The Dubai Expat Diaries

According to Gulf News, expats who wish to bring their families here will now be required to earn minimum AED 10,000 and also rent an independent accomodation:
Major General Nasser Al Awadi Al Menhali, director general of the Naturalisation and Residency Department (NRD), said the decision was made after a study by the Ministry of Interior [...]

According to a report by Arabian Business, the police will carry out random checks  as part of the UAE government crackdown on illegal immigrants.
The Ministry of Interior has asked residents to carry their visas or labour cards (or copies) at all times.
To read the entire article, click here.

There have been a few positive developments in the badly affected real estate industry in recent days. 

According to Arabian Business, a new federal law will be soon introduced which will grant freehold property owners six month renewable residency visas. This will certainly help end users. With the current economic climate, there’s no point in buying [...]

Another company Istithmar World has laid off 10 percent of its workforce, adding to the growing list of companies in Dubai firing their staff as a result of the global credit crunch.
It is but obvious the impact these recent job losses as well as the general state of the economy will have on an ordinary expat’s psyche. A new research by YouGovSiraj shows that [...]

There are lots of very good deals out there this DSF 2009, from clothing and accessories to mobile phones and home appliances. 
If you are looking to replace an old refrigerator or washing machine with a new one, you can check out the offer available with LG. This DSF, they will take back these old appliances [...]

A report by Swiss Bank UBS estimates that the population in Dubai will decline 8 per cent this year.

It seems like there will finally be some respite for Dubai expats struggling with the huge jump in apartment rents over the last few years. According to a property firm Asteco, the average rent of a one bedroom apartment rose 4 per cent last year with no rise at all in the final quarter.
“Certainly for [...]

Sheikh Mohammed has ordered the cancellation of all New Year celebrations in Dubai as an act of solidarity with the Palestinian people.

There has been a lot of confusion over which or if any of the planned events will go ahead. If you have purchased tickets or made bookings, you may have to check with the venue for their final [...]

There has been a new addition to the ever-growing list of shopping malls in Dubai, another one has just opened its doors in Dubai Marina. The Dubai Marina Mall boasts of a total of 160 stores, including a supermarket (the second Waitrose in Dubai), a six-screen cineplex, and a seven-storey Gourmet Tower.  Only a part [...]

The Emirates Identity Authority has announced the following schedule for the ID card registration of the expatriates in the UAE. They have been divided into four different categories based on profession/industry; each with its own time frame for registration.
Residents and Professionals working for the Government and the Private Sector have been given a deadline of [...]