with the Department of Economic Development (DED). Track and renew trade licenses registered with the DED. Reserve a trade name.

Dubai Launched Virtual Commercial License for non-resident business people and freelancers

Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, announced the launch of the region's first 'Virtual Company Licence’.

The programme allows only verified non-resident individuals to register a company, and the owners of such companies have to be the nationals or tax residents of countries that have implemented the Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters and share tax information about their citizens and residents.

Eligible countries

The official website has a heatmap showing the eligible and non-eligible countries across the globe. India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, China, Russia, North Americas, South Africa, Nigeria, Cameroon, Uganda, Brazil, Argentina, Chile are some of the countries on the eligible list. Yemen, Oman, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Venezuela, Algeria, Egypt are on the non-eligible list according to the map online.

What does this mean?

The Virtual Company Licence will allow investors worldwide to do business in Dubai digitally without requiring residence and in accordance with the highest international legal standards. Virtual Company Licence owners can manage all their business-related activities, including document signing and submission digitally, and the signatures are legally binding in the UAE.

This initiative is aligned with the third Article of the 50-Year Charter of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, which aims to build a ‘Virtual Commercial City’ in Dubai.

The Virtual Company Licence will enable freelancers and business people worldwide to have access to a regulated e-commerce platform and easily work with Dubai-based companies while also exploring new markets and investment opportunities digitally.

Saudi Arabia launches tourist Visa to 49 countries

Saudi Arabia opened its doors to the world on Friday after it announced that tourist visas will be available to citizens from 49 countries.

For the first time, tourists can now apply for a visa through Saudi embassies and consulates across the world

Marking a milestone in Saudi Arabia’s history, Ahmed Al Khateeb, Chairman of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Heritage (SCTH), announced the launch of the tourist visa for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at an event in Ad-Diriyah, a Unesco World Heritage Site in Riyadh.

Citizens from 49 countries will also be able to apply for an e-visa or receive a visa on arrival into Saudi Arabia. A dedicated online portal at visitsaudi.com was also launched and electronic kiosks are set to be available at airports to facilitate requests.

The following 49 countries will be eligible to apply for e-visas and visas on arrival:

1. USA
2. Canada
3. Kazakhstan
4. Singapore
5. Brunei
6. New Zealand
7. South Korea
8. Japan
9. Spain
10. Belgium
11. Malaysia
12. Austria
13. Cyprus
14. UK
15. Croatia
16. Estonia
17. Andorra
18. Denmark
19. Germany
20. Bulgaria
21. France
22. Hungary
23. Czech Republic
24. Holland
25. Italy
26. Finland
27. Ireland
28. Lithuania
29. Greece
30. Liechtenstein
31. Monaco
32. Iceland
33. Malta
34. Poland
35. Latvia
36. Norway
37. Russia
38. Luxembourg
39. Romania
40. Slovenia
41. Montenegro
42. Slovakia
43. Switzerland
44. Portugal
45. Sweden
46. Australia
47. San Marino
48. Ukraine
49. China, including Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan

The tourist visa allows for a stay of up to 3 months per entry, with visitors able to spend up to 90 days a year in Saudi Arabia. The visa is valid for one year with multiple entries.

The cost of applying for an e-visa or a visa on arrival is 440 riyals (around $117) plus VAT.

Saudi Arabia intends to extend the e-visa scheme to other countries in due course.

New Law Regulating RERA part of the Dubai Land Department

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has issued a new law regulating the Real Estate Regulatory Agency.

The new law issued, Law No. 4 of 2019, states RERA as a public institution, to come under the Dubai Land Department .

The new law includes restructuring the legal provisions of the agency, which was established pursuant to Law No. (16) of 2007.

According to the new Law, the objectives of RERA include contributing to the development of Dubai’s real estate sector within an integrated system of regulatory and monetary procedures and enhancing the sector’s contribution to Dubai’s economy.

Furthermore, RERA will work to provide a secure environment for real estate projects in order to protect the rights of developers and investors, implement new projects and programmes that enable them to explore new real estate opportunities and promote professional and ethical standards in the industry.

Pursuant to this Law, RERA is responsible for regulating and overseeing real estate development escrow accounts; accrediting financial institutions that are qualified to manage real estate development escrow accounts; and approving regulations that govern development, brokerage and management of real estate including joint property.

RERA also monitors real estate advertisements published in media outlets in the Emirate; develops and launches awareness programmes in collaboration with the Dubai Real Estate Institute to educate the public about their rights and responsibilities; and prepares and updates policies designed to balance supply and demand.

Under the new Law, the Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai will appoint the CEO of RERA and will also issue the regulations and resolutions required for the implementation of the provisions of this Law that substitutes Law No. (16) of 2007.

Dubai Land Department will replace RERA in registering real estate rental contracts and regulating the relationship between property owners and tenants and any other matter related to real estate rental contracts.

RERA is the regulatory arm of the Land Department, where the department sets legislations to regulate the relationship between all contracting parties and to organises the exchange process of properties.

The department provides many services to clients in Dubai, extending its role to planning, organising and evaluating operations related to real estate license. It also monitor projects financially and technically to protect investors.

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