What's Hot in UAE
Topic

visa

A man at a table reviews documents next to a laptop and a cup of coffee in a living room setting.
Living in the UAE

UAE Sick Leave Law 2026: Pay, Days & Medical Certificates

Private-sector employees covered by the UAE’s federal Labour Law can take up to 90 days of sick leave per year after probation: the first 15 days at full pay, the next 30 at half pay and the remaining 45 without pay. The leave can be continuous or split across separate illnesses. The employee must notify…

Read Story
A man in a dark shirt types on a laptop at a desk with digital icons floating around him, including contract cancellation, website error, unhappy face, and declining financial graph, set against a cityscape backdrop.
Living in the UAE

UAE Freelancer Insurance: Health Cover and Business Policy Checks

I would not buy “freelancer insurance” as though it were one product. You have two different jobs to do: arrange the health cover accepted for your residency circumstances, and decide what protection your actual client work requires. A medical certificate will not answer a professional-negligence claim. A professional-indemnity certificate will not replace medical cover. My…

Read Story
A group of four people in a meeting around a table with laptops and notebooks, with a large window view of a city skyline featuring a tall skyscraper in the background. One individual is holding a document labeled 'Freelance.'
Living in the UAE

UAE Freelance Visa: Cost, Requirements & Application Routes

I would not pay for a “UAE freelance visa” until the seller separates the work permit from residence. They solve different problems. A permit covers specified work; it does not automatically include a visa or dependent sponsorship. Five-year Green Residency and GoFreelance’s one- or two-year residence options are different routes, not interchangeable packages. Cost example:…

Read Story
A person stands with a suitcase at an airport gate, looking out at an airplane and the Dubai skyline with the Burj Khalifa visible at sunset.
Living in the UAE

Moving to the UAE: Visas, Costs and a Practical Relocation Plan

If I were planning a move to the UAE, I would settle the permission to work, the first payday and the cash due before it—before choosing the apartment. The skyline is the easy part to get excited about. A rent cheque due before your salary is much less photogenic, and much more important. My recommendation…

Read Story
A digital illustration featuring the UAE skyline at dusk with icons representing the GCC Golden Visa program. Highlights include a central gold card labeled 'GCC GOLDEN VISA: Long-Term Residency,' surrounded by icons for property, talent/professional, family coverage, and duration (5-10 years). A world map is displayed at the bottom.
Living in the UAE

GCC Golden Visa Comparison: Six Countries, Separate Residency Rules

I would choose where I actually want to live or operate a business before shopping for a “GCC Golden Visa”. The programmes compared here are national schemes—not one residence permit granting an expatriate the right to settle and work across all six Gulf countries. A qualifying investment in one country does not establish eligibility in…

Read Story
A person sitting outdoors using a laptop and smartphone learning how check UAE visa status, with a city skyline, including tall skyscrapers, visible in the background.
Living in the UAE

How to Check UAE Visa Status Online: ICP or GDRFA Dubai

Before I opened any visa checker, I would look at who issued the file. Dubai-issued entry permit or residence? Use GDRFA Dubai. Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah or Fujairah? Use ICP. The emirate where you are standing—and the airport you plan to use—does not select the right inquiry. The authority…

Read Story
A man in a suit smiling and holding up an identification card with the Burj Khalifa skyscraper in the background under a clear blue sky.
Living in the UAE

Emirates ID Urgent Service: Eligibility, Fees and Tracking

I would not pay anyone promising a guaranteed overnight Emirates ID before checking the actual route with ICP. A new application, renewal and lost-card replacement are different jobs. The useful way to avoid wasted time is to identify your category, clear any outstanding requirements and confirm where the finished card will be released. This guide…

Read Story