[vc_row el_class=”container section”][vc_column el_class=”row”][vc_row_inner el_class=”row”][vc_column_inner][expatmedia-landing-article title=”landing article”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner el_class=”col-md-8 “][vc_column_inner el_class=”col-md-8″][expatmedia-article-content body_text=”Tax-free commodities, a plethora of entertainment options and frequent sale seasons can be distracting to anyone who might want to save money in Dubai or anywhere in the UAE.
However, it is possible to live a financially fit life in the emirate, and save extra cash for your security. Here are top 15 tips:
15. Plan your yearly holidays so you can buy your airline tickets in advance. Airline tickets are usually cheaper when bought at least six months ahead of your travel date. Also, try booking online at around midnight when some airlines offer “midnight sale” on seats. You can also subscribe to airlines’ email alerts so you’ll always be the first to know of any promotions.
14. When sending a considerable sum of money home, don’t go with the flow. Exchange rates are usually high at mid-month or end of the month because this is when people receive their salaries and are likely to remit money. If possible, wait when the exchange rate dips (which means you get more peso for your dirham) before you send money to the Philippines.
13. Prefer to buy quality, used items that you need. You don’t have to spend a fortune on new furniture, unless you want to. There’s plenty advertised on online classifieds, or in second-hand stores in Dubai. Another Filipino favourite is the bi-monthly flea market in Safa Park.
12. If you don’t have accommodation or transportation paid for by your company, rent a place that is closer to your workplace. You can save time and money if you are spared a long commute.
11. Plan your trips using public buses or the Dubai Metro. The fares are a fraction of what you would spend compared to riding a taxi. If you must have a car, it is more economical to buy one in good condition (to spare you from maintenance woes) than lease one. However, make sure you have free parking space, and factor in yearly costs like vehicle registration renewal, vehicle insurance and toll fees.
10. Look for free entertainment. Beaches or parks are great places to unwind and entertain yourself with friends or family. You can also check out free shows and events at the malls, particularly during the shopping festivals.
9. If you are living alone or renting a shared apartment, it might be a good idea to buy cooked food in small portions from supermarkets and hypermarkets like Carrefour, Spinneys or New WestZone. You can ask for servings within your budget. This way you are saving time and effort from preparing your food.
8. If you must cook, include more vegetables on the menu. They’re cheaper, quicker to prepare and healthier, too.
7. Regularly check supermarkets and hypermarkets for special offers or deeply discounted prices on stocks for clearance. Most Filipinos head to Baqer Mohebi for discounted prices on boxes of chocolates to ship home, while New WestZone or Al Maya Lals are the go-to places for cheaper Philippine food items. For other commodities, check out three of the biggest hypermarkets in the country: Carrefour, Lulu and Geant.
6. Shop, dine or get service from establishments that offer loyalty points or rewards. Also check out offers on deal websites. There is usually a buy one get one offer on leisure trips, restaurant meals and other deals.
5. Get a pre-paid internet subscription on your smartphone that will allow you to use software like WhatsApp, Skype or Viber so you can call or message folks back home for free anytime, or when you are feeling homesick.
4. Try not to eat out frequently, but when you do, don’t be embarrassed to have your leftover food packed so you can eat it at home later.
3. If you can’t wait to do your shopping during sale season, shop at outlet stores instead (ask the store staff for the location). A more popular destination is the Outlet Mall, which houses all the outlet stores in one mall.
2. Don’t use a credit card, unless you can pay what you owe in full before interest accrues at the end of the month. But remember: It is always better to spend only what you have.
1. Save a portion of your salary. Always. The money you save now is not just for your retirement, but it can also be a much-needed fund for emergencies.” byline=”staff reporter” credits=”EXPAT MEDIA”]
Unpaid loans, credit cards: what UAE law says
DUBAI – What happens when you have unpaid bank loans or credit card debt in the UAE?
Expatmedia.net spoke to legal expert Mohammed Fazil, managing partner of FranGulf Legal Consultants in the UAE, to talk about one of the most common cases in the UAE.
Here’s our Q&A when the legal expert:
What does the UAE law say on unpaid debts?
As far as banks are concerned and in the eyes of the law, it is their right to recover the money that you owe them. It doesn’t matter whether you lost your job or whatever circumstance. The banks’ sole aim is to get their money back and the law will assist them in recovering the same.
What will banks do to recover the unpaid debt?
Banks will use the security cheque, if available, that you provided for the loan or the credit card. They will deposit the cheque and if you have insufficient funds in your account, the cheque will bounce. A bounced cheque can be used to file either a criminal case immediately or later a civil case against you.
What happens when a criminal case is filed against me?
The impact of a criminal case is that you will have an immediate travel ban. The travel ban is in the sense that you will be on the wanted list in the system, which means you will be taken into custody by the police or by airport police when you are going to travel. Usually banks do this tactic, which is the most convenient way for them to file a criminal case against you.
Do I have to be detained over unpaid debt in the UAE?
In Dubai, a criminal case for bounced cheque valued at up to Dh200,000 can be settled with a fine. For example, if you have a case filed in Muraqqabat Police station and the amount you owe is Dh100,000, you can go to the police station directly. At the police station, by the order of the prosecution, you will be asked to pay a fine of up to a maximum of Dh10,000. You can pay the fine and clear the criminal case. This time, your name will be removed from the wanted list, so you are free to travel out of the country.
Can the bank still go after my unpaid debt even if I have paid the fine at the police station?
Yes. The bank can file a civil case against you for the realization of the unpaid debt.
What happens when a bank files a civil case against me?
In order to recover your unpaid debt, the bank can file a civil case against you using the bounced cheque or account statements.
For this, the bank will have to pay court fees and other expenses, hence, usually before filing a civil case, the bank will try their maximum to settle the matter with you. At the failure of reaching an amicable settlement, the bank may file a civil case.
Once a civil case is filed, you have the right to defend yourself in court. You can tell the judge the reason why you defaulted in payment. In the end, the judge will pass a judgement.
Usually, the judgment is for you to pay the money that you owe. You have the right to appeal the judgement.
If there is no appeal after the judgement, the bank will file for execution of the judgement 30 days after the ruling. Once the execution is filed, your name will once again be flagged in the system and you will have a travel ban. You also need to pay the full amount that you owe, based on the court’s ruling.
When must I seek the help of a lawyer?
If a criminal case is filed against you in Dubai for an unpaid debt of less than Dh200,000 you don’t even have to approach a law firm. You can approach the police station directly, pay the fine and settle the case.
If the case is filed in any other emirate, you will need the assistance of a lawyer. It is ideal and advisable that you get the help of a lawyer to help you navigate the legal system there.
How do I avoid legal troubles over unpaid debts due to unforeseen circumstances?
It is advisable that you take a credit shield or some kind of insurance to protect yourself in case of these kind of unexpected situations.
ICA/Expat Media
For legal advice, contact FranGulf Legal Consultants through FranGulf.ae. Expat Media readers get a free 30-minute legal consultation with FranGulf Legal Consultants. Just send a message to Facebook.com/expatmedia starting with the words “Need FranGulf help” plus your name and mobile number. Slots are limited.[/expatmedia-article-content][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner][expatmedia-related-posts enable_pagination=”no” layout=”2-col” posts_query=”size:6|order_by:date|post_type:post|categories:136″ title=”More Legal Advice” thumb_size=”expatmedia-post-thumbnail”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner el_class=”col-md-4″][vc_column_inner][expatmedia-latest-posts read_more_text=”Read more →” posts_query=”size:10|order_by:date|post_type:post” title=”LATEST NEWS”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner el_class=”border-box border-box-mwidth business–popular-ad”][expatmedia-guides-posts posts_query=”size:3|order_by:date|post_type:post|categories:56″ title=”POPULAR IN LIFESTYLE”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][expatmedia-subscription title=”Subscribe”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]
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