I have been living in the UAE for the past seven years and lost my job in 2021. I haven’t been able to find another one and my savings are almost gone.
I have cut down on my day-to-day living expenses and moved to cheaper accommodation but my savings will not last forever.
Because of this, I have decided it is time to return to my home country as I will be able to stay with family until I get back on my feet. However, I have a personal loan here and I am worried about what will happen if I leave.
I still owe Dh20,000 ($5,445) but haven’t missed an instalment as I was able to use my savings to pay every month.
I am fully committed to continue paying the loan off, it’s just that I can’t afford to be here any more while I look for a job.
Is it possible to continue paying the loan off from my home country if I leave the UAE? If so, what is required to organise this with my bank? If they don’t agree, will I have a problem leaving the country? JD, Dubai
Debt panellist 1: R Sivaram, executive vice president and head of retail banking products at Emirates NBD
It is unfortunate you are facing this predicament and I empathise with your situation. However, it is commendable you have managed your savings and daily expenses well to ensure you can pay your loan instalments on time.
I would recommend you reach out to your bank and share details of your financial position. Request for a revised payment plan over a longer term that will help you to continue paying off the outstanding, with lower monthly instalments.
Your bank may require supporting documents to assess your request, but considering your good repayment track record, it will most likely be flexible and offer you a mutually acceptable plan.
To avoid future problems, it is important you secure an agreement in writing with the bank for your loan restructuring before leaving the country.
Try to pay off as much as you can before you leave and have a clear repayment plan in writing for when you return to your home country.
Carol Glynn,
founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
In addition, you should check to see if you have any insurance policies against your existing loan.
Depending on the terms and conditions of your agreement, these policies could cover involuntary loss of employment.
In the event this applies to your case, the insurance could defer your monthly payments for a predetermined period, which would further aid in alleviating your financial burden.
I wish you the best at arriving at a suitable solution and in finding new employment soon.
Debt panellist 2: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
You have done an admirable job keeping up with your debt payments and have now made a sensible decision to move to a cheaper location so you can extend the life of your savings.
It is possible to make the loan repayments from your home country and there are many successful cases where banks have agreed to this.
However, banks can be wary of this kind of situation due to a history of people leaving the UAE without paying back their debt.
They may also be wary as you cannot show them evidence of a source of income in your home country. You will need to show a commitment to continue paying the loan, but the fact you have never missed a payment will strengthen your case.
Try to pay off as much as you can before you leave and have a clear repayment plan in writing for when you return to your home country.
You should also prepare for plan B, in case the bank demands immediate repayment.
Can you pay the loan in full from your savings? Or is it possible to obtain a loan from family members and then you can repay them when you find work in your home country?
Never rely on a verbal arrangement with the bank and ensure you get any agreement in writing before you leave the UAE.
Debt panellist 3: Felicity Glover, personal finance editor at 'The National'
Since the pandemic began two years ago, it has been a difficult time financially for many. You are fortunate to have had savings to fall back on during this time, which have allowed you to continue making payments on your loan.
That is positive for your current situation as your bank will see this in a favourable light. While there is no requirement that you have to reside in the UAE to pay off a loan, some banks may not agree to this as you have no proof of employment in your home country.
That said, it is worth meeting with a representative from your bank to discuss your situation and request to continue paying the loan from your home country. If the bank does agree to this, ensure you get everything in writing.
However, there are a number of other options you can explore to solve your issue.
Firstly, do you have any assets that you could sell to pay off the loan in full, which would allow you to leave the UAE without a financial burden? This could be anything from a car to shares or other investments you may have.
The Dh20,000 that you owe is relatively small — is it possible that a family member could loan you the money until you get back on your feet?
I do understand finding another job has been difficult, but the way we work has been transformed by the pandemic and traditional “brick-and-mortar” jobs are no longer the only option workers have to earn a regular salary.
Working from anywhere has become the norm these days and many companies around the world are looking to hire full or part-time remote workers, regardless of where they live.
This could be anything from graphic design work to accounting and finance, administration roles, technology specialists, software developers and project management, among others.
Some of the more popular remote working websites include Fivrr, FlexJobs, UpWork and We Work Remotely, which are worth checking out for jobs suited to your skills.
If you do choose this option, then it could also mean you don't have to leave the UAE as there are a number of new visas the government has introduced as part of its plans to boost the economy that allow people to work remotely or as a freelancer.
This is certainly worth considering and could open up a new income stream and way of working for you. In the meantime, I wish you the best in finding a workable solution to your problem.
The Debt Panel is a weekly column to help readers tackle their debts more effectively. If you have a question for the panel, write to pf@thenational.ae
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Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
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This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
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Friday Leganes v Alaves, 10.15pm; Valencia v Las Palmas, 12.15am
Saturday Celta Vigo v Real Sociedad, 8.15pm; Girona v Atletico Madrid, 10.15pm; Sevilla v Espanyol, 12.15am
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Monday Levante v Villarreal, 10.15pm; Malaga v Eibar, midnight
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Thu Aug 30 - UAE v Nepal, Hong Kong v Singapore, Malaysia v Oman
Sat Sep 1 - UAE v Hong Kong, Oman v Singapore, Malaysia v Nepal
Sun Sep 2 – Hong Kong v Oman, Malaysia v UAE, Nepal v Singapore
Tue Sep 4 - Malaysia v Singapore, UAE v Oman, Nepal v Hong Kong
Thu Sep 6 – Final
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A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
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Neil Thomson – THE BIO
Family: I am happily married to my wife Liz and we have two children together.
Favourite music: Rock music. I started at a young age due to my father’s influence. He played in an Indian rock band The Flintstones who were once asked by Apple Records to fly over to England to perform there.
Favourite book: I constantly find myself reading The Bible.
Favourite film: The Greatest Showman.
Favourite holiday destination: I love visiting Melbourne as I have family there and it’s a wonderful place. New York at Christmas is also magical.
Favourite food: I went to boarding school so I like any cuisine really.
How Beautiful this world is!
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Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
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Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.
“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.
“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.
“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.
“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.
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Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Ballon d’Or shortlists
Men
Sadio Mane (Senegal/Liverpool), Sergio Aguero (Aregentina/Manchester City), Frenkie de Jong (Netherlans/Barcelona), Hugo Lloris (France/Tottenham), Dusan Tadic (Serbia/Ajax), Kylian Mbappe (France/PSG), Trent Alexander-Arnold (England/Liverpool), Donny van de Beek (Netherlands/Ajax), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon/Arsenal), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Germany/Barcelona), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Juventus), Alisson (Brazil/Liverpool), Matthijs de Ligt (Netherlands/Juventus), Karim Benzema (France/Real Madrid), Georginio Wijnaldum (Netherlands/Liverpool), Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands/Liverpool), Bernardo Silva (Portugal/Manchester City), Son Heung-min (South Korea/Tottenham), Robert Lewandowski (Poland/Bayern Munich), Roberto Firmino (Brazil/Liverpool), Lionel Messi (Argentina/Barcelona), Riyad Mahrez (Algeria/Manchester City), Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium/Manchester City), Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal/Napoli), Antoine Griezmann (France/Barcelona), Mohamed Salah (Egypt/Liverpool), Eden Hazard (BEL/Real Madrid), Marquinhos (Brazil/Paris-SG), Raheem Sterling (Eengland/Manchester City), Joao Félix(Portugal/Atletico Madrid)
Women
Sam Kerr (Austria/Chelsea), Ellen White (England/Manchester City), Nilla Fischer (Sweden/Linkopings), Amandine Henry (France/Lyon), Lucy Bronze(England/Lyon), Alex Morgan (USA/Orlando Pride), Vivianne Miedema (Netherlands/Arsenal), Dzsenifer Marozsan (Germany/Lyon), Pernille Harder (Denmark/Wolfsburg), Sarah Bouhaddi (France/Lyon), Megan Rapinoe (USA/Reign FC), Lieke Martens (Netherlands/Barcelona), Sari van Veenendal (Netherlands/Atletico Madrid), Wendie Renard (France/Lyon), Rose Lavelle(USA/Washington Spirit), Marta (Brazil/Orlando Pride), Ada Hegerberg (Norway/Lyon), Kosovare Asllani (Sweden/CD Tacon), Sofia Jakobsson (Sweden/CD Tacon), Tobin Heath (USA/Portland Thorns)
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1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
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'Top Gun: Maverick'
Rating: 4/5
Directed by: Joseph Kosinski
Starring: Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Ed Harris
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
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Race card for Super Saturday
4pm: Al Bastakiya Listed US$250,000 (Dh918,125) (Dirt) 1,900m.
4.35pm: Mahab Al Shimaal Group 3 $200,000 (D) 1,200m.
5.10pm: Nad Al Sheba Conditions $200,000 (Turf) 1,200m.
5.45pm: Burj Nahaar Group 3 $200,000 (D) 1,600m.
6.20pm: Jebel Hatta Group 1 $300,000 (T) 1,800m.
6.55pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 Group 1 $400,000 (D) 2,000m.
7.30pm: Dubai City of Gold Group 2 $250,000 (T) 2,410m.
ENGLAND TEAM
England (15-1)
George Furbank; Jonny May, Manu Tuilagi, Owen Farrell (capt), Elliot Daly; George Ford, Ben Youngs; Tom Curry, Sam Underhill, Courtney Lawes; Charlie Ewels, Maro Itoje; Kyle Sinckler, Jamie George, Joe Marler
Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge, Will Stuart, George Kruis, Lewis Ludlam, Willi Heinz, Ollie Devoto, Jonathan Joseph
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Getting there
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Tbilisi from Dh1,025 return including taxes
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