Common Legal Mistakes Foreigners Make in the UAE

With varying traditions, customs, legislation, rules and regulations, the UAE becomes a foreign place with its own values. Considering the strict enforcement and implementation of these laws, many foreigners often make severely punishable mistakes. While some of these may be comprehensible mistakes like loitering in public in an intoxicated state, others come as a surprise. For example, kissing in public or showing up with unformal dressing in public places can not only get you fined but can also get you deported.

Similarly, some foreigners often make the mistake to come to the UAE and seeing as how they don’t understand the legal system, they trust almost anyone who says they can provide them with a residence. For all those who’ve lived in the UAE, it’s common knowledge that you only go with RERA trusted agents. Whereas, foreigners have faced scams and have been ripped off by frauds.

So, for a newbie in the UAE, here are a few things you would do well to know:

Traditions and Customs:

As discussed above, you can’t appear in public wearing shorts or inappropriately revealing clothes. This doesn’t just apply to women but to men as well. Acts of lovemaking without a marriage license, homosexuality, public display of affection, littering or loitering the roads, etc. are significant red flags. If you’ve committed any of these crimes, you need lawyers of top firms like Davidson Consultants on your side. Otherwise, you’ll be facing criminal charges that will land you in a Middle Eastern prison.

In addition to the above, make sure that you don’t drink alcohol outside the emirate you’ve been granted permission to drink in. For example, if you have a permit for drinking in Dubai, you can’t use the permit to drink in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah or any other emirate for that matter. You’ll need to get a permit from the relevant authorities and only drink in licensed hotels that serve liquor. In order to drink at home, you need the right permit as well.

Residential Issues

Residency issues for foreigners in the UAE include a variety of problems. As we all know, the pandemic situation has made circumstances a bit complicated with regards to people’s rental payments. Many people have been laid off from their jobs while others who went home to visit families were stuck due to travel restrictions. Meanwhile, their landlords demanded their due rents.

The UAE government made sure to announce that it will not be entertaining tenancy eviction cases. It further recommends landlords and tenants to renegotiate their tenancy agreements and particular clauses like force majeure, payment plans, loans, termination, etc.

Legal Problems in Employment

If you’re employed in the UAE, you have several rights and duties that can work against you or in your favour. Provided you have the right legal counsel by your side, you can have a good time working with credible employers. However, there have been situations in which employers have either confiscated employee passports, fired workers for being stuck at home, etc. If you’ve received one of the termination letters UAE companies send in violation of the UAE labour law, contact your lawyer.

It’s impossible for foreigners to understand and adapt to all the rules of the UAE on their first day. That’s why we recommend thorough research and seeking immediate help to reduce the chances of landing yourself in serious trouble.