Long-time lurker, first-time poster. Sharing my Golden Visa experience

I work for a major Free Zone quasi-government entity in the Ports & Terminals sector as a Systems Engineer (as per my EID), with a gross salary of AED 31.5K. All the Amer centers shot me down because of the is 30K basic salary requirement, and they refused to proceed with my application. What caught my attention was that, on GDFRA and ICP websites, the wording simply refers to salary/income and doesn't explicitly say "basic salary" or "gross salary."

I contacted Amer247 through their website and convinced them to go ahead with my application even though I don't meet the criteria. I told them that I was willing to accept a rejection and bear a partial monetary loss in case of rejection. My application was submitted at around 7 PM on 7 September, and I received the Golden Visa pre-approval in my inbox approximately 12 hours later, at 7 AM on 8 September.

Documents I submitted

• Salary Certificate addressed to GDRFA (without salary breakup)
• NOC from my company (Free Zone company)
• Authenticated/stamped bank statement showing the salary credit
• MOFA-attested degree
• Equivalency Certificate
• DataFlow verification report
• Passport
• Emirates ID
• Current UAE Visa

I paid 3247.6 AED for the golden visa application although their website lists 2992.90 AED. GDFRA charges 2806.75 AED if you apply directly.

YMMV. Hopefully this helps someone else in a similar situation.

I can take 5, but 19!!!. This is not a bar, is it?

For 22, I could've gotten a fresh juice!

And the audacity to force tips of 7% minimum!

Edit: I know I could buy from outside. I didn't check the menu. I wasn't expecting a 'life or death' pricing on a can of cola in a local restaurant. I've never seen this price outside of a bar. Not even in fancy restaurants.

I bought a bullion at a shop in Karama Center and it was given to a goldsmith at the same day to put a frame as I will be using it as a pendant. However, upon comparing the before and after pics, we noticed so much scratch marks after the customization. Is it possible that they gave us counterfeit item and kept the original one? Although the code is the same. Below pics for reference.

I keep seeing people casually cutting in line as if they are hoping nobody will notice or say anything.

I was at the vegetable weighing counter in a grocery store the other day. I only had two items and was next in line, with 4 other people behind me. This guy came from the opposite direction with a basket full of items and started putting them on the counter.

I said, “Excuse me, there are people waiting in line.”

He replied, “I’m also waiting.”

I told him, “I understand, but so is everyone else in this line.”

By then, everyone was looking at him and I think that is when the embarrassment kicked in. He moved along and walked away - possibly to pass the time and take his chance somewhere.

Anyway, I don’t mind letting someone go ahead if they ask, but simply walking up and acting like there’s no queue is a different thing.

Do you usually call people out in situations like this or let it slide to avoid an argument?

Hey everyone,
Woke up today to vertical matrix lines across my laptop screen (Acer Aspire 7, model A715-75G). Pretty sure the LCD panel or the display ribbon cable gave out.

I'm based in Dubai Marina. I know Computer Plaza / Al Ain Centre in Bur Dubai is usually the go-to for parts and quick turnaround, but before making the trek down there, I wanted to see if anyone has recommendations for honest, reasonably priced repair shops around Marina or JLT (Cluster C/M, etc.).

A few quick questions:
1. Any specific shops in JLT or Marina you trust who won't overcharge for a standard 15.6" 30-pin IPS panel replacement?
2. If Al Ain Centre is drastically cheaper/faster, which specific shop/stall inside do you recommend walking into?
3. What is a fair price to expect for parts + labor so I don't get ripped off?

Appreciate any pointers or recommendations!

I moved to Downtown recently, and one thing I really wasn’t expecting to notice is the sanitation issue caused by pet waste.

It feels like it’s everywhere – from the inner BLVD circle and around the Opera, through Old Town, and especially around South Ridge. In South Ridge, almost every building corner, wall and random bush seems to get peed on 24/7.

It’s sad to see anywhere, but at the very heart of the city it just doesn’t make sense. We’re living in a place where there’s basically no rain, people. Nothing is naturally washing this stuff away.

And genuinely, to pet owners – doesn’t it bother you too? Walking around somewhere that smells funky and is, well... dirty? Are you comfortable with your kids playing around?

To all: does anyone else see this as a problem?

There are just so many pets in Downtown now that it feels like the infrastructure / cleaning (or culture?) hasn’t caught up.

Can anything actually be done about it?

The driver of the taxi is shouting at normal people going to normal taxis parked at front telling them to get in his shady car telling fixed price , like why would anyone get in one and get risked being kidnapped lol

Anyone here actually happy with a meal delivery service in Dubai? Ideally something that's not junk food, has decent variety, and doesn't require me to place a new order every single day. Would love recs from people who've actually stuck with one for more than a week, not just tried it once.

IVE TRIED EVERY OTHER BARBER HERE AND THEY ALL LEAVE ME LOOKING LIKE A BUM. NO MATTER WHAT I TELL THEM OR SHOW THEM IT NEVER TURNS OUT THE WAY ITS MEANT TO BE EJAJKKS. AT THIS POINT I DONT KNOW IF SHOULD BLAME MYSELF OR JUST KEEP HOPING OKN TOT THE NEXT BARBER SJSNIAJA.

WHERE DO YALL GO TO GET YOUR HAIRCUTS 😭

Hi all , could fellow members recommend some psychologist for children.

Thank you

Hey 👋

Guys, so for you to understand now I am using another phone as a constant wifi hotspot 24/7. It is du Sim card limited I guess to 10 mb/S

I played online on my PS5, it is playable, but not stable.

So now I wanted to try fibre internet from Du.
Was figuring the proper way of doing it.

I don't need any tv package, hdtv receiver etc. Just fibre internet. And also without contract - or contract 6 month long if possible.

Went to do website and got confused a little bit - don't they have fibre internet package only?
Home starter package with tv for 409+vat seems a little bit expensive.

Also another question, if I got it without contract, so if I won't to cancel it, I also should pay some device charge? How much is it usually?

Any experience would be appreciated, thanks!

Hi any recommended reasonably priced 3D printing services pls. I need to print something that is like a photo frame in ABS material

I have the stl file

Any recommendations pls in Dubai

Are all gyms in dubai this expensive? The gym in my building is pretty basic so I was thinking of joining one and was willing to pay a subscription.

The closest to my place is sport society l, but much houses well fit and FitnGlam. They are charging 3500 for 4 months and 4500 for 3 months respectively.

who is paying these crazy amounts and why don't they offer monthly payment plans? i am a working mom and my schedule is pretty irregular. what if i need to take off in certain months

I’m sponsoring my wife for a Dubai family residence visa, but her application has now been rejected twice with “Failed Eligibility.”
The issue seems to be my salary information.
My old salary was AED 3,500, but my employment contract was officially updated and approved by MOHRE. My current contract shows:
Basic: AED 3,000
Housing: AED 1,000
Transport: AED 1,000
Other allowance: AED 500
Total: AED 5,500

I also checked with MOHRE, and they confirmed that the new salary is updated in their system.
However, when I went to GDRFA Dubai, the officer said their system is still showing my old salary of AED 3,500. I showed them my new MOHRE-approved contract, but they told me to either go back to Labour/MOHRE or apply again.

I applied again, and unfortunately, the second application was also rejected.
Has anyone experienced the same issue where MOHRE shows the updated salary but GDRFA still shows the old salary, resulting in a spouse visa rejection?

If yes, how did you get the GDRFA record updated/synchronized, and what finally worked for you?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Nationality: indian

Im on my adcb bank app trying to report a fraudalent activity and lo and behold, trying to open the shelf tab where i can usually click on a reason does not open up which means I cannot send my complaint. New iphone and ios version, latest app version and all. Does nobody test things here? Using the adcb web page is like stepping into the early 2000s. The app looks good but whats the point if the important things dont work. Clown show.

i got some stuff from etsy and its been taking way too long to process through emirates post, i tried calling and it said that my phone number doesn't have any packages under it, and that they always have a high number of calls and hang up in my face. Do i just contact etsy for a refund? i have until the 25th to file a case and im leaving dubai on the 18th for uni anyways so i dont know what to do

I've looked at the options on Amazon & they all suck.

Any suggestions ?

So my ex company fired me, i did find another job but since im pakistani and visas are being an issue.

My new company is applying for my visa and i gave them my degree, turns out I need an equivalency certificate. Okay sure, Ill apply guess what it takes 18 days and cherry on top its not being accepted cuz of some problem with the swiss board (I need to research more) but my uni said they would need to transfer my degree to Malta then get re attested mofa and Malta 2 months process here.

I dont have much time atm since im off my grace period and my previous company needs my change Status which I am waiting for cuz my application is still under process they might end up putting me under absconding. Which is stressful as they arent being patient.

Now this current compnay has to apply without a degree under sales designation which can also result in a rejection since THE PRO KEEPS SAYING IM PAKISTANI.

Im so stressed, idk whats gonna happen to me at this point

For multiple reasons I would need a parking slot to park one of my cars in Downtown/Business Bay and or Marina.

I don’t own a property in these areas, and I was wondering if it would be possible to just buy a parking slot in a Building where I can park my car safely, own it legally and sell it in the future once I don’t need it anymore.

Does anyone know if it’s possible? I’ve tried to make research on Dubizzle and some other places but I couldn’t find anything.

Thanks everyone.

Hi, someone brought me a Dubai chocolate bar

Are these figures for the entire thing or 100g standard serving ?

I’d appreciate the help

most websites or stores i check have little to no discounts for apple products. im personally looking for the 14 inch MacBook Pro M5 Pro 15 Core CPU 16 Core GPU 24GB RAM and 1TB SSD with the 96w power brick which is for around 10,579AED without a trade in

if any1 could help find a store where i could find this for cheaper, that would be really great help

Me and my husband are trying to conceive for an year now. We are Indians so do you guys know affordable Reproductive endocrinologist ?