DLS and Fred MIA

[EliasIT]

I have just spoken with IFZA.

They said all is fine.

The Visa was approved already yesterday. I just have to wait for the Emirates ID to be printed which should be done today/tomorrow.

They also said health insurance wasn't required for the renewal and they haven't set any up.

That's very good first hand real person experience, very valuable for readers of this thread.

 

[uk29]

I just thought id offer a further update on my previous post here with a view of it helping others...

Tuesday:

• Landed into Dubai airport 05:30AM.
• Collected from my apartment by the IFZA PRO at 10:00 and then driven to Smart Salem in Index mall for blood test (only blood test required for renewal - no finger prints or X ray).
• 10:30AM IFZA Pro arranged for renewal of Emirates ID whilst I was having the blood test taken.
• 11:00AM IFZA Pro emailed me the Emirates ID application form and medical certificate.

Wednesday:

• IFZA emailed me confirmation of Residency visa being granted 09:30AM. (I paid a little extra for 24 hour Visa submission with IFZA)
• Emirates ID status changed to "Under Processing" 09:50AM.
• Emirates ID status changed to "Approved" 10:00AM.

Thursday:

• Emirates ID status changed to "Card is printed" 12:30PM.

Friday (today):

• Emirates ID delivered to IFZA 2:00PM.
• IFZA delivered Emirates ID to me at 4.30PM.

No Medical/Health Insurance documentation was required or provided at any point.

So, this completely concludes the renewal process of the Emirates ID and Residency Visa for a further 2 years.

I also met with @Fred today for coffee, great guy with some sound advice. Good to have him back in business again and I have no doubt we will do further business together - most likely with his Panama setup.

 

[CrazyPanda]

It's not an IFZA thing but a government thing - at visa renewal time ALL private sector companies MUST provide insurance for the employee renewing a visa. If you're on a work visa provided by your company, then you 100% fall into this law - your company has to provide at least basic medical insurance for you. If you are the only employee of a one-person IFZA FZCO it still applies.

See https://gulfnews.com/living-in-uae/...today-everything-you-need-to-know-1.500009608

As for being oversold, I don't think 1000aed is expensive...

Let me say again: Health insurance is not mandatory to obtain or renew a visa in Dubai. It sounds like someone misled you and sold you unnecessary insurance.

If you’re employed by a company and they fail to provide health insurance, you have the right to file a complaint, as it’s their legal obligation. Especially in cases where your visa is issued through your own company, you are not required to purchase health insurance. And I assume you’re not planning to complain your own company to the authorities.

I’ve been a UAE resident for 7 years. For 5 of those years, I held an IFZA employee visa (as a General Manager) many years without any health insurance and now I’m on a Golden Visa, again without any health insurance.

The Visa was approved already yesterday. I just have to wait for the Emirates ID to be printed which should be done today/tomorrow.

They also said health insurance wasn't required for the renewal and they haven't set any up.

No Medical/Health Insurance documentation was required or provided at any point.

This.

 

[Fred]

I also met with @Fred today for coffee, great guy with some sound advice. Good to have him back in business again and I have no doubt we will do further business together - most likely with his Panama setup.

My pleasure - was a good Exchange - looking forward working with you together and you reporting back here with a review.

 

[PiersBlack]

I just realized that last year, IFZA charged me for visa renewal fees that were supposed to be free as part of their free visa for life promotion. In addition, their license renewal price was higher than the cost of renewing through DLS.

This year, on top of the no loyalty discount, they also tried to add a random cross-activity fee to the invoice.

I've read other people in this thread facing a similar issue, paying for the visa renewal fee, etc. I'm in contact with them, and they requested to "present the relevant documentation" to prove I was offered a “Free Visa for Life” promotion in order to get it refunded. This is ridiculous considering IFZA themselves mentioned this everywhere.

This post is not a complaint aimed at Fred / DLS. I'm sharing this so others still dealing with IFZA directly can be on the lookout and not be taken advantage by them.

 

[M4S]

DLS Dubai Residence Visa Free for Lifetime Promotion was introduced 01.08.2021 onwards till Business Closure for 1 Residence Holder of each Company - this has nothing to do with Trade License Renewal - you are mixing things up here - other DLS Dubai Clients would have reported back here otherwise anyway.

@Au999 I recall you are eligible for the Residence Visa Free for Lifetime Promotion - you did just recently the Residence Visa Renewal - can you confirm it was included?

So far beside of cutting me out IFZA did hold always their word and of course I gonna have a Conversation with them if they don't do what was agreed on.

It was included when DLS helped with our Trade Licence and Visa Renewals earlier this year.

 

[Houdini]

It’s really good to see that so many of you still have your companies in the UAE, and that a lot of you are even still living there.

So despite the changes to the regulations and the introduction of the 9% corporate tax in Dubai, it seems the place isn’t nearly as bad as some of the earlier drama on OCT threads made it out to be. I’m glad to see that, because I’m seriously considering relocating there myself.