Q: Dear Ahmed, Eid Mubarak! I lost my job two years back and I have been on a couple of visit visas without luck! I have a loan which I was able to pay the first few months of being laid off, however, I couldn't afford to until the bank deposited one of the security cheques. I was arrested while exiting the country, and fined where I was handed over my passport. I am back on a visit to look for a job but the bank has threatened to open a civil case, what are my options? Will they take me to jail? Is there a way I can request the court to allow me to pay little instalments until I get a job? Kindly advise

Q: I was working for Etihad Airways as cabin crew. I got fired last March so I couldn't pay my loan to the bank. I tried to find a job but I was not lucky. However, when I came back home, a hotel in Dubai sent me an offer letter. But the bank sent me a notice about legal action. If I don't pay the last 4 months I will be facing a big problem with the court. What should I do? Please advise.

Q: I already have a loan and now my visa is cancelled. No job, no solution. Please help me.

Q: I have a case filed against me by the bank last month end for failing to pay 2 EMIs. I have been unemployed since April 2017 and have managed to pay my EMIs from the settlement I received from my previous company and some other EMIs by borrowing money from friends and families. I have not been able to find suitable employment during this time and I have AED 52000 to pay the bank (the original amount being AED 254,000). Please advise on the next possible actions.

س: هل يمكنني إلغاء طلب قرض عقاري من طرفي بعد أن تمت الموافقة عليه لكن دون رهن العقار أو استلام القرض فعليًا في الحساب؟ مع العلم أن قيمة القسط الشهري ستزيد عن ٥٠% من راتبي والبنك يطلب قيمة الرسوم الإدارية حوالي ٢٥٠٠٠ درهم لإلغاء المعاملة.

Q: Sir, I have been working in Dubai for 10 years. I have taken loans from two banks in the UAE. Suddenly, I lost my job due to salary issues and termination (a jobless condition during the COVID-19 pandemic) from my company. I paid a fine at the police station for one bank at that time. Now, I want to know if it is possible for me to come back to Dubai. Can I work again in the UAE?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I took a personal loan of 80 thousand. I lost my job just before COVID, and to date, I am jobless. I stopped paying since I lost my job and have not paid for almost 4 years. Debt collectors call me and pressure me to pay. I informed them I am jobless and will start paying once I get a job. What can the bank do legally? And what are my options?

The management of individual financial affairs is crucial and all the actions must be weighed down while committing to any financial liability. Whether it's job loss that may have lead to financial failure or the opposite, one must be aware of the personal liability which will not diminish by paying fines for cheque bounce cases. There are two major types of liabilities, criminal liability and civil liability. Each has its own significance, hence, must be dealt with accordingly.

This Law promulgates the Federal Penal Code (Criminal Law) of the United Arab Emirates. Crimes and chastisement punishments shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of this Law and other penal codes.

This Law applies to merchants, as well as to all acts of commerce carried out in the UAE by any person even though he be not a trader. Commercial matters regarding which specific Federal laws are issued shall be subject to the provisions of such laws, and to the provisions hereof which do not contradict with said laws.

The provisions of this law, promulgating UAE Civil Code, govern the civil transactions in the United Arab Emirates. The commercial transactions remain subject to the laws and regulations applicable in their regard.