Free Zones are special areas in the UAE, mostly in Dubai, where different rules apply for businesses and workers. Some of them are Jebel Ali, Dubai Export Zone, Media City, and Internet City. Free Zones (FZs) are not governed by the Federal Labour Law or the Dubai Labour Law. They have their own FZ Authorities or regulators that act as the labour sponsors for all the employees working in the companies within their jurisdiction. However, this is only for labour sponsorship. Your residency sponsorship would still depend on your specific company-employer.
A worker can switch to another company in the same FZ without any labour ban or formal transfer process, as the FZ authority remains their official sponsor. However, moving to a company outside the current FZ can be tricky. It is advisable to check with the relevant FZ authorities before quitting your current sponsor.
What should I bring to an interview? You should always have a hard copy of your updated CV/resume with you when you go for an interview, even if you have already sent it by fax or email. This shows that you are prepared and professional. Also, it would be useful to have these items:
Officially attested original transcript of records. This may not be needed at this stage, but it is good to have your attested documents ready, especially for walk-in interviews for urgent hiring. Your portfolio. This is important for those applying for advertising, marketing and other creative jobs in Dubai and the UAE. You may want to bring an electronic version of your portfolio, on a CD or a flash drive, as they are less bulky.
What other documents do I need for working in Dubai? Apart from the recommended documents for an interview, you will also need these once you are hired:
Your international driver’s license, if you have one; Your marriage certificate if you are a married man/father and want to bring your family over; Your credit card and bank account details.
Attestation is a way of verifying the documents that you use as evidence of your qualifications. It means that the attesting party checks the accuracy of the information in your documents. The UAE Federal Labour Law asks for all documents that prove your qualifications for an employment visa to be attested by the UAE embassy in your home country. The UAE embassy may ask you to get your documents certified by some agencies or bodies in your home government before you send them to their office. Since this process happens outside the UAE, it is better to bring your attested documents when you arrive in the UAE. Otherwise, you may need to get someone from your family or a friend to do it for you.
You are right that you can only drive rental cars with an international driver’s license in the UAE. To drive a private vehicle, you need a UAE driver’s license issued by the authorities. ?
The process of converting your driving license depends on which emirate you live in and which country your license is from. ?
If you live in Dubai, you can check the list of countries approved by the Road and Transport Authority (RTA) here1. If your country is on the list, you can exchange your license for a UAE license without taking any tests. You just need to do an eye test and submit some documents online or at an RTA office. ?
If you live in Abu Dhabi, you can use the Tamm platform to convert your license here2. You can also see the list of countries that are eligible for direct conversion. If your country is not on the list, you will have to take driving classes and tests at a registered driving school. ?
If you live in any other emirate, you can contact the local traffic department for more information on how to convert your license. ?
You are right that the Sharia Law applies to the estate of a deceased expatriate in the UAE, unless they have a registered will that states otherwise. This means that all your assets, whether real or personal, will be frozen and held by the State until the court decides how to distribute them among your legal heirs. This process can be lengthy and complicated, and may not reflect your wishes or intentions. ?
Therefore, it is advisable for expatriates in the UAE to have a will that protects their assets and property from being subject to Sharia Law. There are different ways to do this, depending on which emirate you live in and which country your license is from. ?
I have searched the web for some information on how to protect your assets in the UAE as an expatriate. Here are some of the results that I found:
Five Ways Expatriates Can Protect Their Property / Assets In The UAE1
Secure your assets in the UAE: Expert tips for expatriates2
According to these sources, some of the ways to protect your assets in the UAE are:
Registering a DIFC Will or an Abu Dhabi Will, which allows non-Muslim expatriates to opt-out of Sharia Law and transfer their assets according to their wishes. ?
Gifting your property or assets to your spouse or children, which removes them from your ownership and avoids inheritance issues. ?
Transferring your assets to a holding company or a trust, which creates a separate legal entity that holds your assets on behalf of your beneficiaries. ?
Creating a foundation, which is a legal structure that can own and manage your assets for charitable or non-charitable purposes. ?️