Your Guide to Life in the UAE

An article written for YOU! Magazine acting as a short guide and cheat sheet to life in the United Arab Emirates

Stop press, its here! A list of rules, regulations and informal tips we recommend every new and old UAE resident must know. Packed with handy tips and advice to keep on hand, we recommend pasting this on your refrigerator!

1) All you need to know about the Salik Toll in Dubai

Salik utilizes the latest technology to achieve free flow operation with no toll booths, no toll collectors, and no impact to traffic flow, allowing vehicles to move freely through the tolling point at highway speeds. Each time you pass through a Salik tolling point, the toll of AED 4 will be deducted from your prepaid toll account using advanced Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology.

You can purchase your Salik Welcome Kit from selected branches of: Emarat petrol stations, EPPCO/ENOC stations, ADNOC stations, Dubai Islamic Bank, and Emirates Bank. You should receive an SMS as a reminder and you should top up your account through one of the various methods available like the web, participating banks or petrol stations to avoid a violation and fine of AED 50 per occurrence. In addition, a late payment penalty of AED 10 will be assessed every month until payment.

You can now top up using Salik recharge cards valued at AED 100 and AED 500 to top up your Salik balance in a convenient and easy to use way.

2) Your National Identity Card explained

Instead of having multiple identity cards like driving licences, work permits, employee cards, passports, e-cards, the UAE Federal Government created a single national identity card in April 2006, with in-built smart features including biometrics and advanced ID features that will eventually eliminate the need to carry multiple cards. At a later date, it can be used as a travel document within the GCC. Emirates Identity Authority (EIDA), a federal government organization, has already rolled out the first phase and second phase of the national identity card, as part of a comprehensive three year plan to provide National ID cards to three categories: UAE nationals, GCC citizens living in UAE and other UAE residents.

Registration is currently open for UAE nationals, GCC citizens working or residing in the UAE, expatriate government staff and professionals (anyone with a degree) in the private sector.

For registering your family, you must ensure that your child has his/her own passport. Domestic staff in your household are not included and separate dates will be announced for their registration later. You must be either a UAE national, a GCC citizen working or residing in the UAE, or a UAE resident and above 15 years of age. The card is valid for lifetime for nationals (with renewal every five years) and validity for other residents depends on the validity of the visa. However, the same card can be used, once the residence visa is renewed.

Steps

1. Book an online appointment or visit an EIDA service centre.

2. Before going for your appointment, fill up this online application formfrom EIDA website and take a printout, using only a laser printer. Or download the UAE EIDA Pre-registration Application download (3.5 mb zipped file) and fill it up offline. Another option is to visit any Emirates Post Office, purchase a special envelope for AED 40, fill up the form inside and submit to the post office. See media update

3. Visit the nearest EIDA service centre and pay the registration fee, while submitting your form.

4. Allow bio-metric and fingerprinting to be done and get your original documents scanned.

5. Congratulations. You will have your National ID card sent to you by Empost after 7-14 days.

Documents & fees: UAE Residents: Original passport. AED 100 per year of visa validity. Additional charges if purchasing form (AED 40) and for Empost delivery (AED 20) Lost or damaged card: AED 300

3) Important Numbers to keep on file

Police	999
Fire Department	997
Ambulance	999
Electricity	991
Water	991

7000 40000 (Ask Dubai from Dubai eGovernment)

181 (Directory Enquiry & Yellow Pages)

Etisalat's Yellow Pages in English & Arabic

800-4-888 (Al Ameen service from Dubai Police)

To report criminal activity or if someone is harassing you

8005111 (Amer Service, Dubai Naturalization and Residency Department Hotline)

04-2215555 (Dubai Rent Committee)

For rent complaints against landlords including excessive rental charges

04-2020299 Dubai Consumer Protection (Himaya)

For consumer complaints to Dubai Economic Department

04-3939777 UAE Central Bank Control & Inspection

For customer complaints against banks

04-3139900 (Unified Labour Complaint)

For labour and work related complaints

04- 2162218 Dubai Weather Forecast (from Dubai Meteorological Office at Dubai Airport)

04- 224 5555 Dubai International Airport
04- 216 6666 Dubai Airport Flight Info

4) How to go about hiring help

A domestic worker’s visa can be obtained by the head of the family (called sponsor, and usually the male), whose salary is not less than AED 6000 a month or AED 5000 + accommodation. Bachelors are not eligible to sponsor hired help. You can only sponsor a domestic worker from the following countries: India, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, and Indonesia.

Employment of domestic workers requires work contract

A new unified contract (called employment agreement for domestic workers and sponsors) to regulate the rights and duties of domestic workers was put in place from 1st April, 2007. The contract is valid for one year with options to renew and governs vacation, air tickets, medical care and procedures, in case of breach of contract

Illegal hiring of workers, without DNRD approval may result in fines of upto AED 70,000 as well as imprisonment for one month followed by deportation of employer.

5) Baby Boom

You must apply for a residency visa for a new-born baby within 120 days of his/her birth. If you fail to do this the child will not be allowed to leave the UAE and the legal guardian must pay an AED100 fine for each day over the 120 day period.

Documents Required: Application form; Original passport for the baby (if the baby was added to one of his parent’s passport, take that one) Original + a copy of the baby’s birth certificate (must be attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Dubai office. Tel: 04-2221144) 3 passport sized photos of the baby; Original + a copy of the attested marriage certificate; Passport copy of sponsor; Copy of job contract for the sponsor or a salary certificate.

Procedure: Go to a certified typing office and have them complete the form for you after paying the fees. Go to the residency section at Naturalisation and Residency Department (Toll free 800-5111), and hand in the documents. The passport with the residency visa will be sent to you through a courier service.