Consular newsletter: January 2016
Updated 6 November 2018
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ukinuae-consular-newsletter/consular-newsletter-january-2016
UAE New labour laws
These have become effective since 1st January 2016. To see how it may affect you then Click here. To read more about the new articles of the Labour Law then Click here to see the Ministry of Interior web page.
UAE Visa status
The Ministry of the Interior have revealed that you can now change your residency status at many Immigration points in the UAE without having to leave the country. The service is also available to family members and there may be a fee for this service. For more details Click here.
Abu Dhabi Water Consumption
Watch out if you are a big consumer of water in Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi Distribution Company has introduced a conservation-oriented tariff to discourage the waste of water. To see if you may need to pay more Click here.
Seat belts, a reminder!
UAE law states seat belts must be worn. The guardian of a child under 10 years of age will incur a fine of AED 400 and four traffic points if the child is in the front of the vehicle. Children should be seated in the back and babies should be buckled up in child-safety seats facing the rear of the car. Click here for more details.
Getting Married in the UAE
Are you are thinking of getting married in the UAE and need to know what documents are required from you and how to get them? Click here to see the newly revised web site. You can book an appointment with the Embassies in Abu Dhabi or Dubai.
UAE E Gate Card
UAE Expat residents may apply for an E Gate card to enable you to pass through passport control without having to wait in a queue to have your passport stamped. Swipe the card, touch the panel to match your fingerprint and you pass through one of the eGates in seconds. To apply for a card [Abu Dhabi](http://www.abudhabiairport.ae/english/airport-information/check-in-and-passport-control/passport-control.aspx or Dubai. Remember you must also carry a valid passport with you.
Travelling to the United States of America
The US Congress has passed a measure as part of a budget bill that will no longer allow citizens of 38 countries - including the UK - who have either travelled to Iraq, Syria, Iran or Sudan in the past five years or are dual nationals of these states, to travel to the US without a visa. For more details click here.
Recent Changes to Travel Advice
We have recently made several changes to the UAE travel advice. You can sign up to the travel alerts and receive a notification when future changes are made. Check out the travel advice here.
Travel from UAE to Oman
Expats not allowed to take the E44 road between Al Madam and Hatta as it goes through Oman, a Gulf news report claimed recently. Expats are advised to check with the border controls before travelling. Click here to read the full article. Check out the travel advice here.
Voting Referendum
Lots of UK nationals who live overseas don’t know that they may be able to take part in the referendum on the UK’s membership of the European Union. The referendum is due to take place by 31 December 2017, and with the date of the referendum as yet unknown we’re wasting no time in making sure that as many overseas UK nationals as possible know that they may be able to vote in the poll. To register as an overseas elector you must have been registered to vote in the UK in the last 15 years. You will also need to know your National Insurance number and date of birth, and have your passport to hand if you have one. If you don’t have a National Insurance number you can still register, but you may have to supply more information to show who you are. You can apply to register to vote in five minutes
Abu Dhabi Festival
Most of the performances will be taking place in Emirates Palace Hotel Auditorium. For more details on all the events please click on: ADF 2016 Brochure in English or ADF 2016 Brochure in Arabic. You can also view full details at Abu Dhabi Festival.
Qasr Al Hosn Festival in Abu Dhabi
Qasr Al Hosn is an annual event held on the grounds of Qasr Al Hosn to celebrate several centuries of history of the fort and Emirati culture and traditions. A wide range of historic and cultural themed exhibitions, workshops, performances and activities, as well as guided tours of the Qasr Al Hosn fort, can be enjoyed at the festival. Click here for details of the event and opening times.
How to reach us:
0.1 British Embassy Abu Dhabi
Khalid bin Waleed St (Street 22)
PO Box 248
Abu Dhabi
Tele: +971 2 610 1100
0.2 British Embassy Dubai
Al Seef Road
Bur Dubai
PO Box 65
Dubai
Tele: +971 4 309 4444
Global Response Centre: +44 20 7008 1500
0.3 UKinUAE on the web:
Website
Facebook: UKinUAE
Twitter: @UKinUAE
Instagram: BritishEmbassyUAE
Her Majesty’s Ambassador: @PJ_Parham
0.4 UK Trade & Investment
British Embassy Dubai
Tele: +971 (4) 309 4404
0.5 For all Visa related enquiries
Visa International Enquiry Service
0.6 Keep up-to-date with the Ambassador’s blog here:
0.7 Feedback
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