The UAE has introduced new fines for residents and tourists. The new measures are aimed at visa overstays and expired permits.
It comes as Dubai has announced a travel ban and arrest warrant fine system. Meanwhile there have been major changes to the Emirates ID card and residency information.
Elsewhere in the country, this week, there were new laws announced for healthcare professionals and changes to rules for motorists reporting damage to vehicles.
Across the region, Saudi Arabia introduced e-visas for eight new countries and Qatar witnessed rent and house price dips as the World Cup boost died down.
It has been a busy week in the Middle East, with the UAE announcing a Lebanon travel ban and a money exchange house being closed down for “serious misconduct”.
Catch up with the biggest stories you may have missed this week.
UAE announces new visa fines for residents, tourists
The combined fee structure is aimed at overstays on expired residence or visit visas in the country.
Under the updated regulations, a fixed fine of AED50 will be placed for each day after the visa’s expiration date, inclusive of any provided grace period for visa renewal.
Dubai announces new travel ban and arrest warrant fine system
This digital solution targets those found guilty solely of fines in criminal cases.
Incorporated within the framework of the ‘Services 360’ policy, which strives to enhance government services, the smart fine payment initiative aligns with Dubai’s commitment to technological leadership.
UAE announces major Emirates ID update
The authority’s recent announcement mandates that any changes to residency information will automatically trigger a request for an Emirates ID replacement. The authority has also streamlined process for residents to modify their Emirates ID card details.
This initiative aims to enhance efficiency and convenience for customers seeking changes in their identification data.
UAE announces new laws for healthcare professionals
The government also approved the laws on private health facilities and veterinary medicine. The laws will also place harsh penalties on those who practice in the UAE without a licence.
The new laws highlight the following:
- Regulating the practice of healthcare professions, including: nursing, medical laboratories, medical physics, functional therapy, physiotherapy, aesthetics, anaesthesia, audiology, and radiology.
- Aggravating penalties for healthcare workers who practice the profession without obtaining a licence and do not meet the requirements.
- The law refers to a number of medical ethics and professional conducts for healthcare professionals.
- Updating disciplinary sanctions according to the violations committed with the continuity of the operation of private health facilities.
- Establishing a national registry for licensed healthcare professionals in the country.
- Allowing foreign entrepreneurs and businesses to invest in veterinary sector through establishing and owning veterinary facilities.
Saudi Arabia introduces e-visa for 8 new countries
Saudi Arabia has announced that citizens of eight countries will be eligible for a visit visa.
The e-visa will be available to citizens from Albania, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, South Africa, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
Visitors to the kingdom can avail of this visa for purposes relating to tourism, business, visiting family and friends, and Umrah.
Sharjah motorists can apply for weather-related car damage on official police app
Motorists can obtain the certificate to officially document any damage to their vehicles through the app.
The announcement comes after a weekend of extreme weather which included heavy rain, strong winds and flooding which caused severe damage to some vehicles and buildings in the emirate.
UAE issues travel ban to Lebanon
The Ministry stressed on its unwavering commitment to safeguarding the well-being and security of UAE citizens amidst the ongoing turmoil in Lebanon.
To ensure the safety of its nationals, the UAE government has set up a dedicated hotline, reachable at 0097180024, to address any emergencies that might arise.
UAE Central Bank shuts down major money exchange house over ‘serious misconduct’
CBUAE took decisive actions against two financial entities operating within the country, as part of its commitment to upholding regulatory integrity and combatting financial misconduct.
Moreover, the registration of RMB Commercial Brokers Co, a prominent Hawaladar functioning in the nation, has also been revoked.
Qatar rents, house prices dip as FIFA World Cup boost dies down
“The supply-demand imbalance, rising interest rates, and affordability challenges are contributing to a shrinking mortgage market and impacting the volume of home sales, while also undermining residential values,” said Faisal Durrani, Partner, Head of Research for the Middle East and North Africa.
“Indeed, the total number of residential sales transactions has fallen by 36 percent over the last 12 months. Simultaneously, the total value of residential transactions has declined by 24 percent.”
Chinese investors surge back into Dubai real estate market with remarkable 130% jump
The spike is seen as the classic case of China’s loss becoming Dubai’s gain, as it comes amid an estimated 27 percent plunge in apartment sales in the Far East country – far below what was expected given the country’s urbanisation trends and the high demand for improved housing – in the wake of its economy growing at a slower rate of 3 percent in Q2, 2023 over the same year-ago period, industry insiders said.
The Chinese investors are also now investing in spacious housing units in prestigious areas such as Downtown Dubai and Jumeirah Golf Estates which has seen a substantial rise in average property prices in recent times, as against their preference for smaller studio and one-bedroom apartments in the pre-pandemic period when they were the leading overseas investors in the emirate, the half yearly market report by Allsopp & Allsopp, Dubai’s leading independent real estate agency, showed.
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