UAE

150 blueground homes ready for occupation in Dubai

UAE-based corporate hospitality company blueground said work has been completed on 150 of its fully-furnished rental apartments located in some of the most popular areas of Dubai and the units are now ready for occupation.

A major player in Dubai, blueground leases and upgrades high-quality properties in the most sought-after locations, and subsequently rents them out to business travelers for mid-to-long term duration.

UAE: New Emiratisation and Labour Market Testing Program Creates More Recruitment Rules for Employers

In order to increase the amount of local workers in the private sector, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) has launched a National Program for Emiratisation called ‘Tawteen’. The program implements a new labour market testing platform called ‘Tawteen Gate’, which requires selected companies to create job advertisements accessible to UAE nationals seeking employment before those employers can hire foreign nationals

Middle East: Eid al-Adha 2016 date is expected to be on September 11

This year, the holiest Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha is expected to begin on Sunday, September 11.

The Eid al-Adha is Islam's holiest festival celebrated annually around the world and an official holiday in Muslim-majority countries.

Eid al-Adha 2016 is expected to begin on Sunday, September 11. Authorities in Saudi Arabia will confirm the actual dates of the Muslim festival and the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca on September 1 based on the sighting of the moon.

Dubai: New land plots available for non-UAE nationals

Land plots in Dubai World Central have been made available for non-UAE citizens to purchase after a decision was made by Dubai’s ruler HH Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. 

“The decision grants non-UAE nationals the rights to absolute ownership of lands and properties located in land plots number (205), (206) and (207) in the Dubai World Central area (521),” according to the Dubai Media Office.

United Arab Emirates: Consular process to be required for some employment visa applicants

Employment visa (entry permit) applicants from certain countries will soon have to process their immigration applications through designated UAE consular service centres in their home country before entering the UAE, according to an announcement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MOFAIC) and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE).

United Arab Emirates: Most searched-for property locations in the UAE

Dubai Marina and Abu Dhabi’s Khalifa City A neighbourhoods were the most desirable locations in the UAE last year based on searches on classifieds website Dubizzle.com. Dubai Marina received 91 million searches overall for rent and sale properties, with more than 68 million searches solely for rental properties, Dubizzle said in its annual property report this week.

United Arab Emirates: More expats say planning to stay longer in the UAE

The number of UAE expats planning long-term residency in the UAE has increased mainly due to falling property prices, UAE-based finance comparison group compareit4me.com has revealed.

Dubai: Dubai's first 'water homes' feature in new $270m project

A $270 million (AED1 billion) marina development featuring the UAE’s first ‘water homes’ is to be built in Dubai’s Business Bay, it was revealed on Tuesday. Dubai Holding, through its real estate subsidiary Dubai Properties, unveiled plans for Marasi Business Bay, a 12 km waterfront scheme comprising shops, restaurants, a 1,250-berth marina and a park.

United Arab Emirates: Mandatory health insurance required for foreign employees and dependents

The Dubai Health Authority stated, as of June 30, 2016, employers in Dubai will be required to provide health insurance for all of their employees. Employees must be covered by an acceptable insurance plan provided by a pre-approved health insurance provider, and employers will be required to provide proof of such coverage.

UAE: Health insurance coverage to be mandatory in Dubai

Employers in the Emirate of Dubai must provide health insurance coverage to all residents and visitors by June 30, 2016, according to an announcement by the Dubai Health Authority. Employees must provide at least basic coverage for their dependants and domestic workers under an approved plan by that date.

UAE: Medical examination regulations for residents amended

The Council of Ministers has restricted some medical examination regulations for foreign nationals seeking residency in the UAE, and has relaxed other rules. Notably, pulmonary tuberculosis testing is now mandatory during the residency permit renewal process.

Dubai: Udrive launches pay-as-you-go car rental in Dubai

Udrive, a Dubai-based concept, launched the pay-as-you-go car rental service in Dubai, UAE.
 
The cars can be booked and paid for via an app, offering Dubai’s most convenient and affordable car rental options, said a statement.
 
Once the driver has gone over four hours with the car, a flat day rate of Dh120 ($32.6) applies, and the driver can use the car for the remainder of the day, it said. 

Dubai: Are rents in Abu Dhabi falling faster than in Dubai?

The cost of renting apartments appears to have dropped more in Abu Dhabi than it has in Dubai, at least according to the data compiled by one property analyst.

Leasing rates at residential buildings in the UAE capital have registered a 4 per cent decline on average since the beginning of the year until the end of February, according to real estate portal Bayut.com, which has about 1,000 property listings. In comparison, rents in Dubai went up by an average of 4 per cent during the same period, though overall rates remain cheaper compared to last year.

Dubai: Airports fees approved

Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, has approved Executive Council Resolution No (8) of 2016 pertaining to the collection of fees from passengers using airport facilities in Dubai.

UAE: Hands-free calls to be banned in UAE?

Hands-free calls while driving could soon be banned as the Ministry of Interior is working on regulations to limit use of smartphones and other electronic gadgets in cars, Gulf News can confirm.

A top ministry official confirmed to Gulf News on Monday that the new regulations would ban both Bluetooth-enabled calls as well as speaking on phone through earphones while a vehicle is on the move.

UAE: Foreign nationals allowed to enter country to apply for work permits in-country

Immigration authorities in the United Arab Emirates have begun allowing foreign nationals to enter the country on short-stay visit visas and apply for work permits in country, as officials seek to alleviate processing delays associated with new work permit documentation requirements.

UAE: New UAE rules to ensure healthy labour market

Abu Dhabi: Saqr Ghobash, Minister of Labour, has issued three ministerial decrees in an effort to enhance UAE labour market conditions and consolidate the contractual nature of labour relations.

The new rules, described by the minister as “a major milestone”, also seek to “close certain gaps pertaining to the enforcement and monitoring of labour relations, and provide for increased labour mobility in accordance with the provisions of our labour law”.

“I trust that these new decrees, together with the hard work ahead of us to improve our implementation and enforcement capacities, will translate into a qualitative leap in our quest to improve labour conditions in the UAE,” Ghobash said.

UAE: GCC residents can now apply online for UAE entry permits

Expatriates who reside in GCC countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates) can now apply online for entry permits to visit UAE through Dubai. The service aims to expedite passenger movement at airports and relieve GCC residents of the hassle of waiting in queues for their visit visas, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs announced on Wednesday.

The online visa application system also features an online payment method which will help passengers avoid the long queues to pay visa fees. As of now, the online system is not compulsory but merely an option for those who would like to complete the visa issuance procedure before arriving to the country.

UAE: Relaxed Mobility Rules Among Policy Changes for 2016

New procedures that will impact the work permit application process for companies in the United Arab Emirates are expected to be implemented this month, according to a Ministry of Labour (MOL) announcement.

New Employment Contract and Offer Letter Requirements

The following procedures are expected to be implemented: 

A standardized offer letter in Arabic, English and, if required, in a third language that the candidate understands, would have to be prepared through the MOL’s electronic system at a Tas’heel Service Centre. The offer letter would be signed by the employee and electronically by the employer. The signed offer letter would then be submitted to the MOL with other documents for the work permit application.