Can visitor with UK licence drive friend’s car in UAE without residency visa?

Keren Bobker helps a reader who wants to drive in the UAE while searching for a job, plus a tenant who is having contract renewal issues with a landlord.

I have recently moved to Dubai and am staying with my cousin while I look for a job. He has a car and says I can borrow it, but I cannot work out if this is legal. I don’t have a residency visa, but am here on a tourist visa. I have a UK driving licence. Can you confirm if I can drive his car? AB, Dubai

The rules are not as clear as they might be, but generally if you are a visitor you can drive a rental car provided you have an International Driving Permit. The rules relating to driving a private car are more about being insured to do so. Most policies in the UAE permit anyone to drive the vehicle provided they have a driving licence issued by one of the emirates of the UAE. Some insurance companies will allow non-residents to drive a vehicle, but you must check with the company and obtain written confirmation. Temporary licences are available and the insurer may request that you obtain one, at a cost of some Dh200 plus an International Driving Permit before granting permission. Once you have employment and a residency visa you must obtain a local licence as you may not then drive in the UAE without it.

My landlord wanted to increase my rent in June 2013 by 50 per cent and I told him that he cannot do that as I was within the 90-day period and he can only renew on the same terms. Nevertheless I told him I am ready to accept a 10 to 20 per cent increase to keep everyone happy. He then involved a property agent who sent me a legal notice stating I need to vacate within two months as he wanted to sell the apartment as he had power of attorney. I called the agent and informed him that if I go to the Rent Committee, this will go in my favour so let us handle it professionally and renew and you can send me a 12 months’ notice and I will accept. So he renewed, but did not send me 12 months’ notice to vacate. I am just three months away from my renewal again and I don’t know what they will try to do. Am I bound by the previous [eviction] notice? Or do I renew as per the new rules which could be a maximum 20 per cent increase? SA Dubai

This appears to be yet another tale of a landlord attempting to force a tenant to vacate to obtain a higher rent. The laws regarding rental in Dubai are very clear and the landlord may only increase the rent in accordance with the figures stated by Rera (Real Estate Regulatory Authority) no matter what the going rate is. All tenants must be given a 90-day notice of any rental increases and if notice to increase is given after this date it is not valid and the tenancy will renew on the existing terms. In this case, if the landlord wants the tenant to vacate then an eviction notice must be given 12 months before the renewal date in the proper format: that is, in writing and delivered by registered post or public notary. The one they issued without legal basis is not valid. The landlord must also give a valid reason for the eviction such as wanting to live in the property himself. If a tenant is evicted the landlord cannot legally relet the property for two years and if they attempt to do so sooner the previous tenant may seek compensation.

Keren Bobker is an independent financial adviser with Holborn Assets in Dubai. Contact her at [e-mail]

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