Struggling to get your Business Incorporated in UAE?

LexBiz Consulting DMCC will be delighted in assisting you to incorporate your Company in UAE and establishing long term business relationship with you for all business endeavors around the world through our global offices. As Start-up Business Consultants, our motto is to keep you focused on the core Business Activity, while we take away the hassle of public relation and other governmental affairs.

For details please contact - m.farook@lexbizco.com

International Offshore Company anywhere in the World

    Offshore Company is a  International Company wherein you can do trading by moving goods Globally and raise Invoice from the Dubai registered Offshore Company. Under this Offshore Company you are not eligible to get any Residence Visas.

The advantage of Off Shore Company are many fold.

·         No taxes         

·         No office        

·         No maintaining of accounts      

There is no personal or corporate tax. No questions asked for taking money out of the country or bringing money in.

For more details, please contact: m.farook@lexbizco.com

New Business Setup in UAE

LexBiz Consulting DMCC is a Premium Business Advisory and Business Consultant, delivering comprehensive advise to clients on business planning, incorporation, corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions. We are Specialists in Company Formation in all Jurisdictions with extensive expertise in the mainland UAE. Our consultants are fully versed with the commercial law.

Should you require more information, please fee free to contact us through: www.lexbiizco.com

Advantages of Dubai Offshore Company

Details for incorporation of Dubai Offshore company is as follows:
The advantage of Off Shore Company in Dubai are many fold.
No taxes          

No office         

No maintaining of accounts     

Can open account with all or any of the UAE based domestic and International banks in multiple currencies like USD, EURO,AED, Pound Sterling, etc., with corporate cheque book and ATM Card facility.

For more details,please feel free to contact : m.farook@lexbizco.com 

Company Formation in UAE

 The team of LexBiz Consulting DMCC will be delighted in assisting you to establish your Business in Dubai and establishing a long term relationship with you for all your business endeavors in the Middle East. As Start-up Business Consultants, our motto is to keep you focused on the core Business Activity, while we take away the hassle of public relation and other governmental affairs. We can assist your requirement from the point of Designing the Concept, Planning the Business, Market Research & Feasibility, Incorporation as well as post incorporation services.

Here the short information about services:

 INCORPORATION

• Main Land
• Free zone

• Off Shore 

For more details,please do contact on : m.farook@lexbizco.com

Start your Company right in UAE

The team of LexBiz Consulting DMCC will be delighted in assisting you to incorporate your Company in Dubai Mainland ,Free Zone  & Offshore Jurisdictions and establishing long term business relationship with you for all business endeavors around the world through our global offices. As Start-up Business Consultants, our motto is to keep you focused on the core Business Activity, while we take away the hassle of public relation and other governmental affairs.

For more details, please feel free to contact : m.farook@lexbizco.com

RAKIA Free zone Incorporation

RAKIA Industrial Parks were established in 2005 to consolidate the emirate's economic potential and realize a long-term strategy for the country's socioeconomic development.
over 2,000 local and foreign investors have set up operations within the emirate under RAKIA, fueling an unprecedented pace of economic growth that has made Ras Al Khaimah one of the fastest growing emirates in the UAE and a regional economic force to reckon with.

High Lights:

• Operate both free and non-free zones
• Act as a one-stop shop for all investor needs

RAKIA has also made significant investments in infrastructure to attract world-class knowledge-based and technology companies.

Some Advantages:

• Easy licensing procedure
• Ready availability of power 
• Issue of visit and residence visa under oneroof
• Good infrastructure & logistic support system
• Excellent port facilities
• Competitive energy cost
• Easy access to GCC countries
• Presence of local and international banks for project funding

For more details please do contact on: m.farook@lexbizco.com

Ajman Free zone Company Setup

Ajman Free zone provides a wide range of benefits, such as 

• 100 per cent foreign ownership of companies eliminating the need for a local partner, 
• Low-cost operational environment, 
• Full repatriation of capital and 
• Profits and exemption from import, export, corporate and personal taxes. 

LexBiz Consulting DMCC will support and serve to companies and expedite the process of obtaining necessary permits, licences, approvals and clearances from the relevant authorities.

Free zone License in Abu Dhabi - KIZAD

Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (Kizad), located in Al Taweela area between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, is a vital project within Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030.

It offers a world class transportation infrastructure including sea, air, roads and rail networks and easy access to local, regional and international markets with more than 2 billion consumers.

In addition, 100 percent foreign ownership will be allowed in certain strategic economic sectors.

Their major focus is to 

Metals

Engineered Metals

Pertochemicals

Pharmaceutical & Healthcare equipment Manufacturing

Food

Paper,Printing & Packaging

Trade & Logistics

For more details, please do contact on: m.farook@lexbizco.com

Dubai issued 4,499 new business licences in Q2 2012

DED sees 17 % increase in trade licenses issued in Q2 2012

4,499 licenses issued during April-June 2012 as against 3,859 in Q2 2011

Dubai:

The Department of Economic Development (DED) issued 4,499business licences during the Q2 in 2012, DED announced yesterday, arguing that the result reflects stability and growth across key economic sectors and business activities in Dubai.

This represent 17 per cent increase from the 3,859 licenses issued over the same period in 2011.“

The Tourism sector accounted for the largest increase (51%) in business licenses during the April-June 2012 period. Professional licenses increased by 19 per cent and Commercial licenses by 16 per cent during the same period,” said Mohammed Shael Al Saadi, Chief Executive officer of Business Registration and Licensing (BRL) division at DED.

But Abdul Hamid Radwan, a UAE-based Economist, told Gulf News yesterday that while the increase in licences was positive, all aspects should be looked at.

“The big number of new licences is a positive sign of the growth of the business sectors in Dubai, but this number should be taken in comparison with the number of licences that were cancelled in the same period.”

Radwan also warned that increasing the number of licences could be harmful.

“It is very important to look at the capital of these new companies, their activities and whether they are productive or not. The number is not always clear,” he added.

DED’s total transactions relating to business registration and licensing reached 158,174 during the second quarter of 2012, an increase of 22 per cent year on year.

New Abu Dhabi DED system now active

The Department of Economic Development, or DED, in Abu Dhabi has announced the promotion of the online services it provides in its website with regards to trade licence transactions commonly known as G2B appertaining to online renewal of trade licences and paying off violations, aiming to ease the burden on investors and businessmen, as well as to save time.

The DED has also announced the promotion and activation of its G2G online services necessary for the insurance of all data and information concerning trade licences required by all government institutes in Abu Dhabi through the Abu Dhabi Government Network. These services enable government circles and institutes to have access to data and information concerning trade licences without having to use traditional correspondence that used to take a customer a longer time to finalize documents.

Attested rent contract is now must for Abu Dhabi visa

Contract must be presented along with utility bill and other documentsExpatriates seeking to renew their residence visa or have a new one for their relatives in Abu Dhabi must present an attested tenancy contract along with a power bill in line with a decision enforced by the emirate this week.

Applicants said Abu Dhabi immigration authorities appear to have ended a moratorium on that decision which was scheduled to be enforced before the fasting month of Ramdan as all of them were asked to get those documents.

"I wanted to have my wife's visa renewed on Tuesday but I was turned back by the immigration authorities because the tenancy contract in the application was not attested," said Jassim Al Hariri, a resident of Abu Dhabi.

"I was told to come back with a new application that must include a tenancy contract in my name which must be attested by the Abu Dhabi Municipality...they also asked for a power bill along with other documents."

Bachelor applicants said they were also asked to bring an attested tenancy contract and a recent power bill along with other documents required for the renewal of their visas. They said they were allowed to submit contracts in the name of their relatives but it was not clear whether this applies to sharing accommodation that includes tenants not related to each other.

The new rules have already triggered competition among landlords seeking customers for their property by announcing in local newspapers that new dwellers would be given attested rent contracts.

Abu Dhabi immigration authorities said in June that the new regulations are intended to verify the addresses of all expatriates living in the country, adding that such rules are enforced in most other nations.

"The decision is primarily aimed at verifying residence of all expatriates living in the UAE for security and procedural reasons...it is a security, administrative and service decision taken by the immigration and foreign affairs departments in the country," said Major General Nassir Al Minhali, Interior Ministry assistant undersecretary for naturalization and residence "The decision is not targetting any party or property group but it will serve those departments seeking accurate data about foreigners' residences...this measure is not exclusive for the UAE as it is enforced in all advanced countries."

Dubai property owners need title deed to open Dewa accounts

Estate agents advising landlords to apply for title deedsA property title deed has now become mandatory for a property owner to open his account with Dubai Electricity and Water Authority( Dewa ) account.
A number of real estate brokers in Dubai have started sending notices to their clients advising them to apply for a title deed from Dubai Land Department.

FAM Properties, a Dubai-based brokerage firm, has sent out notices to their clients, saying, "It is now mandatory for all landlords to have the title deed of their properties issued from the Dubai Land Department in order for Dewa to register any new accounts under a tenant's name.

" Dewa will therefore reject registering any account for any property that does not have a copy of its title deed. As a result, we advise all landlords who have yet to apply for their title deeds to proceed at the earliest," it added.

Annetta Shaw, Head of Residential Sales & Leasing, Head Office, Better Homes, confirmed to this website: "Yes, a title deed is required. It is mandatory."

However, a Dewa call centre executive said they were opening accounts if the prospective tenant could provide a sales and purchase agreement instead of a title deed.

A title deed or affection plan is also necessary for any landlord to generate an Ejari, Rera-registered contract. Unless a registered contract is provided, the Department of Naturalisation and Residency Dubai will not accept renewal applications for residence visas.

Employers may face fines for delaying wages

Fine is part of tougher penalty system to be enforced by Ministry of Labour next week Private sector employers delaying wages for their workers will be fined Dh20,000 under a more stringent penalty system to be enforced by the Ministry of Labour on August 1 with the aim of ending violations in the job market.

The new system involves 21 tougher fines covering various job offences in the private sector such as wage delays, cheating Emiratization job rules, providing improper housing for workers and forcing them to pay for their labor permits.

The Dubai-based Arabic language daily, which published the new rules, said they involved increased fines for all offences but did not specify the previous fines.

"Employers offending the wage system will be fined Dh20,000 and those found cheating the Emiratization job regulations will be fined Dh20,000," it said.

The new system imposes Dh5,000 on employers delaying one worker's salary for two months and a maximum Dh50,000 if the delay affects more than one worker.

Employers found to be providing housing which violates locally-approved criteria will be fined Dh20,000 while those who do not employ workers sponsored by them two months after the issuance of the labour card will pay the same fine.

As for hiring fees, the Ministry said it would impose a fine of Dh20,000 on employers found to have deducted those fees from their workers' wage.

Companies which do not abide by appointments set by the Ministry to discuss labour disputes will also be fined Dh20,000.

Companies caught violating the noon work ban during summer will be fined Dh15,000 while a Dh20,000 penalty has been specified for those found to have submitted incorrect data to the Ministry.

"If a company is found not participating in the wage system it will be fined Dh10,000 while the same fine will be imposed on a company which does not take adequate measures to ensure the safety of its workers."

DED issued 1,298 new trade licences in June 2012

The Dubai Department of Economic Department, or DED, issued 1,298 new trade licences during June 2012, indicating a growing interest in commercial and professional activities among businessmen and investors in Dubai, it was announced on Monday.

Commercial licences accounted for 72 per cent of the total licenses issued, followed by professional (25 per cent), industrial (one per cent) and tourism (two per cent). The month of June also saw 4,998 being amended while 7,647 licences were renewed. The total number of business registration and licensing (BRL) transactions reached 48,053, compared to 43,631 in June 2011, an increase of 10 per cent.

The number of reserved trade names reached 5,157 in June, a 13 per cent increase compared to the same month in 2011, and the number of initial approvals reached 2,422, an 11 per cent increase year on year.

The total number of commercial activities licensed in June 2012 was 3453, with general trade leading the list of the top 10 licensed activities (146 licences) followed by Dyes & paints (112 licences); Tiling of floors and walls (102); Readymade garments (101); Perfumes and cosmetics (101); Carpentry and flooring (99); Sanitary extensions & wares (98); Installation of suspended ceilings and light partitions (98); Installation of air conditioning systems, ventilation and air purification (95) and Textiles and fabrics (83).

The number of professional activities licensed in June 2012 reached 897 with Residences & building cleaning services leading the list of the top 10 licensed activities in this category with 60 licences, followed by Restaurants, Sewing, Embroidery, Cafes and Printing.

In the tourism sector, inbound tourism was the leader with 10 licenses, followed by hotels, travel agent (7), hotel apartment rentals, and tourism trips.In the industrial activities category, metal for building construction, and raw plastics led the list of licensed activities with two licenses each, followed by meat products, poultry products, ships, juices, tents and umbrellas, clothes, and schools & hospitals furniture.

UAE business competitiveness on the rise: Dubai Chamber study

The UAE ranks as the third-most competitive economy in the region after Qatar and Saudi Arabia, the latest study by Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industryfinds.

According to the World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Report 2011/12, the UAE ranks 27th out of 142 countries, below Switzerland (in the 1st place), United States (5th), Qatar (14th) and Saudi Arabia (17th), but higher than other regional peers, such as Oman (32nd), Kuwait (34th), Bahrain (37th) and Egypt (94th).

Moreover, according to the World Bank's Doing Business 2012 report, UAE advanced two places to 33 out of 183 countries compared to the rankings of the previous year while the country ranks 5th in the world for trading across borders, 6th for registering property and 7th for paying taxes.

Additionally, in 2012, the UAE has recorded the first place globally in the field of efficiency of governmental fiscal policy issued by the International Institute of Management Development (IMD) in Switzerland.

Further, the country's legal and regulatory environment is more than adequate as according to the World Bank's 2011 World Governance Indicators (based on figures for 2010), the UAE scores reasonably well comparing to other countries in the region for its rule of law.

The study states that though general legal standards across the region have intensely improved during the last few years, UAE's regulatory quality is improving and showing an advancing trend in recent years.

Moreover, the study indicated that government effectiveness is high and the overall freedom to conduct business is well protected under the existing regulatory environment as the UAE tax regime, which is a major attraction for foreign investors, strengthens Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows, as both income and sales taxes are non-existent.

Also, the study points out that the UAE has long been an attractive investment destination. However, there are a number of challenges that need to be addressed. According to the World Bank's Doing Business 2012 report, there are aspects of the business regulatory environment that needs immediate attention, including resolving insolvency (ranked 155), contract enforcement (134), protecting investors (122) and getting credit (78). The inadequacies of the bankruptcy legislation remain a major challenge for the UAE.

Specifically, according to the same report, the time taken to resolve bankruptcy is around 5.1 years, well above the regional average of 3.4 years and the average Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) member countries' experience of 1.7 years.

The recovery rate (at 11 cents in the US dollar) is low in comparison with the regional average of 29.7 cents and 68.2 cents for the average OECD countries, the study concludes.

Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC) - A place for all Financial Giants

The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) is the financial and business hub connecting the region's emerging markets with the developed markets of Europe, Asia and the Americas.

Since its launch in 2004, DIFC, a purposely built financial free zone, has been committed to encouraging economic growth and development in the region through its strong financial and business infrastructure. Currently, DIFC's client base comprises over 800 active registered firms, including 21 of the top 30 global banks, 8 of the top global money managers, 6 of the 10 largest insurers and 6 of the top 10 law firms in the world. More than 12 thousand employees operate in an open environment complemented by international legal and regulatory standards. DIFC offers its member companies benefits such as 100 percent foreign ownership, zero percent tax rate, with no restriction on capital convertibility or profit repatriation. DIFC has its own independent financial and ancillary services regulatory body, the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA). It also has the DIFC Courts, which is an independent common law judiciary based in DIFC with jurisdiction over civil and commercial disputes in or relating to the Centre.

DIFC is built upon a modern legal, regulatory and physical infrastructure which makes it the destination of choice for Financial Services firms establishing a presence in the region.

Eligible person's to sponsor their Family inside UAE

The salary of the persons permitted to bring their families shall not 
be less than Four thousand Dirhams if the employing party 
provides them with an accommodation and Five thousand if the 
employing party doesn’t provide them with an accommodation;
And the salary shall be confirmed in pursuant of an official 
certificate attested by the interested authorities in the state;

The following groups but not others shall be allowed to bring their 
families: 
• Engineers,
• Doctors, pharmacists and nurses,
• Agricultural guides,
• Qualified accounts and auditors,
• The education members in universities and high educational 
institutions and teachers,
• Officers in the army forces and police,
• The technicians working with scientific electronic instruments 
and in laboratories,
• Advocates and Lawmen,
• The employees in oil companies,
• The qualified managers,
• The businessmen who are partners in the companies with 
limited liability provided that the partners portion is not less than 
the third or seventy thousand Dirhams as a minimum, and it 
shall be possible to add or omit from these groups with an order 
from the Council of Ministers in order to achieve the general 
welfare, and professions of these groups shall be identified in 
pursuance of the confirmed work card and contract;

Company's should submit wages report to Labor on time

Any foundation, which doesn’t commit to submit the mentioned
reports or any of them as required by the ministry, the document
required from it or presenting unreal data, is considered in a state
of violation to the rules of this resolution, and all the administrative
and penal procedures mentioned in the federal law no. (8) for the
year 1980 and the ministerial resolution will be taken against it

Labor Department can verify anytime with the Institution about Wages

The authorized department of labour has a right to ask the
foundation for a report done by a professional auditor clarifying the
way of paying the workers’ wages in the period of time specified by
the ministry. The foundation has to submit the above mentioned
report on the time specified by the authorized department of
labour.

UAE cities rated best to live and work in Arab World

The UAE cities - Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah - have been rated the best cities to live in the Arab World where there's is least red tapism, offering better job opportunities, better overall quality of life and competitive salaries, said a survey released on Monday.

The 'Top Cities of the Middle East' survey, conducted by Bayt.com and YouGov, has identified the top cities in the Middle East in terms of several wide-ranging factors - from economic to environmental - that affect residents' life.

According to the survey's respondents, the top five cities in the Arab world to live in are, in order: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Manama, and Muscat. The survey factored in economic factors, entrepreneurial factors, labour rights, environmental factors, everyday life, socio-cultural factors, and quality of life.

Economic factors

Job availability across the region is considered to be "average" in most cities. Riyadh is considered to have the highest possibility of employment with 49 per cent stating that the availability of jobs is either "good" or "excellent". Doha comes second with 49 per cent, followed by Jeddah (38 per cent), Abu Dhabi (37 per cent) and Dubai (34 per cent). The city considered to have the lowest employment opportunities is Beirut.

Doha is considered to have the most competitive salaries according to 44 per cent of respondents, though Abu Dhabi follows closely behind with 41 per cent. Other cities offering compensation that is considered to be high are Riyadh (40 per cent), Dubai (38 per cent) and Sharjah (30 per cent). On the other end of the spectrum Damascus and Amman are considered to offer the lowest salaries, with 68 per cent respondents for each voting bad/poor.

The most affordable housing can be found in Sharjah, with 47 per cent of its residents claiming residential costs are "good" or "excellent". This is followed by Manama with 44 per cent, and Muscat with 34 per cent, while Damascus comes in last with 76 per cent stating that the housing price situation is either "bad" or "poor". Beirut and Algiers come in close behind with 74 per cent and 73 per cent, respectively.

Four out of ten respondents (42 per cent) in Manama state that it is it is excellent in terms of affordability in terms of cost of living. Riyadh and Sharjah, with 30 per cent and 29 per cent respectively, are also considered to be affordable, whereas Amman and Beirut are seen to be the most expensive by its residents. Manama also comes out top in terms of affordable utilities, followed by Kuwait City and Riyadh; Beirut and Amman rank lowest.

New guidelines on worker-related rule violations

Dubai: The Ministry of Labour has finalised new penalties, to be implemented in August, for a range of worker-related rule violations, a senior official has said.

The guidelines will be issued to the public next week on how the new system will work.

According to the new resolution, which will take effect from August 1, companies will face 17 new fines for breaking the labour law.

“There will be 17 new fines in addition to the previous three fines for issuing and renewing labour cards which were implemented on January 2011,” a Ministry of Labour official said.

The new set of fines will include a penalty for companies of Dh20,000 for not abiding by rules regarding the employment of Emiratis such as registering the Emirati workers with the Retirement and Insurance Authority.

Any company that delays the payment of a worker’s wages for 60 days will now face fines up to Dh5,000 per worker, and in cases where multiple workers have not been paid, the maximum fine that can be imposed on the a company is Dh50,000.

Companies found to be violating the midday break rule will face a fine of Dh15,000 and there will also be a Dh20,000 fine per case when incorrect information is entered into the wage protection system (WPS).

Dh5,000 fines per worker will be issued for fake worker-signed receipts confirming they have been paid wages, with a maximum limit of Dh50,000 in cases that involve multiple workers.

Companies will also be fined Dh20,000 for not using any hired worker for a period of two months.

“We will follow up the companies to be sure of their adhering to the Ministry of Labour’s rules and regulations,” an official from the Ministry of Labour told Gulf News yesterday.

The Ministry will monitor companies operating in the UAE and fine those who break the rules.

DED to expand e-Services through law firms

DUBAI -- The Business Registration and Licencing, or BRL, Division of the Dubai Department of Economic Development, or DED, will expand its e-Services window by offering these services through law firms in Dubai by August.

The initiative will be a significant value addition for business owners and investors as it allows them to complete business registrations faster and at their convenience.

The initiative also reflects the DED's persistent efforts to enhance the UAE's top rankings in the World Bank's Doing Business Report for 2013 and promote the country as a globally-competitive business hub.

An internationally-competitive and competent business registration system that offers added value and flexible procedures is one of the criteria against which countries are ranked in the Doing Business Report.

"DED has been utilising online platforms to offer an advanced, flexible, convenient and diverse suite of services to customers, reinforcing Dubai's reputation as one of the best and competitive business destinations. BRL services are available through three main channels - the four DED branch offices in Dubai, DED's strategic partners, and the website www.dubaided.gov.ae," DED BRL Division chief executive officer Mohammed Shael said.

"The first phase of the new initiative has been successfully implemented to provide BRL services electronically across four law firms starting August 2012. The four law firms are Habib Al Mulla & Company; Al Tamimi & Company Advocates and Legal Consultants; Holman Fenwick Willan Middle East - Dubai; and Ahmed Ibrahim Advocates & Legal Consultants," added Shael.

"BRL had organised a workshop on the business registration system for 14 representatives from law firms in Dubai. The objective was to enable law firms to use the DED's data and process BRL services to renew licences, issue initial approvals, reserve trade names and print licences for clients on the DED's website in their own premises," said Jassim Abdel Rahman Al Awadi, BRL's Development and Follow-Up Sector section head. "BRL continues to work on creating solutions that serve clients, from entrepreneurs to owners of establishments and commercial licenses. We have completed the first phase through the qualification of a number of law firms in the emirate of Dubai, and will train employees from a fresh batch of law firms during the last quarter of 2012. Thus, BRL services will be steadily available electronically across all law firms in Dubai in a short period.".

Representatives of law firms that participated in the BRL workshop were honoured by the DED. "These law firms confirm the strength of the strategic partnership between the DED and the private sector and we therefore value their efforts. Together with the DED, these firms represent the strong linkages and reputation that qualifies Dubai," said Shael.

Deadline to re-register your Etisalat, Du SIM cards begins today

Sim holders who fail to register face service disconnection The UAE's two telecom service providers on Tuesday launched an 18-month mobile phone number registration process with the aim of restoring discipline to the market and those who fail to register risk losing service.

Etisalat, one of the largest telecom firms in the Middle East, and the newly-established Du have set up 350 centres to receive nearly 12.5 million mobile phone subscribers who need to update their personal data in the service.

The "my number" process has been ordered by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), which oversees the telecom services in the second largest Arab economy, with the aim of ending malpractices resulting from Sim swap, loss, misuse or being given by their owners to other persons.

"A study conducted by TRA has shown that many SIM holders give their cards to other persons, who abuse them. This is resulting in criminal and civilian offences," said Mohammed Al Ghanim, TRA Director General.

"Using the SIM cards by persons other than their owners could bring real problems to their owners as those persons could be involved in offending or defaming others either through phone calls or texts. We want to put an end to such practices," he told Alittihad.

The paper said the registration campaign would be in six stages and last 18 months, adding that 100 registration centres had been set up by Etisalat and 250 by Du through the UAE. It said both companies would send texts to their subscribers asking them to register before the end of the deadline.

"GSM subscribers who fail to report to those centres to update their data and register their SIM cards will have their service disconnected," the paper said.

The UAE has one of the highest mobile phone penetration rates in the world, standing at around 155 per cent at the end of June.

Women need to exit country for job visa

Women must obtain air ticket, bring it to the residency department in order to cancel her visa.

Dubai: Women on relatives’ sponsorship have to leave the country before they can transfer their visa to employment, according to officials from the residency department.

Officials said that any woman sponsored by her relatives and wishing to transfer her sponsorship to employment visa must leave the country in order to be able to be issued the employment visa.

The officials said that if a woman is on her husband, father, brother or any relative’s sponsorship and she want to transfer her it to her employer, the relative must obtain an air ticket in her name and bring it to the residency department in order to cancel her visa.

The officials explained that the woman will be given seven days in order to leave the country.

“When the employment visa from the ministry of labour is ready then the woman can enter the country again,” the officials said.

Previously, the move was only applicable to expatriates who entered the country on visit visas and wished to change it to employment. Adjusting the legal status for everyone used to cost Dh500, without the need to leave the country.

The official said that this facility does not exist any more and all who are on their relatives’ sponsorship must leave the country to obtain employment visa.
People questioned the move and said that this will make their life difficult.

“Why does a mother or wife or daughter living in the country on residence visa have to exit the country in order to obtain employment visa? What is the use of this move,” asked Raji from India.

Les George from Philippines said his wife has been on his sponsorship for almost 10 years and now she has found a job but he was surprised when asked by the residency officers that he should bring an air ticket for her in order to cancel her visa and that she should leave the country in order to transfer her sponsorship to the employer.

“I visited the residency department today with the hope of cancelling my wife’s residence Visa, so that she can transfer to her company sponsorship. My wife, Mary, works as a Store Manager for a private company here,” he said.

“I was advised by residency officers to first pay all outstanding fines that may have incurred due to her overstaying,” he said.

“As per the instructions I visited the bank and made the necessary payments,” he said.
He added that following this he approached the officer at the counter, who had earlier assured that should he clear all outstanding fines, and acquire a valid Transfer Work Permit from the Ministry of Labour, he could transfer his wife’s visa and that she does not need to leave the country for visa change.

“However, today I was told that this was not possible and that she will have to leave the country in order for her visa to be cancelled, and that only after this, could her company apply for a new Visa despite the fact the residency staff themselves having told me last week to obtain for her the transfer work permit from ministry of labour,” he said.

Les said that despite the fact that he is worried about his wife who has to go to Kish Island for visa change, he has no choice but to send her.

“When I checked with the officer why she should exit and come despite the fact that he himself said to me last week that there was no need for her to exit, the officer said ‘thats was last week and we are in another week’,” he said.

“It takes us time to obtain the permit from labour upon the instruction of the residency officers and that increases my wife’s fine after I had paid and cleared the fine. If the officer told me from the beginning that this was not possible, he would saved his time, our time and money,” he said.

In 2004, the UAE government took decision to allow expatriates to amend their visa statu following a Kish Airline Fokker-50 crash as it was approaching Sharjah Airport on February 10. The plane was carrying people who had flown from the UAE to Kish Island so that they could change their visa status. Forty-eight people were killed in the crash, with just three survivors. After the crash, the UAE amended its visa rules, so that people in the country could change a visit visa to an employment visa by paying a Dh500 fee.

Advertisers loosen their purse strings in the UAE

With June proving an exceptionally busy month and spending patterns holding steady in the other five months, the UAE was easily the top regional market for advertising. The first-half of the year saw advertiser spending $755 million (Dh2,773 billion). This represents an 8 per cent gain over the $698 million advertisers ploughed in during the corresponding period of 2011, an indication that key sectors such as retail, travel and hospitality have the confidence to mount major ad campaigns. Saudi Arabia ranked second in the regional rankings with $752 million, up 16 per cent from a year ago.

Estimates suggest that advertisers loosened their purse strings and spent $146 million last month, according to data from Pan Arab Research Centre (Parc). The numbers are based on the official media rate cards and do not take into account any discounts that media owners provide.

Local newspapers and magazines pulled in more ad dollars during the first-half, by 4 and 7 per cent respectively, to total $443 million and $119 million, based on Parc projections. Outdoor, helped by the ad blitz during Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF), was another winner with a 50 per cent increase over 2011 and totalled $106 million. Television saw a drop, by 22 per cent, to $50 million. The estimate for radio stood at $27 million. Spending on digital media is not tracked. “A growth in ad spend, albeit single digit, is indeed healthy; DSF and DSS always create spikes in the first-half, but this year DSS started earlier due to Ramadan and will be shorter,” said Nitin Puri, executive director at BPG Group. “In fact, school holidays started 10 days into DSS and leading to a quieter than usual start.”

At $104 million, malls and stores were heavy spenders, reinforcing their status as a key component of the local economy. The travel and hospitality sector accounted for $70 million, while automotive brands and their dealerships spread out $51 million.

The government sector and its many agencies continued to be active in getting their messages across and spent $175 million in the process.

“Automobile, furniture, jewellery and general retail have been reasonably active,” said Tanvir Kanji, head of Inca Tanvir. “As to whether there will an increase in media rate cards for the new season, it would be more logical if the hikes were based on parameters that media planners and buyers consider — circulation and reach, audience profile, editorial environment and value additions offered to regular advertisers.

“In the present scenario, I would imagine rates would stabilise and, mind you, advertisers have never understood the logic of rates going northwards with each calendar year.”