I retired from the UK military in 1996 and receive a government military pension. I also have overseas tax status for UK tax purposes. But I have been told that despite this, I have to keep paying tax on my pension. Is this correct? Is there something I can do to stop this? - MB, Abu Dhabi
Military pensions are treated differently to private pension schemes, which can be paid to you without any tax being deducted while you are a resident overseas. However, for a UK defence ministry pension, you may only apply for a basic rate of tax to be deducted, instead of an automatic deduction of a higher rate of tax. The higher rate liability is often assumed, especially for higher ranks and those with longer service periods. If you do not intend to return to the UK and provided your pension fund is of sufficient size to make it cost-effective, this is a scenario in which you could consider transferring to a Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme (QROPS). This allows for income to be paid to you without the deduction of tax, as well as other potential benefits, if you are a UK non-resident. The viability of this depends on the current status of your plan and various other factors. It is essential that you take proper advice from a qualified and experienced independent adviser if this is of interest because it is a technically complicated arrangement and you must be aware of the full details and consequences.
I work on a part-time basis in Abu Dhabi and have been employed by my company for just over three years. My work hours are very flexible and to date I have never requested, nor have I been granted, a return airfare, medical insurance or any holiday pay. I am paid for the time that I work, which is an average of 20 hours per week. Can you tell me if I am entitled to any gratuity if I leave my job? There are a number of people in the same situation as me at work and our manager is now asking us to sign a document to say that we will not make any claim on the company for airfares, holiday pay or gratuities. I don't want to sign unless their request is in compliance with the UAE Labour Law. TM, Abu Dhabi
TM is sponsored by her husband and has a labour card from her employer, as well as a basic contract. All workers are eligible for an end-of-service gratuity payment, unless they sign a document waiving their right to it. Part-time employees are not exempt and the gratuity is based on their average income. Where the employer is offering membership of a savings plan that is to the employee's benefit, you will often find that this is an alternative to the standard gratuity and certainly that is what the law expects. However, the employer cannot refuse to pay a gratuity just because someone works part-time. An employer cannot force an employee to sign such a waiver document and it is going against the spirit of the Labour Law. There is no legal requirement to provide airfares, but even part-time employees are entitled to holiday pay and statutory holidays with pay. All employees with an Abu Dhabi residency visa must be provided with medical insurance by their employer, unless the employee already has Health Authority - Abu Dhabi-compliant cover, such as being on a husband's policy.
I have been working as a security guard in Fujairah since July 25 last year. I have found a job as a financial controller for a company in Dubai that is paying Dh7,000 per month, which is much more than I earn now. Can you advise me on the shortest possible/safe way to quit my present job? SA, Fujairah
I have read the contract of employment and SA has been employed on a two-year, fixed-term contract. The contract that he signed clearly states that "the employee will bear all expenses in case he/she resigns before the completion of the employment period, and all extra expenses in case of visa transfer fees which exceed the minimum fees for the transfer, such as incomplete period or others". Although the UAE Labour Law states that this is not a requirement, a contract with these terms and signed by both sides is legally binding. If SA wishes to leave now, he will be subject to significant costs. He could also receive a ban. As I have said many times before, it is essential that people read employment contracts before signing them. If you do not fully understand the terms, you should ask for them to be explained so it is clear what you have committed to.
I lived in the UAE for many years and now live in Thailand. I have both a current account and credit cards with Emirates NBD (ENBD) that I want to close. I sent the bank a written instruction in September 2011, but the accounts are still active. I do not owe anything on the cards, but I am concerned they might accrue charges. I have tried to contact the bank, but it is difficult to get through to a person who will actually do anything apart from tell me to go to a branch, which I clearly cannot do. Can you help? GCJ, Thailand
I passed the query on to ENBD and the matter can now be resolved. ENBD staff have e-mailed and telephoned GCJ. However, for him to formally close the accounts, he must complete a form, which has been e-mailed to him by the bank, and return this together with a copy of his passport. Upon receipt, the accounts will be closed. It is disappointing that his original letter was not followed up, but the matter has been resolved to his satisfaction.
Keren Bobker is an independent financial adviser with Holborn Assets in Dubai. Contact her at keren@holbornassets.com or onyourside@thenational.ae
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The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Abaya trends
The utilitarian robe held dear by Arab women is undergoing a change that reveals it as an elegant and graceful garment available in a range of colours and fabrics, while retaining its traditional appeal.
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
The view from The National
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 194hp at 5,600rpm
Torque: 275Nm from 2,000-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Price: from Dh155,000
On sale: now
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
Hidden killer
Sepsis arises when the body tries to fight an infection but damages its own tissue and organs in the process.
The World Health Organisation estimates it affects about 30 million people each year and that about six million die.
Of those about three million are newborns and 1.2 are young children.
Patients with septic shock must often have limbs amputated if clots in their limbs prevent blood flow, causing the limbs to die.
Campaigners say the condition is often diagnosed far too late by medical professionals and that many patients wait too long to seek treatment, confusing the symptoms with flu.
Results
United States beat UAE by three wickets
United States beat Scotland by 35 runs
UAE v Scotland – no result
United States beat UAE by 98 runs
Scotland beat United States by four wickets
Fixtures
Sunday, 10am, ICC Academy, Dubai - UAE v Scotland
Admission is free
Multitasking pays off for money goals
Tackling money goals one at a time cost financial literacy expert Barbara O'Neill at least $1 million.
That's how much Ms O'Neill, a distinguished professor at Rutgers University in the US, figures she lost by starting saving for retirement only after she had created an emergency fund, bought a car with cash and purchased a home.
"I tell students that eventually, 30 years later, I hit the million-dollar mark, but I could've had $2 million," Ms O'Neill says.
Too often, financial experts say, people want to attack their money goals one at a time: "As soon as I pay off my credit card debt, then I'll start saving for a home," or, "As soon as I pay off my student loan debt, then I'll start saving for retirement"."
People do not realise how costly the words "as soon as" can be. Paying off debt is a worthy goal, but it should not come at the expense of other goals, particularly saving for retirement. The sooner money is contributed, the longer it can benefit from compounded returns. Compounded returns are when your investment gains earn their own gains, which can dramatically increase your balances over time.
"By putting off saving for the future, you are really inhibiting yourself from benefiting from that wonderful magic," says Kimberly Zimmerman Rand , an accredited financial counsellor and principal at Dragonfly Financial Solutions in Boston. "If you can start saving today ... you are going to have a lot more five years from now than if you decide to pay off debt for three years and start saving in year four."
Teams
Punjabi Legends Owners: Inzamam-ul-Haq and Intizar-ul-Haq; Key player: Misbah-ul-Haq
Pakhtoons Owners: Habib Khan and Tajuddin Khan; Key player: Shahid Afridi
Maratha Arabians Owners: Sohail Khan, Ali Tumbi, Parvez Khan; Key player: Virender Sehwag
Bangla Tigers Owners: Shirajuddin Alam, Yasin Choudhary, Neelesh Bhatnager, Anis and Rizwan Sajan; Key player: TBC
Colombo Lions Owners: Sri Lanka Cricket; Key player: TBC
Kerala Kings Owners: Hussain Adam Ali and Shafi Ul Mulk; Key player: Eoin Morgan
Venue Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Format 10 overs per side, matches last for 90 minutes
Timeline October 25: Around 120 players to be entered into a draft, to be held in Dubai; December 21: Matches start; December 24: Finals
UAE Tour 2020
Stage 1: The Pointe Palm Jumeirah - Dubai Silicon Oasis, 148km
Stage 2: Hatta - Hatta Dam, 168km
Stage 3: Al Qudra Cycle Track - Jebel Hafeet, 184km
Stage 4: Zabeel Park - Dubai City Walk, 173km
Stage 5: Al Ain - Jebel Hafeet, 162km
Stage 6: Al Ruwais - Al Mirfa, 158km
Stage 7: Al Maryah Island - Abu Dhabi Breakwater, 127km
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How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
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Company%20Profile
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Hotel Silence
Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir
Pushkin Press
Company%20profile
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The biog
Favourite hobby: I love to sing but I don’t get to sing as much nowadays sadly.
Favourite book: Anything by Sidney Sheldon.
Favourite movie: The Exorcist 2. It is a big thing in our family to sit around together and watch horror movies, I love watching them.
Favourite holiday destination: The favourite place I have been to is Florence, it is a beautiful city. My dream though has always been to visit Cyprus, I really want to go there.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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How to help
Call the hotline on 0502955999 or send "thenational" to the following numbers:
2289 - Dh10
2252 - Dh50
6025 - Dh20
6027 - Dh100
6026 - Dh200
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
Top 5 concerns globally:
1. Unemployment
2. Spread of infectious diseases
3. Fiscal crises
4. Cyber attacks
5. Profound social instability
Top 5 concerns in the Mena region
1. Energy price shock
2. Fiscal crises
3. Spread of infectious diseases
4. Unmanageable inflation
5. Cyber attacks
Source: World Economic Foundation
Results:
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 2,200m | Winner: AF Al Montaqem, Bernardo Pinheiro (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,200m | Winner: Daber W’Rsan, Connor Beasley, Jaci Wickham
6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 1,600m | Winner: Bainoona, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m | Winner: AF Makerah, Antonio Fresu, Ernst Oertel
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 | Winner: AF Motaghatres, Antonio Fresu, Ernst Oertel
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 1,600m | Winner: Tafakhor, Ronan Whelan, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
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The specs
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Power: 272hp at 6,400rpm
Torque: 331Nm from 5,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.7L/100km
On sale: now
Price: Dh149,000
New schools in Dubai
Who is Mohammed Al Halbousi?
The new speaker of Iraq’s parliament Mohammed Al Halbousi is the youngest person ever to serve in the role.
The 37-year-old was born in Al Garmah in Anbar and studied civil engineering in Baghdad before going into business. His development company Al Hadeed undertook reconstruction contracts rebuilding parts of Fallujah’s infrastructure.
He entered parliament in 2014 and served as a member of the human rights and finance committees until 2017. In August last year he was appointed governor of Anbar, a role in which he has struggled to secure funding to provide services in the war-damaged province and to secure the withdrawal of Shia militias. He relinquished the post when he was sworn in as a member of parliament on September 3.
He is a member of the Al Hal Sunni-based political party and the Sunni-led Coalition of Iraqi Forces, which is Iraq’s largest Sunni alliance with 37 seats from the May 12 election.
He maintains good relations with former Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki’s State of Law Coaliton, Hadi Al Amiri’s Badr Organisation and Iranian officials.