I came to the UAE on a sponsored visa that was issued from Al Ain. Now I want to get a driving licence in Abu Dhabi. Can I open a licence file in Abu Dhabi? Besides this, I am an MBA graduate and the profession written on my visa is farmer, which is irrelevant to what I actually do. If I want to do a job relating to my field or want to transfer my visa to another job within my field, would it cause a problem for my professional career in the UAE? AR, Al Ain
Al Ain is part of the emirate of Abu Dhabi, so the same regulations apply in both cities and an application made in Al Ain would give the recipient an Abu Dhabi driving licence. It appears that AR has been sponsored by a GCC national, which is a particular type of visa. It is unusual that a visa should say farmer for someone who is not doing this as a job. This should be changed by the sponsor. However, it is unlikely to make any real difference in terms of job prospects, as many people find themselves doing jobs that are not exactly the same as the title specified on their residency visa. This is because only specific titles are available and employers have to select a title on the list provided by the Ministry of Labour list or use one that has been prearranged as part of their quota when it comes to certain positions. AR should still speak to his sponsor about correcting the visa to avoid any future issues or confusion.
Keren Bobker is an independent financial adviser with Holborn Assets in Dubai, with over 20 years of experience. Contact her at keren@holbornassets.com. Follow her on Twitter at @FinancialUAE.
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.
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