The international news for expats in April has still been focused on the two big stories: the repercussions of Brexit and Covid-19. However, plenty of other things have been happening internationally, too. In this round-up, we take a look at the main news stories and how they could affect you. Expats sitting tight in … Read more
Brexit has not dominated the news recently (that dubious honour continues to be held by Covid-19), but the end of the transition period continues to have an impact, particularly on Northern Ireland, on exports and imports, and on the lives of British citizens resident in the EU. We’ll be taking a look at those repercussions … Read more
Expat exodus continues from the UAE A recent survey suggested that 80% of expats leaving the UAE are buying a one-way ticket. The survey covered over 5,000 people (42% of whom were Indian). Cleartrip report that: “People are not certain that they will come back in time. People are going to emergencies but they are … Read more
We have now been out of the EU for over two months, and the various ramifications of the withdrawal have started to become more evident. There have been some issues – perhaps rather more than ‘teething problems’, as the UK government described them – but they do not appear to have been as dire as … Read more
UAE offers expats citizenship for the first time Despite the localisation trend in employment sectors in the UAE, for the first time, the region is planning to offer citizenship to expats. High-level white-collar professionals, such as doctors, will largely benefit, plus individuals with special talents, such as artists. There is no application procedure as such. … Read more
Six weeks after the end of the transition period, some of the effects of Brexit are beginning to become clear. Fishing remains in the spotlight, with older and smaller fishery operations complaining that they did not get the deal they were promised and that many will be forced to close. The music industry also has … Read more
Moving abroad can be a daunting task even if you are in good health, but it can be doubly difficult if you have a disability, such as a visual or hearing impairment. The latter can create a number of obstacles. For instance, you may struggle to make yourself understood by, or to understand, officials in … Read more
UAE: Emiratisation gains momentum We have reported before on the UAE’s issues with the amount of expat influence in the Emirates, and momentum against foreign control seems to be growing in the region. Mohammed Rashid Al Shaali, from the Federal National Council, stated this week that the level of expat investment is affecting the recent … Read more
Christmas Eve 2020 brought an unlikely present from Santa, briefly taking the form of Boris Johnson: an actual Brexit deal. Although some issues remained unresolved – for example, the rules around fishing could have been better ironed out – the deal was able to go through and, in due course, be ratified by Parliament. It … Read more
The most expensive cities for expats Paris and Zurich have joined Hong Kong to become the most expensive places for expats to live, according to a recent report from the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). They say that the Worldwide Cost of Living Index has seen these European contenders nudge Singapore and Osaka from their previous … Read more