Q: I live in the UAE but have an outstanding loan from Kuwait from about a year ago. As I was unemployed I have only made very small payments on the loan in the past year
. I now have a full-time job but a debt collector in America has been calling me threatening me with a travel ban, since there is a National Bank of Kuwait in the UAE. I have applied for a loan here in the UAE that I should be getting at the end of June to pay off the loan in Kuwait. However, the amount the debt collector is asking is way too much, so I would like to approach the Kuwait bank branch in the UAE and ask if I can pay back what I can. I work as cabin crew so I would lose my job if I had a travel ban. Can they actually ban me from travel, even though I'm still based in the GCC? And do you think that if I approach the bank they would listen to me and accept the money at the end of June?
A: If the loan agreement doesn't have any jurisdiction limitation (that is, Kuwaiti courts only) the bank, as it has a branch in the UAE, can approach the courts here to try and implement a travel ban by showing documents that show the amount is due and payable. However, the bank has to prove to the court that you are a flight risk from the UAE. It is then up to the UAE court to decide whether to impose such a ban based purely on the evidence that you are likely to abscond. I would advise that you approach the bank at its UAE branch and try offer a settlement amount in a lump sum. The bank is likely to accept as, ultimately, it wants its money back and not to put you in jail or affect you in any way that would mean you would then be unable to pay the amount back.
Q: Can I rent or drive a car in the UAE using my international driving licence if I am not carrying my passport as I am waiting for the issuance of my entry visa? Do I need to carry my passport when driving in the UAE if I do not have an Emirates ID card?
A: You should carry your personal identification documents with you at all times. UAE residents should have their ID cards on them to prove their legal resident status. It is not necessary to carry your passport if you have an Emirates ID but, as you don't, carrying a copy of your passport and residence visa page is advisable. A driver's permit is considered a means of identification if it is issued by the UAE and so it also exempts its holder from carrying a passport. However, in this case residents would need to carry a document that shows the validity of their residence. Non-residents or tourists can drive a rental car with a valid driving permit issued by a Gulf country or with an international driving permit. So yes, you would be able to obtain a rental car.
Q: I parked my car in a no-parking zone in front of a store to buy a bottle of water. The parking attendant approached me and angrily threatened to fine me, even though many cars were parked in no-parking zones for longer periods and none had been fined. I am aware that my behaviour is unacceptable but the law should apply equally to everyone. Is there any way to resolve this issue? Who can I talk
to complain about the attendant?
A: The violation of the law by others does not give you the right to do the same on the pretence that everyone else is doing it. The fact that some people use their position or social status to break the law does not make the situation any more acceptable or moral. You may, however, complain against the parking attendant's behaviour to a competent authority.
Yousef Al Bahar is an advocate at Al Bahar and Associates Advocates and Legal Consultants. If you have a question for our lawyer, please email it to newsdesk@thenational.ae with the subject line Know the law.
The advice provided in our columns does not constitute legal advice and is provided for information only. Readers are encouraged to seek appropriate independent legal advice.
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
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Find the right policy for you
Don’t wait until the week you fly to sign up for insurance – get it when you book your trip. Insurance covers you for cancellation and anything else that can go wrong before you leave.
Some insurers, such as World Nomads, allow you to book once you are travelling – but, as Mr Mohammed found out, pre-existing medical conditions are not covered.
Check your credit card before booking insurance to see if you have any travel insurance as a benefit – most UAE banks, such as Emirates NBD, First Abu Dhabi Bank and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, have cards that throw in insurance as part of their package. But read the fine print – they may only cover emergencies while you’re travelling, not cancellation before a trip.
Pre-existing medical conditions such as a heart condition, diabetes, epilepsy and even asthma may not be included as standard. Again, check the terms, exclusions and limitations of any insurance carefully.
If you want trip cancellation or curtailment, baggage loss or delay covered, you may need a higher-grade plan, says Ambareen Musa of Souqalmal.com. Decide how much coverage you need for emergency medical expenses or personal liability. Premium insurance packages give up to $1 million (Dh3.7m) in each category, Ms Musa adds.
Don’t wait for days to call your insurer if you need to make a claim. You may be required to notify them within 72 hours. Gather together all receipts, emails and reports to prove that you paid for something, that you didn’t use it and that you did not get reimbursed.
Finally, consider optional extras you may need, says Sarah Pickford of Travel Counsellors, such as a winter sports holiday. Also ensure all individuals can travel independently on that cover, she adds. And remember: “Cheap isn’t necessarily best.”
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