ID card mandatory for visas in Sharjah from December 1

Abu Dhabi: Expatriates applying for or renewing their residence visas in Sharjah will have to first secure a national ID card.

The rule will take effect from December 1.

The Emirates Identity Authority (Emirates ID) will link the visa medical tests at nine Preventive Medicine Centres (PMCs) in Sharjah with the registration of national ID cards, it was announced yesterday.

Emirates ID earlier announced that the deadline for expatriates in Sharjah to apply for national ID cards is on January 31, 2012. Those who fail to secure their ID cards will be levied a Dh20 fine per day, going up to a maximum of Dh1,000 from February 1, 2012 onwards.

Link up

Sharjah will be the sixth emirate to link the visa processing and ID card registration. Dubai is expected to complete the link up by early next year, a spokesman of Emirates ID told Gulf News yesterday.

The Dubai link up will complete the visa-national ID integration project.

Once completed, an estimated 22,000 people are expected to register for national ID cards per day, taking the number of registrations to half a million a month.

Nine ID card registration centres — Ghubaiba, Nasiriyah, Kalba, Sharjah Industrial Area, Khor Fakkan, Al Dhaid, Dibba Al Hosn, Hamriyah Free Zone and Free Zone in Sharjah International Airport — will be linked to Preventive Medicine Centres (PMCs) conducting visa medical tests.

Visa applicants must first apply for the ID card and present the Emirates ID receipt when going for their medical tests.

They have to first complete the Emirates ID pre-registration process — filling up the form, payment of the fee and booking an appointment for registration — at an accredited typing centre before going for the visa medical test.

After completing the medical test, an applicant goes to the national ID card registration section where their fingerprints and photograph will be taken.

New procedure

Emartech , the company responsible for managing the electronic forms and printing offices has completed training their staff on the new procedure.

Most typing centres in Sharjah were also oriented on the new procedures.

Applicants need not to be present at the typing centre when filling up the e-application form. They have to however, show the original passport and e-application form at the ID card registration centres at the PMCs.

Those renewing their national ID cards will also have to bring their expired card.

Dates to remember

The deadline for Emiratis across the country to apply for or renew ID card expired on October 31. All expatriates were also given an October 31 deadline to renew their expired cards.

Cardholders, except children under 15 years, are given 30 days to renew their cards from the date of expiry.

Deadline for expatriates in Sharjah to apply for ID card is January 31.

May 31, 2012 is the deadline for the expatriates in Dubai to apply for ID cards.

The deadline for expatriates in Ajman , Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah is on November 30, and March 31 in Abu Dhabi.

There will be a fine of Dh20 fine per day, gong up to a maximum of Dh 1000 (one thousand) after the deadline.

All children under 15 years of age, Emiratis and expatriates, are exempted from the fines until October 1, 2012.

Vithul V Murali 
Al Zaeim Corporate Services 
Dubai Mobile : +971 50 55 73 538

Email  :Vithul@a2zconsultus.com

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Courtesy : Gulfnews

Starting a Business in Abu Dhabi

If you have a viable business plan and want to tap into of one of the safest, most affluent and fastest growing markets in the world, Abu Dhabi is the right place to establish your presence. Whether you are planning to set up a new business in the Emirate or open a branch for a company based outside the country, the procedures are transparent and flexible and it takes only a few days to complete them if you fulfil all the requirements of the relevant authorities.

To start a business in Abu Dhabi, the legal and practical requirements should be understood early to reduce risks and prepare for an efficient settlement process. You must also get an overview of relevant laws, procedures and of course, a knowledge of the local culture.

Issuance of Licences in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi

Undertaking all types of business activities in Abu Dhabi is regulated by trade licences according to Law No. (5) of 1998 regarding the issuance of licences in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

The law stipulates that neither an ordinary person nor a legal entity is permitted to engage in any activity or branch of activity included in the licence categories without obtaining a relevant licence from the concerned authority and fulfilling the requirements of laws applicable to the practice of a specific activity. The licences issued by the competent authorities within the Emirate of Abu Dhabi include Agricultural, Fisheries & Livestock Licences, Industrial Licences, Commercial Licences, Professional Licences and Vocational Licences.

Law No. (7) of 1998 requires that all nationals and foreigners, engaged in any commercial, industrial, professional or vocational activity within Abu Dhabi Emirate, whether they are individuals, companies or branches, should join Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry and obtain its membership as a prerequisite to acquire a trade licence.

Ownership of Business in Abu Dhabi

Under the Commercial Companies Law No. (8) of 1984, expatriates can undertake a business activity only if they have a UAE national partner or partners who will hold not less than 51 percent of the company ownership. However, special free zones where foreigners can have full ownership of their businesses are exempt from this rule.

The law also permits foreign companies to open branches or offices in the country provided that the branch or office appoints a UAE national services agent. If the agent is a company, all of its partners must be UAE nationals. The agent is responsible for facilitating licences for the branch or office without contributing to its capital or management or bearing any losses or financial obligations thereof.

Foreign companies which do not wish to have a direct presence in the country or obtain a licence can sell their products or services in the country by appointing a commercial agent in accordance with Law No. (18) of 1981 and its amendments in Law No. (14) of 1998 regulating commercial agencies. The agent may sell or distribute the products or services of the company within the designated area by the virtue of an agreement that will be registered at the Ministry of Economy. Foreign companies can appoint a single agent to cover the entire UAE or an agent for each Emirate.

Legal Forms of Companies

Article 5 of the Commercial Companies Law No. (8) of 1984 specifies the legal forms of companies as General Partnership, Limited Liability Company, Simple Limited Partnership, Joint Participation (“Venture”), Public Joint Stock Company, Private Joint Stock Company, and Partnership Limited with Shares.

General Procedures for Acquiring Licences

The initial step to start a business in Abu Dhabi is to reserve and get approval for the desired trade name from the Department of Economic Development (DED). Once the trade name is approved, you can approach the Licensing Committee at one of the Abu Dhabi Emirate Municipalities (Abu Dhabi City, Al Ain City, or the Western Region Municipality), which will review your application and supporting documents including details of the partners and capital and inform you whether your application requires approval of a competent agency.

In case of opening a branch of a foreign company, you will have to submit an application and all required documents to the Ministry of Economy upon getting approval of the competent agency, and the ministry will present it to the Executive Council in Abu Dhabi for approval. To know more about opening a foreign company branch in Abu Dhabi, you can read the article "Opening a Branch of a Foreign Company in Abu Dhabi".

Following the approval by the competent agency and the Municipality, your application will be referred by the Municipality to the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ADCCI) for approval and issuance of a Chamber Membership Certificate which is mandatory for obtaining a trade licence.

After the issuance of the Chamber Membership Certificate, a field visit will be made to the premises of your company to ensure that all terms and conditions in relation to advertising, safety and health requirements are met in line with the rules and regulations of the Municipality.

Upon the fulfilment of these requirements, you can apply for the registration of your company in the Commercial Registration and Municipality Licence Section which will entitle you to get the commercial license from DED. You can then approach the Abu Dhabi Naturalization & Residency Directorate (ADNRD) for a Facility Card and the Ministry of Labour for a Company Card. The next step is to apply for work permits for your employees at the Abu Dhabi Naturalization & Residency Directorate.

If you are intending to open a commercial company, the Municipality will refer your application to the Ministry of Economy after obtaining the Chamber Membership Certificate and you will have to complete the procedures of the Ministry.

Some specialised businesses will be required to register with relevant government agencies including the UAE Central Bank for financial and banking institutions, Ministry of Economy for insurance companies, Ministry of Finance for manufacturing companies and the Ministry of Health for pharmaceutical companies.

Vithul V Murali 
Al Zaeim Corporate Services 
Dubai Mobile : +971 50 55 73 538

Email  :Vithul@a2zconsultus.com

Skype : Vithul.murali

courtesy | addci |

Philippines toughens rules for maids in Gulf

The Philippines has told employers in the UAE they must pay its domestic workers at least Dh1,500 a month and ensure they keep their passports with them all the time before it allows them to work in the country.

The Asian nation, one of the main domestic workers suppliers to the oil-rich Gulf, has told employment offices in the UAE and the Philippines that it would not allow its citizens to work as housemaids in the Emirates unless these conditions are met, the Dubai-based 'Emarat Al Youm' Arabic language daily said.

The new terms also include the need for the employer to provide the maid with a separate living room and to report to the Philippine embassy in the UAE at its request.

The employer must also provide the embassy with all details of the family, its members and ages before hiring a Philippine domestic worker.

“Recruitment offices in the UAE said they have been made to sign these contracts and are held responsible according to Philippine laws,” the paper said. “They considered the new measures as an improper interference in their business as no Philippine domestic worker will be allowed to come to the UAE unless these offices sign those contracts.”

The paper quoted Mahmoud Mohammed, manager of Bin Awas domestic workers hiring office in the UAE, as saying they were told by the Philippine embassy these contracts are binding and that all domestic workers would not be permitted to leave that country unless the contracts are signed.

“We have suffered losses of nearly $18,000 after the Philippine embassy stopped some contracts,” said Isam Qiyami, head of Alamana domestic services office.

''Emarat Al Youm' quoted a senior official at the UAE ministry of interior as saying the ministry does not recognise these contracts.“What we have here is a unified domestic worker contract which is handed to the employer when issuing a visa for a maid…it has to be signed by the employer and the worker and it includes all rights and duties for both the employer and the employee, including the salary, break and other rights,” said Major General Nassir Al Awadi Al Minhali, the ministry’s assistant undersecretary for naturalisation and residence.

The paper also quoted a Philippine embassy official as confirming the introduction of the new contracts, which he said include a minimum monthly wage of $400 (Dh1,462) plus health care, free food and other benefits. He said these benefits are reasonable on the grounds housemaids in the UAE work an average 18 hours a day.“The new measures taken by the authorities in the Philippines strictly ban any Filipina from leaving her country unless through authorised employment offices, which must ensure the new contracts are signed,” he said.

Vithul V Murali 
Al Zaeim Corporate Services 
Dubai Mobile : +971 50 55 73 538

Email  :Vithul@a2zconsultus.com

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Probationary Work Permit For People On Visit Visa

Visitors in Dubai who wish to start working during their visit visa period itself should acquire a permit known as the probationary work permit first, advised the chief residency prosecutor.

The visitors to acquire this permit rather than flout the Foreigner Entry and Residency Law by working when they are on visit visa. “The permit is valid for three months and is available at the Ministry of Labour (MoL) for visitors who find an employer during their stay. However, if they are caught working while here on visit visas they would be jailed and fined.The penalty could be a one-month jail term or a fine of Dh1,000. Deportation is compulsory in such cases

“The MoL organises regular and impromptu inspection visits to establishments to check on the companies’ compliance with the labour laws and the Foreigner Entry and Residency Law. Residents who have pending labour cases against their sponsoring employer at the Labour Court, to acquire an approval from the Labour Court if they wanted to work elsewhere.

Counsellor Ali Humaid bin Khatem, Head of the Naturalisation and Residency Prosecution in Dubai, said “We are investigating a case in which an expatriate had filed a labour case against his company. His labour case was still being heard by the Labour Court when he moved to work for a restaurant. He was caught and charged with working for a third party. It was a breach of the law and he would be penalised for working for (someone) other than the sponsor.” The ignorance of laws would not spare the violators from being held legally accountable.

“In this case, the defendant could have avoided committing the violation by applying and acquiring an approval from the Labour Court to work for a new company, pending the settlement of his labour case. He was entitled to have a court permit issued to him to work for a third party while his labour case was being heard.”

Regulations and laws should not be crossed and ignored whatever be the reason. Breaching laws entails jail terms and deportation, Bin Khatem warned.

The chief residency prosecutor urged the private sector workers to get familiar with the Foreigner Entry and Residency Law to avoid committing violations even if they are not intentional.

Vithul V Murali 
Al Zaeim Corporate Services 
Dubai Mobile : +971 50 55 73 538

Email  :Vithul@a2zconsultus.com

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Residence visa renewal linked to tenancy contract in Sharjah

Having a tenancy contract in one's own name is the passport to a residency permit in Sharjah

under a new rule introduced by the Sharjah Naturalisation and Residency Department.

Thousands of families who live in shared accommodation in Sharjah will be hard hit by the new rule of the Sharjah Naturalisation and Residency Department requiring a tenancy contract in the applicant's name or his close relative.

According to the new regulations, those applying for residency visas for their families should produce a copy of their tenancy contract.

The contract, which is considered proof of one's eligibility to afford a family, must be attested by the Sharjah Municipality.

Residents said they will have to send their families back home as it is no longer affordable to rent a one-bedroom or two-bedroom apartment in Sharjah.

Many said since the rents started skyrocketing in Sharjah in the last two years by more than 30 to 50 per cent, people have opted for shared accommodation. Under the new rule they will not be able to renew their residency permits without having tenancy contracts in their names.

Lieutenant Colonel Salim Ali Mazaini, head of the visa section at the Sharjah Naturalisation and Residency Department, told Gulf News that the rule has been introduced to ensure that only those who are financially capable of providing decent accommodation can bring their families to the emirate.

"We are not insisting that the tenancy contract should be in the applicant's name. The contract can be in the name of his close relatives also, such as a brother or sister," said Mazaini.

He added that it is acceptable to share living space with one's own family members, but not with friends.

According to him, the rule is not applicable to professionals like doctors, engineers and people in managerial positions because they earn enough money to sponsor their families.

"We are being very flexible and taking each application on a case by case basis. For example, if a family does not have children, a studio flat in their name is more than enough to get a family residence permit.

"Or if a family with one or two children can show that they are sharing a three-bedroom apartment with a close relative, it will also get them the residency status," Mazaini said.

However, some residents said their applications have been rejected even after they produced tenancy contracts of their relatives.

Hussain, a Sharjah resident who refused to give his second name, said his application to sponsor his family was rejected because he could not produce a tenancy contract.

"Now with this new rule, I doubt whether I can bring my wife and child to the UAE," said Hussain who works as an administrative assistant.

Another resident, Riyas Mohammad from Pakistan, said he has shelved his plan to bring his family because of the new regulations.

New categories: Renewal for one year only

The Sharjah Naturalisation and Residency department has also issued a list of 60 categories of low income groups including hairdressers, butchers, shop assistants, chefs, clerks and others for whom residency permits will be renewed only for a period of one year.

These categories must also get prior approval before their applications are typed.

The typing centres have been instructed that the categories listed below need prior approval before applications are typed.

1. Beauty therapist		31. Barber
2. Spice/pulse grinder		32. Makeup artist
3. Watchman		33. Janitor
4. Dining-room servant		34. Shift operator
5. Fishmonger		35. Typist
6. Fisherman		36. Watchman
7. Calligrapher		37. Chef
8. Digger		38. Turner
9. Porter		39. Plumber
10. Office boy		40. Tile fitter
11. Pipe fitter		41. Meat griller
12. Cobbler		42. Falafel maker
13. Sailor		43. Dessert maker
14. Pipe filer		44. Pastry maker
15. Grocer		45. Waiter
16. Tyre repairer		46. Machine operator
17. Shoemaker		47. Clothes presser
18. Manicurist		48. Car washer
19. Hairdresser		49. Coffee maker
20. Clerk		50. Butcher
21. Follow-up clerk		51. Slaughterer
22. Archive clerk		52. Painter
23. Tinker		53. Tailor
24. Mechanic assistant		54. Baker
25. Ironsmith		55. Kneader
26. Welder		56. Goldsmith
27. Carpenter		57. Electrician
28. Builder		58. Upholsterer
29. Shop attendants		59. Blancher
30. Light vehicle driver		60. Drawer/draftsman

Vithul V Murali 
Al Zaeim Corporate Services 
Dubai Mobile : +971 50 55 73 538

Email  :Vithul@a2zconsultus.com

Skype : Vithul.murali

Courtesy : Gulf News