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29 March 2024

Abu Dhabi enforces rent contract rule for families

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By Staff

Abu Dhabi-based expatriates bringing in their families or those renewing residence visas for their wives and children must now submit a tenancy contract along with other required documents, applicants said on Tuesday.

Scores of applicants said they were turned back by the emirate’s immigration authorities on Tuesday for failing to produce rent contracts or utility bills in their applications for residence visas for their families.

All of them were asked to come back and re-apply with a tenancy contract or power-water bill in their names,otherwise their applications will be rejected.

But the rule has remained suspended for bachelors seeking to renew their residence visas although authorities said the suspension would not last long.

“I applied today to bring in my wife and two sons from Syria but the application was rejected…they told me to bring a tenancy contract in my name or there will be no visa,” said Maher Al Gaddah, a mobile phone salesman in Abu Dhabi.

“The problem is that I don’t have an apartment in my name now as it is the first time I plan to bring my family to the UAE….I have rented a flat temporarily for three months but the contract is not in my name…I am now planning to go and see the official in charge and I hope the problem will be sorted.”

Expatriate bachelors appear to be still exempted from that rule after Abu Dhabi immigration authorities said last week they had temporarily suspended the rent contract requirement for fresh talks with other competent departments, including the Municipality for attestation of the contracts. They said the delay would also help foreign residents to be prepared for the new regulations.

More than 20 bachelor applicants said they had their residence visas renewed on Tuesday without having to present a rent contract. Some of them were told they must bring that contract or a utility bill for the next visa renewal.

“Today I went to the Department to apply for a residence visa to bring in my wife and two daughters from Syria and they asked for a rent contract…I live with my brother so I submitted the tenancy contract in his name,” said Mohammed Al Hariri, a mobile phone shop owner on Defence Road in Abu Dhabi.

“They first rejected it but then an official came and said it would be accepted this time…I was then told to have my own rent contract next time…I was very lucky as my application was processed when more than 30 others were refused.”

In Dubai, immigration officials said last week a tenancy contract is required for a visit visa while the rule has not been enforced in Abu Dhabi yet.

An attested rent contract or a utility bill is set to become a must for all residence visa applications through the UAE following a decision by the Ministry of Interior, which said is intended to verify the address of all expatriates in the country and build a reliable housing data base for the nearly seven million foreigners.

“This decision affects all expatriates in the country….applicants for a residence visa renewal must produce a tenancy contract or a water or electricity bill showing their address in the UAE,” Major General Nassir Al Minhali, Ministry of Interior assistant undersecretary for naturalization and residence said last week before the new rule was shelved.

“Those working at companies which provide them with collective accommodation must present a proof of their residence, an address and a letter from the employer showing where he resides.”

Minhali said the new rule is intended to allow authorities to locate their residence as “addresses given in previous applications are not clear or accurate.”

“The decision is primarily aimed at verifying residence of all expatriates living in the UAE for security and procedural reasons…it is a security, administrative and service decision taken by the immigration and foreign affairs departments in the country…it is not targeting any party or property group but it will serve those departments seeking accurate data about foreigners’ residences.”