Travel ban: Get clearance from banks
I departed Dubai two years ago after cancelling my job visa owing to loss of employment. However, at that time I had unpaid debts in the country. Now I wish to return to the UAE and have reached a settlement with the creditor banks. How can I ensure that I have no travel ban and police cases against me as a bounced cheque is considered a criminal offence. Kindly advise as I want to avoid the risk of getting arrested upon my arrival. In furtherance of your queries, you may elect to appoint a lawyer in the UAE who will, on your behalf make necessary enquiries as to whether any police complaints/criminal cases are registered against you. In the event any complaints/criminal cases are registered against you, your lawyer could obtain a release, pursuant to a settlement with the creditor banks, from these creditor banks and arrange the removal of your name as a wanted person.
Once you have paid the creditor banks and all complaints/ criminal cases against you are closed you could travel to the UAE without any risk.
Refunding security deposit
I had moved out of my last flat two weeks before the tenancy contract renewal in November 2017. The final bill of the amenities was settled and submitted to the office of the real estate agency on November 27, 2017. The security deposit is yet to be returned to me. What is the reasonable time for the security deposit to be returned by the landlord? In furtherance of your queries, you may peruse the terms of your tenancy contract, as to whether any specific time is mentioned in respect of repayment of the security deposit. If no such time is mentioned, it may be noted that the security deposit should be repaid forthwith post expiry of the tenancy contract and settlement of maintenance dues. This is in accordance with the provisions of Article 20 of the Law No 26 of 2007 Regulating Relationship Between Landlords and Tenants In the Emirate of Dubai, which reads as follows: “Landlord may obtain maintenance deposit amount from tenants to guarantee maintenance of premises at the end of tenancy contract, provided that landlord shall undertake to refund this deposit, or any remaining amount, upon expiry of contract.”
You may, therefore, ask your real estate agent to arrange for repayment of your security deposit at the earliest. If however, the same does not take place, you may elect to send a legal notice to the concerned agents, and also report the matter to the Real Estate Regulatory Authority, Dubai.
Spouse visa rejected
My husband’s application for a Dubai residence visa, under my sponsorship, has been rejected three weeks after submission with no specific reason being given. I was informed during the waiting time that the application was under the scrutiny of the humanitarian committee. When we enquired at the Amer Centre, the official speculated that it might be because of my profession. A colleague with the same designation as mine is sponsoring her husband. What could be the reason for rejecting my application? Since you have not provided any information regarding your profession, remuneration and your designation mentioned in your visa, you may visit the GDRFA office in Dubai in person, to enquire the reason for rejection of the visa application and thereafter proceed in accordance with the advice of the GDRFA in Dubai. Ashish Mehta is the founder and Managing Partner of Ashish Mehta & Associates. He is qualified to practise law in Dubai, the United King. Full details of his firm on: www.amalawyers.com. Readers may e-mail their questions to: news@khaleejtimes.com or send them to Legal View, Khaleej Times, PO Box 11243, Dubai.