Question re owning car when residence visa cancelled
 

Can anyone give advice pls:

Was working in UAE, left the job but the company agreed I could keep my residence visa. Went on vacation - company cancelled visa but of course it's not cancelled in my passport. Have to come back to UAE after Ramadan to look for new job.

I have a UK passport so can stay for 30 days on visit visa, unless problems to re-enter. Already have advice on checking I'm not registered as an absconder before coming back.

My question is: I own a car and wondering what happens about this? It is registered and insured in my name and I have a UAE driving licence.

Can anyone tell me if it is legal for me to keep and drive my car without a residence visa?

I know it's ok to drive a private car with a UAE licence, but not sure if I can legally own the car to drive or if I need to transfer ownership to a willing friend.

Thanks for any advice.

Re: Question re owning car when residence visa cancelled
 

Check your insurances clauses to make sure it remains valid given your status change

Re: Question re owning car when residence visa cancelled
 

You must have a residence visa to own a car..if anything happens before you get a new job your insurance will be invalid.

Re: Question re owning car when residence visa cancelled
 

Correct. In addition, a UAE Driving licence is only valid in conjunction with a current residency visa.

Re: Question re owning car when residence visa cancelled
 

your ex employer sucks!

Re: Question re owning car when residence visa cancelled
 

yeah, too right.

thanks for the replies. seems there is still uncertainty about whether a UAE driving licence is invalidated with the cancellation of the visa.I found this on another forum, which refers to a court case in 2009. I can't find any other information so far... anyone know any more than this?

http://www.desertspeak.com/viewtopic.php?t=2867

Re: Question re owning car when residence visa cancelled
 

Here is the original article from Gulf News - dated January 2009, so possible new changes, but I can't find anything.

Re: Question re owning car when residence visa cancelled
 

Actually, in my experience, if Meow and Patsy agree on something, it's almost certainly true...............

Re: Question re owning car when residence visa cancelled
 

:D

Re: Question re owning car when residence visa cancelled
 

This is from http://www.rta.ae/wpsv5/links/la/faq/index.html ( let google be your friend!!!) ;)

What are the documents required for renewing a Driving License?

If you are a Dubai resident and/or UAE national holding a passport issued in Dubai, you will need to have:

1. previously been issued with a Dubai driver's license within the last 20 years.

2. a Valid Residence Visa (except UAE Passport holders)

3. passed an Eye Test (the test results should be uploaded online from the optician)

My residency visa/commercial license is expired. Can I transact with the RTA?

You must have a valid visa/commercial license when applying for an RTA service. However you can pay your fines. Commercial companies can also renew their vehicles.

Re: Question re owning car when residence visa cancelled
 

Thanks again for your help and advice.

I have already googled this issue extensively, which is how I found the news item regarding what is referred to as a landmark ruling regarding the apparent validity of a driving licence after a visa is cancelled.

I greatly appreciate help and pointers to articles and any advice, but this issue is not regarding issuing or renewing a driving licence. Perhaps the time has come to consult a lawyer - although in the past I've had conflicting information from different lawyers about the same thing, seems the laws are not clear to any one (not sure why that surprises me!).

Re: Question re owning car when residence visa cancelled
 

It is. I answer these types of questions all the time and check with the relevant government departments to keep up to date.

It's very simple. If you don't have a valid residency visa, then your UAE driving licence is not valid.

Re: Question re owning car when residence visa cancelled
 

yep i agree everything boils down to residency visa, if you dont have one then you cannot have an id card, you cannot have a sim card, you cannot have a drivers licence, you cannot have insurance, you cannot have a rental contract, you cannot have utilities etc etc.

Re: Question re owning car when residence visa cancelled
 

Darling, you can have a sim card! you just go to etisalat and show your passport ..you can even pick 1 up at the airport! :)

Re: Question re owning car when residence visa cancelled
 

ok i will elaborate you can get a visitors sim card which is valid for 90 days i think, but you cannot have a normal sim card for wasel etc until you have a visa or show drivers licence etc etc.

Re: Question re owning car when residence visa cancelled
 

Yes you can darling, if you are getting a pay as you go sim then you only need to show your passport. A friend of mine did it only last week :D

Re: Question re owning car when residence visa cancelled
 

well down in ab dabs they require to look at the visa, otherwise you need to get the visitors one.

Re: Question re owning car when residence visa cancelled
 

I must have bought at least 3 SIM cards from corner shop sellers and never once been asked for any ID

Re: Question re owning car when residence visa cancelled
 

then come up to Dubai if you ever need 1 for a friend :D

Re: Question re owning car when residence visa cancelled
 

ok will do:thumbup:

Re: Question re owning car when residence visa cancelled
 

well i hope that they have registered them properly with etislat or whatever. i had a sim card in my name for my oldest boy, i renewed in the etislat next to spinneys first year, and the following year i renewed it again in mafraq but was told that i was firstly a guy 10 years younger, who came from africa and my name was something really odd, cant remember now. to cut to the chase i had a terrible time trying to get the name changed, even the dates of my application and this "african guy" were like 3 weeks apart. i had to go to the 13th floor and sign a piece of paper to say that i take responsibility for that number etc...... as i wanted to keep the same number. only in abu dhabi.

Re: Question re owning car when residence visa cancelled
 

We got our SIMs in AD from an Etisalat booth three years ago without residence visas - I remember because it was our first brush with anything vaguely resembling bureaucracy and it was a true nightmare. The woman who created the accounts didn't spell any one of our names correctly, none of which are longer than six letters even though the passports were right in front of her.

Re: Question re owning car when residence visa cancelled
 

I got a text a few weeks ago from etisalat telling me that I don't need to renew my sim until 2023 :D..Their gift to some people for ramadan apparently!!

Re: Question re owning car when residence visa cancelled
 

yeh i looked at my phone when i got back from hols and it said 2023 or something thought thats a little odd, then i checked and as long as you use it once in the next 3 months etc then you dont have to renew. but if you think about it it cost 100 to start with way back when, then 75 to renew each and then you got 25 free credit etc, so over the 15 years that i have had one i have paid them an awful lot for a pay as you go... unlike if you get a contract one then you dont pay to renew.

Re: Question re owning car when residence visa cancelled
 

Shhhhh! That special offer is supposed to be for Muslims only................

Re: Question re owning car when residence visa cancelled
 

Ok - back to the original topic. I am in a similar position.

Currently on visit visa, car needs renewing in 2 weeks. In the meantime I need to do a visa run by 15 Sept as we will only start processing my employment visa next week.

Looks like I should do the visa extension via DNRD or fly out, rather than drive.

Does anyone know if the 10 day grace period on visit visa is true?

Re: Question re owning car when residence visa cancelled
 

Maybe you can get a friend drive you? Or do a cheesy tourist bus trip!

Otherwise, you can be late with the car registration for not that much of a fine, I think - not sure which emirate you're in, but that part seems easy to check.

Re: Question re owning car when residence visa cancelled
 

I phoned RTA in Dubai today who confirmed I CAN drive with my UAE licence in my own car whilst on a visit visa. The vehicle registration (expires in a few weeks) cannot be renewed until I get my new residence visa.

The only dilemma now is whether to drive a visa run, or the much shorter drive to extend the visa at DNRD.

Next challenge will be reregistering the car which is registered in Dubai when I end up on a Fujairah visa. THEN renewing my driving licence in December - again issued in Dubai but different emirate when I renew. I knew there was a reason I love living in the Emirates - I like challenges :D

Re: Question re owning car when residence visa cancelled
 

Last week Etishaite agreed to replace my faulty iPhone. It took another 4 hours this afternoon to actually get the damn thing exchanged.
They just love the bullshit here!

Re: Question re owning car when residence visa cancelled
 

1996-99 Nigeria; 2000 Gabon; 2001 Equatorial Guinea; 2002 Cameroon; 2003-05 Nigeria; 2006 UK; 2007-08 Nigeria; 2009-10 Libya; 2010 UAE

Looks like you have been to Nigeria about as much as me! I was there as an expat brat from about 9-17yrs old (1980-1990's). That must be where I get the 'challenges' bit from. It also helped reduce my expectation of customer service and time-keeping. Having learned to drive in Lagos meant Sheikh Zayed Road was a doddle when I got to Dubai :ohmy:

Re: Question re owning car when residence visa cancelled
 

Imagine trying to get that thing changed in Lagos "Oga, ah beg bring money-O" Small mercies for no NEPA tho!

Re: Question re owning car when residence visa cancelled
 

jebelaligardener - Thanks for confirming this...makes life a whole lot easier!