General

Secularisation is boosted in the UAE After a two-year review of the legal system, the UAE has undertaken a number of social reforms, including the decriminalisation of alcohol consumption and suicide. It is also now legal for unmarried couples to live together in the same household. In addition, if you got married outside the UAE […]

Those following the progress of Brexit may be feeling as though they are trapped in a kind of Groundhog Day. Fishing rights have continued to be a big sticking point, with some sources suggesting that there remains a “very wide gap” between the UK and the EU on this issue. Frontline nations, such as France, […]

Bank account closures have been in the news recently, with a number of major UK banks announcing that they intend to close customer accounts for British citizens living in the EU. British expats may also lose access to wealth management services. This is in direct response to Brexit. Accounts are being closed because it is […]

The coronavirus pandemic has made itself felt across the globe. As well as impacting healthcare, it has had serious implications for the economy, and many sectors are still struggling to stay afloat. Some companies have been unable to operate, due to strict social distancing measures, while others have seen a significant decrease in their numbers […]

Many expats struggle with loneliness. In fact, according to Aetna’s Expat Experiences Survey 2020, a third of respondents (33.1%) claimed that ‘missing home, family and friends’ was their biggest challenge. One way to safeguard against this is to become part of an expat community. We recently interviewed several expats who emphasised the importance of this, […]

The coronavirus pandemic has significantly changed many aspects of our daily lives. Around the world, people have been subjected to varying degrees of lockdown – from venue closures and restaurant curfews to strict ‘stay at home’ policies. As the end of the year draws steadily closer, many people are turning their minds towards Christmas. But […]

The international news continues to be dominated by Covid and, increasingly, by Brexit, as the end of the transition period grows ever closer. Major concerns relating to both issues preoccupy British expats abroad, but you should note that there are some lesser factors that you might also need to take into consideration. The Dutch customs […]

October has been crunch month for Brexit, as the deadline for a deal grows ever closer. Despite assurances from Downing Street that Brexit would happen, it now appears that the ‘oven ready’ deal is about to pass its sell-by date, and it’s too late to put it back in the freezer. The government has said […]

The spring and early summer of 2020 have been a time of limbo for many people, during which the social and working world has literally ground to a halt. With the imposed lockdowns in a number of nations, even travel within local neighbourhoods has proved impossible for many. So, what impact has Covid-19 had on […]

We have previously reported on the increasing tendency of countries to localise their workforces. In Oman, the number of expats has reached its lowest level since 2015. Those leaving have mainly been nationals from various Asian countries. The number of expats in Kuwait has also fallen, with over 1000 public sector job contracts with foreign […]