Visa rules force jobless Britons out of Dubai

DUBAI’S expat community groups are full of bargains; everything from cars to gym subscriptions. The fire sales are a result of people left jobless by the UAE’s coronavirus lockdown.

Among them, thousands of British expats are trying to bolster their bottom-lines before they are forced to leave a place many call home.

Thousands have been made redundant, with strict visa regulations forcing them to return to the UK. An estimated 240,000 Britonss call the UAE home, working as everything from air hostesses to teachers.

Fashion marketer Selina Dixon was made redundant a few weeks ago, now she is living off her savings. In weeks her visa will expire, and she will not be able to renew it unless she finds a new job. She said: “Every day you wake up, you’re looking on LinkedIn. Speaking to contacts and your network, but then you have to be mindful there are so many people going through this.”

About 90 per cent of the UAE’s population are foreign nationals and a study out this month by Oxford Economics estimates that the country of nine million could lose up to 900,000 jobs, with British expats likely to be among the worst affected.

Though the government has announced some visa waivers, those who have lost their jobs since March 1 have 30 days to find a new job, or their visas become invalid and they will be hit with daily fines.

It means people like Ms Dixon may be forced to return to the UK for the first time in years.

“I’ve been away [from the UK] for 10 years, I’m going to have to start from scratch,” she said.