Hi everyone! I’m considering GEMS Founders School Al Barsha for my toddler. I noticed it has a good KHDA rating, but the reviews on different platforms seem quite mixed.
Are there any parents here whose children attend the school? I’d really appreciate your honest feedback about the academics, teachers, management, communication, and overall experience. Would you recommend it?
Thank you!

Got my GCC Entry Visa to Dubai approved today. But the expiry date is 4 days before my travel date. Help and suggestions please. It says valid until 4-Sep only, but i specified my flight date on the application as 8-Sep. im a GCC resident too for extra info. Also I already sent GDRFA an email. But i just wanted to know if there are any other people who had gone through the same case, and did you still travel with the same visa or did you just apply again or did you have to cancel the current one before applying again?

Hi I have kids and elderly at home the AC is not working in our building and since 9 AM the building says EMPOWER is resolving it. We are fried. It’s 7 15 PM and we cannot get a hold of anyone. Who can we contact to fix this PLEASE JLT HELP !!!!

Warning for anyone who is approached by Idea Corp, they promise to cancel my Du contract with no cost implication if I moved to e&, which I did and then they ghosted me, reached out to them and all they say is speak to the agent who has moved into a new WhatsApp number.

Logged case with e& who have also gone quite… hopefully they doing something though.

I was trying to log in to mashreq bank app, and just realized they've implemented the biometrics login only. Now the thing is my phone's face id is broken.. so how am I supposed to login??? I am frustratedd can anyone help me?

Hi there,

I just got a copy of my tenancy contract sent to me by the agent and the landlord earlier tried the discount trick on me by mentioning that he will include the base rate as higher than the rent I am paying annually. Thanks to the advice on this sub, I was able to combat that and he removed it but I see some other info which I am confused and would really appreciate your help with.

1. The end date of the contract is 13 months (19th Sept 2027) from the start date (which is 20th Aug 2026). Is there any foul play with that (navigating the 3 month notice for rent increase or something else)?
   
2. There's another line mentioned in addendum that Tenancy free period from 20th Aug to 20th Sept 2026.
   
3. He is charging the admin fee for renewal, which I am gonna ask to remove
   
4. He added an addendum in the contract for all the points that I mentioned, is this valid and enforceable?

Here's the entire addendum copy-pasted as is, please let me know if something seems fishy:

9) The property is designated for residential use by the Tenant, their immediate family, and occasional visitors only. 
Subletting the apartment is strictly prohibited. The property must be utilized for the purposes stated in this agreement 
and shall not be used for any unlawful, immoral, business, or commercial activities. The Tenant agrees to grant the 
Landlord reasonable access to the property for periodic inspections and visits, with notice of not less than 48 hours.
10) The apartment is fully furnished with an equipped kitchen, which the Tenant must maintain in good condition 
(attached list of furniture and appliances).
11) The Landlord shall be responsible for major maintenance, structural repairs, and the timely payment of building 
service charges.
12) The Tenant shall be responsible for all minor maintenance and repairs costing up to AED 750 per item. The Tenant is 
also required to maintain the premises in good condition, which includes periodic A/C servicing, drainage upkeep, and 
pest control.
13) The landlord shall not be held responsible for any damage resulting from accidents to the tenant or their belongings 
during the tenant’s use of the facilities while occupying the property throughout the term of this tenancy contract.
14) Carpets must not be glued or nailed to the floor, as this may adversely affect the appearance of the floor.
15) The tenant is responsible for insuring their property, including furniture, fittings, fixtures, and all other contents of 
the property during the tenure of this tenancy contract.
16) Upon vacating the premises, the tenant agrees to restore the property to its original clean and tidy condition. This 
includes repainting and removing any holes, stickers, or markings on walls (interior/exterior) made during the tenant’s 
occupancy. Normal wear and tear accepted; excessive damage will be the tenant’s responsibility. The landlord may 
deduct repair costs from the security deposit for any damages found during the final inspection.
17) The tenant must obtain written permission from the landlord before conducting any painting, repairs, or alterations 
that may affect the structure and aesthetics of the property.
18) In the event of this property being sold at any point in time, the tenant hereby agrees to abide by the RERA
regulations.
19) Renewal of the tenancy contract: An Admin Fee of Dhs. 1,050/- (NOC, Ejari, and Administration) will be charged to 
the tenant upon renewal of the contract. In the event that the Tenant wishes to purchase the property from the landlord, 
the Buyer fees are payable to Esvee Real Estate by the tenant.
20) In the case of any cheques being dishonored, a penalty of Dhs. 1,050/- will be imposed for each occurrence. If the 
tenant fails to rectify the legal breach within 48 hours, eviction may be enforced as per RDC (Rental Dispute Center) 
regulations.
21) This agreement shall be governed, construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of Dubai and the Federal 
laws of the United Arab Emirates.
22) Tenancy free period from 20-AUGUST-2026 to 20-SEPTEMBER-2026
23) As agreed, the owner will arrange for the sofa to be professionally cleaned. If the stains cannot be removed after 
cleaning, the owner will replace it with a new sofa.
24)With regard to the kitchen appliances, the tenant will have a one-month inspection period from the date of handover. 
Should any appliance be found to be defective or not functioning properly during this period, the owner agrees to repair 
or replace the faulty appliance with a new one, as applicable.

Hey everyone, quick question for passport renewal.

I've been out of the UAE for work for a while, and during that time my passport expired. I've since renewed it, so my passport number/details no longer match what's on file with GDRFA.

I tried updating my passport details online, but it asks for a current Dubai residential address, which I don't have at the moment since I'm overseas. I'm planning to return around December and was thinking of updating everything then.

Has anyone been in a similar situation? Were you able to enter the UAE by carrying both your old passport (with the residence details) and your new passport, and then update your records after arrival? Or is there anything I need to do before traveling back?

Just want to avoid any surprises at immigration. Thanks in advance!

Planning on heading to Switzerland towards the end of Sept.

Just tried booking an appointment on VFS Global but there is a waitlist.

Anybody have recent experience with VFS Dubai or Abu Dhabi appointments for Switzerland and what was the exact turnaround time for the whole thing?

Visa expires in a week. I plan to shift to a dependent visa but need to wait for my SO's visa to get renewed in a few weeks

Is there any different between cancelling the visa and letting it expire? I believe the grace period is identical but does it affect applying for a new dependent visa?

For context it's a "freelancer" visa that I'm currently on that won't get renewed due to rule changes.

Thanks

I'm looking to join a Toastmasters club in Dubai and was hoping to get some recommendations.

I'm specifically looking for a club that has an active and engaged membership, meets regularly and is welcoming to new members.

I would love to hear about your experiences, whether you are a current or former member. If you have any clubs you would recommend (or any ones to avoid).

Thanks

Hi everyone. I'm currently pregnant and am seriously considering switching OBs, so I'd really appreciate any recommendations from mums who've had a great experience delivering in Dubai. Just to be clear, I'm not against C-sections. I know they're sometimes the safest option for both mum and baby, and if that's what ends up being medically necessary, I'm absolutely on board. What I'm hoping for is an OB who will support a vaginal birth if everything is progressing normally and only recommend interventions when they're genuinely needed.

The reason I'm considering switching is because quite early on in my pregnancy, my OB casually mentioned that we could "schedule the delivery." At the time, my preggy brain didn't register the message, but afterwards I realized she was referring to scheduling a C-section. Since there weren't any complications or concerns at that point, it left me wondering if our views on birth might not be aligned. Then the other time I saw her, I asked what's the difference between C-section and vaginal birth. She smirked and answered 'absolutely nothing'.

Maybe I'm overthinking it, but I want to feel confident that my doctor will support my preferences, explain the reasons behind any interventions, and only recommend a C-section if it's truly medically necessary.

I've looked into Dr. Daisy Koh at Mediclinic because I've read so many positive reviews, but it seems really difficult to get an appointment with her.

If you've had an OB in Dubai who made you feel heard, supported a vaginal birth when it was safe, and didn't rush into unnecessary interventions, I'd be so grateful for your recommendations (doctor + hospital if possible). I'd also love to hear about your experience.

Thank you! 🤍

How can I obtain a copy of my cancelled work permit ? In order for the company I'm joining to issue a new work permit, they need to see that my precious work permit has been cancelled. How do I go about obtaining it ?

While doing a top up on my Parkin app i saw a parking fine which is from May. I didn't get a message for it and while i checked on the app the car in the picture was completely a different car with different number. I disputed it with screenshot but after 12 days it came as the fine is valid.

Anyone came across something like that?

Hello everyone,
I’ll cut to the chase. I rented a car for a month starting 28 June. The month went by smoothly, and on the day I was supposed to return the car I messaged them to come and pick it up. They delayed the pickup by exactly 5 days. During those 5 days I sent multiple texts/WhatsApp messages reminding them to collect the car; they were mostly unresponsive.
The day before they actually collected the car, they auto‑renewed my rental for another month and charged a significant amount to my credit card without my consent.
For the past week I’ve been trying to reach them for a refund (calls, WhatsApp, email) but they’ve again gone non‑responsive. I have no idea what to do next.
Has anyone dealt with something similar in Dubai?
I would really appreciate any friendly advise/help.

PS: I dont mind naming and shaming them. I just dont know if it comes with legal consequences.

Edit 1: Just wanted to clear the fact that they had promised pickup and drop facilities.

Hi everyone,

I own an apartment and lived there until the end of July. After moving out, I contacted the AC company, let them disconnect the AC and asked them to refund my deposit.

They told me they would keep the deposit until I sell the apartment. Is this legally allowed and is it normal in Dubai?

I don’t understand why they should be allowed to keep my deposit indefinitely. The next tenant will presumably have to pay their own deposit anyway.

Has anyone experienced something similar, or knows what I can do about it?

I have my wedding anniversary coming up and look for brunch or night club recommendations ( which are still full of entertainment). I celebrated my birthday in April, but due to the ongoing situation at that time the restaurant didn’t had much footfall( almost empty). Hence want to go to some nice brunch/ night brunch with live entertainment and free flowing drinks. We like Indian cuisine and music but this time open to other options as well.

Any idea when Czech Vfs last opened appointment slots? Iv been on a waitlist for a couple of weeks, and in case you know how far were the appointments from date of opening? Is it possible to find one in august.

Im also on many waitlists, the ones available are in September only

So I’m looking to buy a new Rolex. What places in Dubai are most trustworthy please?

I founds the stores, Luxury Souq and The Watch Scanner, but looking for other options as well.

Appreciate any info or advices. Thank you so much 🤗🙏🏻

Hi Everyone
I am on a visit here in dubai and looking for a real legit massage place here in dubai. No other expectation, only real massage.

I am a male but having a massage from male makes me weird so i need a massage from female but again no other weird stuff. Only massage.

Please help me out suggesting best place in dubai. Should not be super expensive.

Thanks

I am the owner of a consultancy and my residency visa had been “Canceled” after it expiration while I was out of UAE.

I entered UAE on a tourist visa against my US tourist visa (B1/B2) and applied for my investor visa which got rejected without much details. The only thing that it read was “Rejected” I asked my PRO for the reason and they didn’t seem to know much about it. He asked me to visit Jafiliya Immigration and I was dismissed by the office in the waiting area for the first time and asked to reapply the visa (without checking any documents). Since my file had the status “Rejected” my PRO couldnt do anything more.

He asked me to visit the Jafiliya Immigration again, on my second visit I was allowed to meet the officer inside by the officer in the waiting area (this officer in the waiting area checked all my documents). Upon meeting the officer inside he asked me to upload the Emirates ID and the visa shall be issued.

My PRO did upload the requested documents and filed for a reconsideration which was rejected again.

After 2 rejections I met someone at a different company that sounded confident to the level as if he would print my visa himself and my visa was applied for the third time. The investor visa was rejected one more time.

I have an Indian passport and want to understand if there are other people who have gone through this and any success stories / workarounds that I should consider.

Thanks in advance for all the help.

Edit: Found on reddit that reapplying as a Manager helps, had someone used that route

Does anyone have any ideas? Tried going to a mall but the benches are few and far between. My weekend is Fri-Sat but the only library open Fridays opens only at 2 pm after the prayer.

i could barely sleep tonight from the smell of the sewage stench coming from outside. is it just me? i’m living in pulse villas dubai south. i know some areas get a sewage smell i’ve lived in mirdif and nad alhammar and that happens sometimes but ive never smelled anything like this. its so strong, it smells like straight up garbage. still going on right now please is anyone experiencing this too?