Boston
“Dear Steve,
Good morning Sir, I was terminated from my job in Abu Dhabi in May 2008 have have left credit cards and loan balances. I sent an email and fax message to all credit card and bank company that I will repay them as soon as I get a job. I recently got a job here in Qatar but the UAE banks were able to get my home phone number thus our home phone ring every hour from collectors. My family assured them that I will repay my debts. This morning I have received an email from the collector that the bank will file a police blotter to the Abu Dhabi court and will escalate throughout the GCC region. I fear that I may get arrested here in Qatar, if they found out I am here in Qatar. I am not a fraudster. I will really pay my debts but just in three more months so I could establish myself here. but they wanted now.
Your advise please…
Boston”
The Answer:
Dear Boston,
I was just writing about the overall situation in the UAE the other day. See Bouncing a Check Can Put You Behind Bars For Years in Dubai.
Unpaid debts in the UAE can and do lead to imprisonment in the UAE. Warrants for arrest are reportedly share among GCC countries and people with warrants are detained at the borders when they enter a GCC country.
Your choices are minimal. You can either work out some arrangement you can meet with the collectors, wait to be arrested, or get the hell out of the GCC until you can repay your debts in full.
This situation is not a reflection of your values or integrity but a total lack of reasonable laws and regulations to allow people to repay debts in the GCC.
Please update me on your progress by posting updates here in the comments section of your question. I’m very interested in how this works out for you.
P.S. Be sure to read ‘The Secret of Surviving Through Difficult Economic Times. What I Learned On My Journey‘.