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."