Job Discussion Forums

[meorbust]

Hello. I am an American, who is thinking about coming to the Emirates to look for a job.

I have a wife in the U.A.E. But she is not from a western country, so I don't think she could sponsor me to live with her.

Is it possible for me to rent a flat on a tourist or visit visa (is there a difference) for about 2 to 3 months? Or must I have a resident visa?

Of course I do not want to rent a hotel. Too expensive. So I am interested in just a one room where I would share the bath and kitchen.

Of course I am interested in a room where me and my wife could stay together. In Dubai. I would prefer to be in Abu Dhabi, but she is working in Dubai.

One more question: I thought Dubai was suppose to be so much more welcoming to Westerners. When I lived in Abu Dhabi, I never had to leave a passport at the hotel reception along with my wife's. SInce I have been visiting my wife in Dubai, not only passports are required to leave at the desk, but sometimes a marriage certificate. DUBAI SEEMS TO BE A LOT MORE CONSERVATIVE IF YOU ASK ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you for the feedback.

[sandy gallop]

...

[veiledsentiments]

I note that the site mentions that short term furnished housing costs Dh7-15,000 per month. That's a lot of money. Perhaps you could find shared housing on the boards in the supermarkets, but they are almost always bachelor flats.

As to the hotels asking for the marriage license, the answer is easy... if you were both Westerners, they probably wouldn't ask, but as you say that your wife is not, they make the assumption that she is a hooker. It is a reality of life in the Gulf. Probably when you lived in Abu Dhabi in the past, the problem of the hookers had not yet become as bad there.

VS

[meorbust]

But that still doesn't explain why I have never had to show such documents in A.D.

[meorbust]

How long is a tourist visa for an American good for? Is it 30 or 90 days? And once it expires, am I able to leave into Oman and come immediately back?

[meorbust]

How long is a tourist visa for an American? is it 30 or 90 days? and when it expires, is it as simple as entering oman and coming back to get another visa?

[meorbust]

thanks for the site sandy. 60 days visit visa and 30 days renewable. and veiled, I missed your comment on a.d. at the end, so disregard my previous reply!

IT REALLY MAKES ONE SCREAM WHEN A PERSON HAS TO GO THROUGH WHAT HE DOES WHEN HIS WIFE 'APPEARS' TO BE A HOOKER!!!!!!!!!!!

[veiledsentiments]

Yes, the whole problem of the hookers affects everyone. The expat women have to put up with the effect of if you look the least bit like you might be Russian, men constantly asking "russi? russi?" as they assume if the answer is yes, you are a 'working girl.'

VS

[Iamherebecause]

Whether or not your wife can sponsor you should surely depend on her salary, not on her nationality. Although if she is in a position where she's in shared accommodation through her job - like many in for example hotel/tourism/catering, or lower paid school jobs - then there might be restrictions on her having guests to stay.

[Afra]

At one time, only female teachers in government tertiary institutes and female doctors could sponsor their husbands. Things may have changed.

[heyjoe]

I will be working in the Emirates soon. Can I sponsor my wife to live there once I get a working sponsorship from the school? At first we both will have to do the border run. I will get a 60 day working holiday visa supposedly and my wife will get a 30 day tourist visa.

Anyone have some info on this?
Thanks

[veiledsentiments]

Are you a teacher? I can't imagine any educational institution requiring visa runs. Every place that I taught, the couple arrived together.

This place sounds a bit shady to me...

VS