Getting ready to bid adieu to your life in the UAE? Whether you’re leaving after a short stint or after spending a lifetime in the country, you’re bound to have your hands full with all the exit formalities, relocation tasks and last minute things to do.
And now owing to the pandemic and the financial toll it’s had on businesses in the country, many expats are facing an undoubtedly challenging time with layoffs and redundancies forcing them to leave the country they’ve called home for the last few years or even decades. So apart from the practical considerations of relocating, it’s going to be an emotionally exhausting time for many as well.
Getting stopped at the airport – An actual possibility?
If you cover all your bases and follow the right steps before making your exit, you’ll no doubt be able to leave with zero interruptions. But if you leave without wrapping up all your responsibilities and without repaying your dues, be it to banks, government agencies and service providers, you could very well be detained at the airport. Consequences of leaving without tying all loose ends could be as small as a delay in departure or as big as being faced with legal charges, and being marked as an absconder in immigration records.
So to make your life a tad bit easier, the Souqalmal team has listed some of the most important tasks to add to your checklist, to ensure you have a smooth exit from the UAE.
Close your loans and credit cards
This is probably the most important aspect to consider if you have active debts and are planning to leave the UAE soon. Banks in the UAE have the right to demand immediate and full settlement of your debts when you’re leaving the country. In fact, your personal loan contract even entitles the bank to offset and adjust your End of Service Benefits towards the outstanding loan amount.
Now when it comes to unsecured loans, auto loans and credit card debt, you will have to settle these before you go. You can try to negotiate a reduced settlement amount in favor of a lump sum payment. As for your mortgage, you may be able to continue repaying it from overseas, especially if you’re able to show that you have sufficient rental income to cover the mortgage installments.
What about your bank account?
Did you know your bank account could be blocked when your final salary and End of Service Benefits are credited into it? Banks do this as precautionary measure to ensure you do not leave with any outstanding debt dues. This can be a big inconvenience to say the least. So you must inform the bank beforehand and come to a mutual agreement regarding your loan settlement.
In case you have other investments linked with your current bank account, you can change your bank details and link these back to another offshore bank account.
You could also keep your bank account operative, especially if you have an active mortgage that you plan to repay using your rental income in the UAE. Remember to leave a forwarding address for the bank to get in touch with you. However, if you have no use for your bank account, you should withdraw your funds and close it to avoid incurring monthly non-maintenance charges going forward.
Check your credit report
So you’ve settled your loans and credit cards, closed your bank accounts, and obtained a No Liability Certificate from the banks. But you’re not done with the banking bit just yet – You must apply for a copy of your credit report to ensure all repayments and settlements are being accurately reflected in the report. A simple admin error at the bank can leave you being chased by debt collectors, even in your home country. So you must review your credit report carefully to make sure you haven’t left any loose ends when it comes to closing your debts.
Settle and close your utilities accounts
Now coming to your water and electricity bills, and your DEWA account (or ADWEA, SEWA accounts). You will have to request for your final utilities bill and apply for disconnection of services before you can make a smooth exit from the country. All outstanding dues must be cleared in order for you to get your original deposit back.
Similarly, you must also terminate cooling services if you pay for these separately. All pending dues to cooling service providers (Empower & Emicool in Dubai, and Tabreed in Abu Dhabi) must be settled before you go. Same goes for gas services availed from providers such as SERGAS, Lootah and others.
Word of caution – Don’t leave these tasks for the last minute, as processing times may vary based on the service provider. And if you’re a tenant, consider getting a ‘No Objection’ letter from your landlord, once all the above mentioned accounts have been duly settled and closed.
Cancel telecom services
Your mobile, fixed line, internet or TV contract with either of the country’s two telecom providers – Du or Etisalat – will also have to be terminated before you leave. If you’re exiting your post-paid or home internet contract prematurely, you will have to pay one month’s rental fee as penalty as well. If you’ve been using any hardware provided by these companies for fixed line services and TV packages, it will have to be handed back to them too. As for your mobile connection, you can swap your postpaid mobile service for a prepaid one for ease of usage later on.
Repay traffic fines and cancel Salik
This task goes hand in hand with the process of selling your car. You will have to settle all outstanding traffic fines before you can sell your car. And even if you’re planning to ship your car back to your home country, you’ll have to clear all traffic dues beforehand. You’ll also have to check your Salik account for any dues and violations (insufficient funds etc.), and close the account thereafter.
Cancel your visas
Your residence visa, as well as your dependents’ visas (family members as well as domestic help) will have to be cancelled before you exit the country. While your employer will be responsible for cancelling your residence visa, you will have to carry out the visa cancellation formalities for your dependents on your own. Be wary of visa violations – These could end up leaving you blacklisted in the UAE immigration system.
Dear Sir,
I came to Dubai on a work visa in 2013. After 2 months, I left the UAE and never returned. I did not cancel my visa. I believe that my previous employer has filed an absconding complaint against me, but I am not aware of the details.
I have no intention of seeking employment in the UAE in future – however, I may have to enter Dubai or Abu Dhabi during the course of international travel on airlines that have a transit stop in the UAE.
What would be the legal implications if I were to have to transit via Dubai? Would I be liable to legal action?
Sorry Victor, we’re not qualified to answer that but if you do a quick search online for ‘UAE visa not cancelled’ you’ll find some legal advice on some other sites. Good luck!
Hi Victor,
First of all it is not a big crime , still u are capable of getting Visa from UAE . Once if the existing Visa is expired u can apply new one but make sure you must not have any Bank Outstanding bills such as credit or debit card / Loans or Etisalat post paid bills.
Nice and valuable article.
I have a car loan and i’m planing to resigned from my company, but my wife is continued to pay my car loan every month! because my family is still here, if ever i’m going for exit there is a problem in immigration? kindly advice me the best procedure if there is a problem.. thanks
Hi Frank – we don’t provide advice but, if the loan continues to be in your name it is your responsibility, so you should talk directly to your bank about it. We have an article on leaving the UAE and how to close off accounts etc properly you may like to read.
Can a person leave the country UAE, if the person have a complain/police report. Will it appear to immigration system /
is there a way to pay my postpaid etisalat bill since it was been terminated, because I really cant pay that big amount in one time
Hi Rianne – you will need to discuss this directly with Etisalat. You are contractually bound to pay your bill on time, according to this article from The National, and Etisalat could take you to court. Utility bills also form part of your credit score under the new Credit Bureau. You may want to look at a personal loan – although be very careful about your debt ratio and not over-burdening yourself.
Is it possible to keep a loan account open, leave the coin try, and still make payments on the loan? A friend has contacted the bank we both bank with and was told that it is possible for the bank to set up a direct pay account at the new location that I could make payments to, and that my bank could take the money from to apply to the loan. Is this truly possible? If so, would it apply to moving to the USA, or only to another GCC country?
Hi Steve, this is not something we’ve heard of and we’re not really in a position to give advice on it – it’s best to speak to your bank directly and ask them. Just be sure to plan well ahead and have an alternative set up if continuing a loan as a non-resident is not possible.
I can share my friends experience with you. You can leave by making somebody guarrantor on the behalf of you. I was guarrantor for my friend and he used to make payments from out of country.
In short as you pay ur EMIs on time. No issues from bank.
Steve you can make payments from usa and you cankeep depositing money and assign a guarrantor for your loan.
Ankur, Can you please tell which banks in UAE accept this proposal of keeping a guarantor and paying EMIs from another country. I too, am planning to change my job, but have a personal loan.
I am also looking for answer to this question i. e continuing loan a/c & repay from foreign locations till the end of completion of the outstanding amount.
Dear Lok, many thanks for your query. This is something that you should really check with your bank directly to make sure you have the information that applies to your circumstances.
I have my etisalat bills that i couldn’t pay right now and i am leaving for holidays in my country. Do i have a chance to go out of the country but i am still employed and surely coming back to UAE for a month only.
Thank you for your comment Lelis. You may want to check with Etisalat to make sure there aren’t any issues relating to your phone bills.
I purchased a License in sharjah. Now i am investor in that license. That shop has one person working there for 15 years his basic salary is 1300 and its a Limited Contract. I would like to know whether i am responsible for his gratuity. And whether he quits or resigns i have to pay the gratuity or not.
Dear Afaq, many thanks for your query. In this situation, you should probably consider speaking to a legal advisor who would be able to provide you with the accurate information that you are after.
Hi,
By the nice informative article that you made.
I would like to ask if a person is suddenly Terminated or say his Visa / contract wasn’t renewed by the company, what will happen to him by then he still have existing loans and debt in credit cards?
Thank you for your query Jose. For the correct information about this specific situation, you may want to consider speaking to a legal advisor
hi, i just want to ask about hold departure.
i had a police case a year ago it a bank case, creadit card and personal loan which i have been settled. i got clearance from the bank after paying them.My question is, any idea if i have hold departure in imigration? or maybe you can give me idea where i can check my name in immigration.thank you
Dear Scubie, many thanks for your query. Perhaps you should present this question to a lawyer so that you can get the correct legal advice. Good luck.
hi,
i am having etisalat bonanza package in which every month i am getting 130 min international free but in my February bill it seems they charge me for Maldive calls and inform it is not listed in international country and when i ask them why it was not mention to me earlier then they told me to action legal complaint as they will not refund me the amount.
any one can suggest me on this.
Hello Tushant, thank you for your query. You are probably best following up with Etisalat directly about this
Dear, I have a personal loan in uae, I have a offer letter from a company in Oman. Will my current bank allow me to change the job?, and can I pay the loan from Oman.
Hello Azhar, thank you for your query. You should check with your bank directly about its rules and regulations in this regard.
hi,
i have an etisalat postpaid connection with device, now i am changing my job with new visa same in dubai. i got an offer letter as well. to exit the country for new visa do i need to close the etisalat connection by paying outstanding bills or i can still continue with the same emi’s?
please advise
Hello Varghese, you should probably check with Etisalat directly what their policy is in this situation
hi,
i cannot open bank account in any bank in dubai as they said my name is black listed there…however i have never borrow anything ever here, and even i never use any credit card.
so, how to remove this mistake so that i can open a bank account asap.
can you pls advise.
thanks,
Dear Muhammad, sorry to hear that! Maybe you should try asking the banks for more details to get to the bottom of this problem. Good luck.
Dear azza…
I have etisalath outstanding bill..my contract was closed December 2014..and next month I am going to annual vacation ..for me is any problem in airport..pls advice
Hello Amaan, thanks for your query. It’s probably best to check with Etisalat directly if there are any issues.
Hi,
I had started a company in Sharjah. I Left Sharja in Dec 2014. I wouldn’t be able to continue or come back to Sharjah due to unexpected health issues.
My trade licence expired on 16th feb 2015. I have taken 2 Visas. One for me and another for my manager. My manager continue to live in sharjah on current visa in search of a job. I cancelled SEWA and tenancy contract. I do not have any pending liabilities.
What should I do next?. Pls advice
Hello B.C. You may want to find out what you need to do next by reaching out to a lawyer specialised in this area.
Please help to clarify my doubt on credit card closure.
I am now planning to leave UAE for ever and I have 2 free for life credit cards. I don’t have any out standing amount in those cards. Is there any problem if I am not cancelling these cards and leaving the country?
Dear Arun, many thanks for your query. It is always best to check with the bank(s) that issued your credit cards to make sure there won’t be any issues going forward. But, is there any reason why you would permanently leave the country without cancelling these cards?
Hi Arun, I am working with a collection agency for cards, so I know how it works. My suggestion is visit the bank close the cards before you leave the country. Thank you.
can aprson leave uae during his probation period…if his employer does not agrees to cancel his cintract…can he jus run away…if the passport is with him.
Dear Owais, many thanks for your query. Generally, it is important to be aware of the immigration laws and any ones specific to the entity that has issued your residence permit. For a specific labour law issue such as yours, consider speaking to a lawyer specialised in the field to get accurate, professional advice.
hi this is a great website and a great thread.. I’m currently serving notice period and am about to exit the country with the plan of returning to the country to look for a job… I have closed my personal loan and credit cards.. My only question is does my tenancy contract need to be cancelled? I was hoping to continue staying in the apartment when I come back while looking for a job .. My apartment is through a real estate company who have said as long as my cheques clear there is no problem.. Which they will as I will keep my funds in the bank for the cheque clearing.. Any light you can shed on this ?
Hi Anoop, thank you for your email. If you are serving your notice period, then potentially your company has notified your bank. All banks deal with bank accounts of employees who are leaving their jobs differently. We have seen cases where the accounts are blocked for a few days. There are times that the bank identifies an End of Service payment and knows that the resident in question is now out of a job. It is better for you to approach your bank to check the status of your account and make sure that your cheques can still be cleared. Hope this helps
I will go for vacation next month… ETISALAT send me the final notice regarding my unpaid bills, will they stop me at the airport? even i’m just going for vacation?
Please help i same scenario here they called me and askin me to pay my Etisalat bill which is my boyfriend who is using it they called me and say that they goin to send that in legal department is there any chance to pay that eventhough somebody called me and askin me to pay in full amount
Hi Dianna, if the phone is under your name, you are generally liable for the bill even if someone else is using it. You should discuss your situation with Etisalat.
Hi,
I had a credit card and i was making timely payments. My employers without any solid reasons reduced my salary by almost 40% and after running after them for 2 months took the matter to MOL. the matter was afterwards transferred to Dubai Court where the Judgment was granted in my favor. The company made an appeal against the Judgment which was also awarded in my favor. I have filed for Execution but haven’t received money yet. All this have been going on since January and I have been without any income for last 7 months. I did try and make a couple of installments as asked by collection people but now i am unable to raise money further as i am already in lot of debts due to not having a job.
Now they are sending threat mails and calling me to make payments and I have told them that i will clear the debt once i get the money but they want immediate payment. Kindly advice what kind of legal consequences am i looking at.
Hi Anil – I am sorry to hear about your situation. I think in your case, it is best for you to contact a lawyer who is specialized in labor law. I would also contact your bank directly and discuss your situation with them as very often they can restructure the debt for you. Good luck.
Hi sir.recently i purchased etisalat postpaid with mobile.but i got terminated and visa is going to cancell.should i close this postpaid or can i pay monthly
Hi Rajkumar – generally, if your visa is cancelled, then you are only allowed to stay in the country for 30 days more. It is a good idea to contact Etisalat and tell them about your situation and they will be best to guide you in what you should be doing. If you leave the country in any case, it is extremely expensive to have your phone on roaming. However, if you are changing jobs, then I would let Etisalat know about your situation and they will advise you best.
I have personal loan and credit card. I have never missed any payment. I am not a deafulter. Can I resign and go to my home country and come back after 6 months on new visa and continue my payments.
Hi Altaf,
Thanks for contacting Souqalmal.com. Before leaving the UAE, you are meant to settle all your outstanding loan or credit card debts as you may not be able to leave the country or be stopped when coming back in. It’s probably best to settle your debt before leaving and inform your bank about your current situation.