LEGAL-ISH

Got a legal question? Our favourite lawyer, Ahmed Odeh will give you answers weekly.This Week's Questions:1. "My partner and I are living in Dubai, we live together, but we're not married. And I know that's not illegal anymore. However, I think I might be pregnant. So I was told by some friends that that is illegal. What are my rights? And what should I do if that is the case?2. "My father had a business issue that he had a lawyer Sharjah to support him. He paid up to 20,000 Dirhams to a man who said he was a lawyer. That man has now disappeared. We don't want to believe that my father was conned, but it seems like it is true. We have already reported to the police. But it seems like there is little to be done unless the guy is found. My question is, how could we have prevented this? What should we ask for or look for as signs that a lawyer is actually legit in the UAE?3. "I will be traveling to Dubai for the first time as a tourist. My hobby is photography. And there's so much conflicting information online about what I can or cannot shoot. I read yesterday that there is a fine of 50,000 Dirhams to take someone's picture without their consent. How can I stop this if I'm in a place like the Burj Khalifa? Can I please know what general guidelines I should follow so I don't get in trouble."Send your questions to hello@dukkanmedia.com or slide in our DMs, and we promise to keep it anonymous.Check out the episode on your favorite podcasting platform.#WeCauseCultureHosted by OT, Reem, and Ahmed Odeh, Legal-ish is brought to you by the audiophiles at Dukkan Media.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Got a legal question? Our favourite lawyer, Ahmed Odeh will give you answers weekly.This Week's Questions:1. "I got divorced five years ago, and my ex wife and two children live in Dubai. As part of our divorce agreement, I pay 5,000 Dirhams monthly as maintenance for my children. However, I've been unemployed for the last seven months, and I'm struggling to make ends meet. My ex wife is still working but has threatened to file a case if I do not pay monthly maintenance. Can I expect any legal protection in this situation as I'm without a job? And I'm genuinely unable to pay? Please help.”2. "I applied for a bank university credit card under my father's sponsorship when I was eighteen. My father only gave me an NOC, and the card was issued under my name. The card limit was 4,000 Dirhams, as it was a student card. And the card was used by my father in 2008. But I was unaware of that, as I was just a student then. My father made the last payment of 3,000 Dirhams before absconding and leaving the UAE. Since then, I have not had any relationship with my father due to personal reasons. In the beginning, I had got some SMS and calls from the bank with regards to the payments pending. I then got no bank notifications for a few years. However, I received a call yesterday informing me that the outstanding amount has been increased to 15,000 Dirhams due to late payment and interest fees. I cannot pay that sum as I am unaware of what has happened, and I have never issued any checks against my name to the bank. I do not have a credit card or a loan in the country. Now the bank is threatening to file a case against me. Please advice.”3. "My husband and I bought property under both of our names, what will happen if we get divorced?"4. “I like to cross-dress on Saturday evenings. Can I go out in public in Dubai?”Send your questions to hello@dukkanmedia.com or slide in our DMs, and we promise to keep it anonymous.Check out the episode on your favorite podcasting platform.#WeCauseCultureHosted by OT, Reem, and Ahmed Odeh, Legal-ish is brought to you by the audiophiles at Dukkan Media.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Got a legal question? Our favourite lawyer, Ahmed Odeh will give you answers weekly.This Week's Questions:1. "I am a Canadian looking for a job in Dubai. I answered a post and I got an interview time. When I arrived, I was put in a lineup of other interviewees. When I got to the front of the line and briefly interviewed, I was told I got the job. But, I had to pay a 1000 Dirham installment on the spot as a visa deposit. Of course, I laughed and left. My friends say they encountered the same experience. Three questions. Is this legal in the UAE? And if not, should I have reported them on the spot? Or what actions should I take or should have taken?”2. "On a nightly basis, I can hear my neighbors fighting very abusively. It is very disturbing to hear, and I'm concerned that this domestic violence is going to escalate. I've called the neighborhood security to the house, but the issue still continues, almost daily. Can I do anything else?”3. "I'm a senior business executive in the Emirate of Dubai. And recently, I attended a meeting at an office and after it was over, I initiated a conversation with the woman receptionist there. I complimented her about her beauty, and I invited her to accompany me for a coffee. Thereafter, the following day, the receptionist was waiting downstairs with the police. I was confronted by the cops and made aware that the woman had filed a criminal complaint against me. Have I committed an offense? And will the complaint filed against me stand during a court trial?"Send your questions to hello@dukkanmedia.com or slide in our DMs, and we promise to keep it anonymous.Check out the episode on your favorite podcasting platform.#WeCauseCultureHosted by OT, Reem, and Ahmed Odeh, Legal-ish is brought to you by the audiophiles at Dukkan Media.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Got a legal question? Our favourite lawyer, Ahmed Odeh will give you answers weekly.This Week's Questions:1. "My neighbor's housekeeper told me that she was being screamed at, all the time. She claimed that her employer was verbally abusing her and even deducting her salary over the smallest mistakes. She wanted to leave. But my neighbor was threatening her with a lifetime ban (from the country). What can I do to help her? How can I report this abuse? I don't want the housemaid to face repercussions because of my complaint.”2. " I had an ear ache, which I went to the doctor for. He referred me to a specialist and weeks later, the problem still remains. I returned to the same doctor twice again, and I finally ended up in the emergency. The emergency room doctor said that the first doctor actually misdiagnosed me, and the problem. And that this was preventable and would have been treatable. I have missed work and been under a lot of stress, what are my rights?”3. "My father passed away this month, and he was responsible for all my family's financials. He did not share any passwords. He did not have a will. And from what I gather, my mother just used his credit card for anything she needed. I'm 18 and I don't know where to begin. Do I ask the bank to give me access to his account? Can the landlord kick us out when the lease is up on our agreement?"Send your questions to hello@dukkanmedia.com or slide in our DMs, and we promise to keep it anonymous.Check out the episode on your favorite podcasting platform.#WeCauseCultureHosted by OT, Reem, and Ahmed Odeh, Legal-ish is brought to you by the audiophiles at Dukkan Media.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Got a legal question? Our favourite lawyer, Ahmed Odeh will give you answers weekly.You guys asked questions and we found answers. Here’s the run down on the VAT rules for influencers, musicians, DJ’s etc.This Week’s Questions:“What is an influencer?”“Does this only affect people who are legally registered, as per like a freelancer visa? What about those who have a different occupation during daytime but provide this service as a side hustle?”“Do we have to register if we have no money and just receive a product?”“Where do I start and where should I register if I identify as an influencer?”[For musicians specifically] “Will this affect my music streaming income performances or brand collaborations What about musicians who are set up under freelance visas?”“We know that this rule is for income above 375,000 Dirhams, but what about products? How will the Federal Tac Authority know about barter deals and product exchanges?”Summary:  Influencers, you’re a business now. Send your questions to hello@dukkanmedia.com or slide in our DMs, and we promise to keep it anonymous.Check out the episode on your favorite podcasting platform.#WeCauseCultureHosted by OT, Reem, and Ahmed Odeh, Legal-ish is brought to you by the audiophiles at Dukkan Media.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Got a legal question? Our favourite lawyer, Ahmed Odeh will give you answers weekly.Today we talk to @tac.plg aka tac-itto aka tactastic aka Dukkan's one and only Sound Engineer. We talk about the music industry’s challenges This Week’s Questions:“I’m a local artist in the region. And fortunately, I have previously had my record played on the radio, am I entitled to receive any kind of royalties? And if I am, what can I do to receive them?”“I’m an artist who has recently signed a contract for a feature I did on another artist song where I'm entitled to 33% of the royalties from streaming. That record is doing quite well, and I haven't seen a single Dirham from it for the past six months. And the artist isn't responding to my calls. I currently don't have the income to pursue anything in court. What can I do?”“I’m a local artist, and I would like to protect my songs. What is the best way to do this?”“Are the copyright laws different in the UAE, than it is in other countries? Does everything apply here? The same way that it does anywhere else?” “If someone was to infringe on my rights in another country, like in the US. For example, let's say radio station plays something in the US, and I have not given permission. How do I pursue legal action from here?”“A lot of issues that we face as independent artists is actually to do with our names. And how streaming platforms and social media platforms display our names and how a lot of artists can have the same names as us. How can I protect my name in the sense that I would like this name to be just mine? How can I make it so that, I'm the only artist that can use a certain name to produce the music that I'm producing?  How can I legally make it so that no one else can release music under my name?”Send your questions to hello@dukkanmedia.com or slide in our DMs, and we promise to keep it anonymous.Check out the episode on your favorite podcasting platform.#WeCauseCultureHosted by OT, Reem, and Ahmed Odeh, Legal-ish is brought to you by the audiophiles at Dukkan Media.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Complaining of reckless drivers in your area? Know what your legal rights are with @ahmedodeh_ in this week's episode of #LEGALISH. This Week’s Questions:“I live in a nice family friendly neighborhood and every day at 5pm a reckless person drives up our street towards home. They almost hit our kid yesterday. A number of parents have reported the license plate to the police, but so far nothing has changed. What can we do to make our neighborhoods safe?”“I was caught by the CID for consuming and possession of Hashish. I cooperated, and I gave the officer the Hashish myself, and I told him where I got it from. I was held for one day in CID and one day in the police department. They released me and told me they would call me to visit the court. The officer told me that I would only get a 5,000 Dirham fine. But if they catch me smoking again, I'll be deported from the UAE. What are my chances of getting off without a deportation for a first time? I know that being clean is the best way to live.”“I am considering the option of taking a job in Dubai. The only issue is that is that 5 or 6 years back, I posted an anti-Islam comment in response to someone abusing my religion on Facebook. Could that be grounds for arrest in Dubai now?”Send your questions to hello@dukkanmedia.com or slide in our DMs, and we promise to keep it anonymous.Check out the episode on your favorite podcasting platform.#WeCauseCultureHosted by OT, Reem, and Ahmed Odeh, Legal-ish is brought to you by the audiophiles at Dukkan Media.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New week, more questions! Listen to our latest #LEGALISH episode to see where the UAE law stands on attesting civil marriage, driving under the influence, and and living in an RV cause you can't pay rent. This Week’s Questions:“I live in a nice family friendly neighborhood and every day at 5pm a reckless person drives up our street towards home. They almost hit our kid yesterday. A number of parents have reported the license plate to the police, but so far nothing has changed. What can we do to make our neighborhoods safe?”“I was caught by the CID for consuming and possession of Hashish. I cooperated, and I gave the officer the Hashish myself, and I told him where I got it from. I was held for one day in CID and one day in the police department. They released me and told me they would call me to visit the court. The officer told me that I would only get a 5,000 Dirham fine. But if they catch me smoking again, I'll be deported from the UAE. What are my chances of getting off without a deportation for a first time? I know that being clean is the best way to live.”“I am considering the option of taking a job in Dubai. The only issue is that is that 5 or 6 years back, I posted an anti-Islam comment in response to someone abusing my religion on Facebook. Could that be grounds for arrest in Dubai now?”Send your questions to hello@dukkanmedia.com or slide in our DMs, and we promise to keep it anonymous.Check out the episode on your favorite podcasting platform.#WeCauseCultureHosted by OT, Reem, and Ahmed Odeh, Legal-ish is brought to you by the audiophiles at Dukkan Media.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So, you got arrested for being naked on a balcony in Dubai Marina? Check out this week’s #LEGALISH episode on your favorite podcast platform. This Week’s Questions:“ I had a family friend who went who went with them as part of a civil engineering job with his company. A worker got injured pretty badly on a construction site that he was at, and all the workers kept on doing their job. And one person from the engineering company decided to give this person CPR. The person was arrested as soon as the police showed up. The family friend later explained that this was actually part of their training. And as his sense of responsibility, this person obviously administered first aid and CPR on people. And as it was apparently illegal, only the police and EMS (or whoever they had over there) were legally allowed to do that. Is this true?”“Can we talk about the woman who got arrested for being naked in that ‘Dubai Marina’ video? What was actually wrong with what happened? What is the crime?”“What's the legality around living in an RV Dubai or in the UAE overall when it comes to such an idea? Can you live out of a van?”Send your questions to hello@dukkanmedia.com or slide in our DMs, and we promise to keep it anonymous.Check out the episode on your favorite podcasting platform.#WeCauseCultureHosted by OT, Reem, and Ahmed Odeh, Legal-ish is brought to you by the audiophiles at Dukkan Media.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can your WhatsApp conversations get you in trouble in court? Do you think someone has pressed charges against you without your knowledge? Ahmed Odeh has all the answers on this week’s episode of #LEGALISH. #WeCauseCulture.This Week’s Questions:“My husband and I were shopping at a very reputable furniture store, we decided to buy a couch that cost 15,000 Dirhams, according to the price tag on the couch. However, when we got to the cashier, they let us know that it actually cost 25,000 Dirhams. What is our right? Is there a law around incorrect pricing or false advertising in the UAE?”“A distant acquaintance of mine made headlines in the UK because she swore at her flatmate via WhatsApp. Her flatmate reported that as a crime, and she was stopped on her way out of the UAE to go home to the UK. My question is, how can we know if there's a case against us?”“How legal are WhatsApp conversations when it comes to providing them as evidence in court or to fight legal battles? I've seen many people use them as an alternative to emails but I'm guessing can be easily spoofed. I'm speaking from a landlord's perspective, when it comes to communicating with my tenants.”Send your questions to hello@dukkanmedia.com or slide in our DMs, and we promise to keep it anonymous.Check out the episode on your favorite podcasting platform.#WeCauseCultureHosted by OT, Reem, and Ahmed Odeh, Legal-ish is brought to you by the audiophiles at Dukkan Media.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What do you need to ensure the law is on your side when documenting domestic abuse? Tune in to this week’s episode of #LEGALISH with Ahmed Odeh. #WeCauseCultureThis Week’s Questions:“How legal or non-compete clauses in contracts? And how hard is it to enforce?”“If I have been physically abused by my partner, but there's no witness to that, what is my legal recourse? The abuse was hitting repeatedly on the hand in frustration, causing swelling. I have a picture but it happened outside the UAE while we were traveling.”“My husband passed away recently, and I have a small business and a trade license, and his name is mentioned in it. But I have power of attorney to do everything. Can I still use the power of attorney?”Send your questions to hello@dukkanmedia.com or slide in our DMs, and we promise to keep it anonymous.Check out the episode on your favorite podcasting platform.#WeCauseCultureHosted by OT, Reem, and Ahmed Odeh, Legal-ish is brought to you by the audiophiles at Dukkan Media.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wife refusing to divorce you? Scammed with a guaranteed cheque? Ahmed Odeh gets our legal questions answered this week on #LEGALISH. #WeCauseCultureThis Week’s Questions:“I've been having a problem with my wife for more than a few years now, and I have been deeply affected by it. My wife refuses to give me a divorce, and I cannot legally prove the harm that she has caused. Given to the religion that both my wife and I belong to, it is difficult to get a divorce under the religion. Is there a solution for me according to the UAE laws, please advice.”“If my wife takes my kid and moves to a different country without my consent, is there a way from the UAE courts that I can get my kid back?”“I had received a cheque from someone. Upon submission at the bank, it was clear that the account of the cheque issuer had been closed. On the back of the check it mentioned “guarantee cheque, not exchangeable.” So my question is, do I have the legal rights to open a criminal case or file a civil suit with this phrase written on the back of the check? Please advise.”Send your questions to hello@dukkanmedia.com or slide in our DMs, and we promise to keep it anonymous.Check out the episode on your favorite podcasting platform.#WeCauseCultureHosted by OT, Reem, and Ahmed Odeh, Legal-ish is brought to you by the audiophiles at Dukkan Media.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is ethical hacking legal in the UAE? We deep dive and breakdown a lot of legal jargon in this week’s episode of #LEGALISH.This Week’s Questions:“I'm in a contract dispute at the moment. Upon reviewing the contract, it became clear to me that at the event of a dispute, the matter will have to be referred to arbitration. What is arbitration? Do I have to file for it? Will doing so prevent me from filing a case in court later? Please advice.”“My husband and I were separated in 2017, but neither of us filed for divorce. I was just informed that he died. And I've been trying to get a copy of the death certificate. But the family and I are not on good terms. What are my options for getting a copy of the death certificate?”“Is ethical hacking legal in the UAE?”Send your questions to hello@dukkanmedia.com or slide in our DMs, and we promise to keep it anonymous.Check out the episode on your favorite podcasting platform.#WeCauseCultureHosted by OT, Reem, and Ahmed Odeh, Legal-ish is brought to you by the audiophiles at Dukkan Media.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is CBD legal? What are the do’s and don’ts around protesting the UAE? Ahmed Odeh gets us all the answers. #LEGALISH.This Week’s Questions:“I have started to see CBD oil products being sold in the UAE. What is the legality behind this?”“My baby was born two weeks before six months from the wedding date. It seems I have to go to court to get approval for the birth certificate in the UAE. What should I expect when I go to court? Are we in trouble?”“What is the red line between posting about Palestine and Israel? Is it true that we are not allowed to protest? And if so, then can I put a flag on my car on my house? Does that count as a protest? And what are the do's and don'ts so we don't get into trouble?“Send your questions to hello@dukkanmedia.com or slide in our DMs, and we promise to keep it anonymous.Check out the episode on your favorite podcasting platform.#WeCauseCultureHosted by OT, Reem, and Ahmed Odeh, Legal-ish is brought to you by the audiophiles at Dukkan Media.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What do you do when you get into an accident in the UAE? What about getting custody of your child when your husband has been arrested for drug possession in the UAE? Ahmed Odeh give us the answers.This Week’s Questions:“I got into a car accident and as a result. I got an intimidating letter from my insurance company saying that I cannot claim whiplash, because I did not report it at the time of the accident itself. They also said that I cannot claim insurance for any small items in the car, because I did not report it to the police at the same time. Is what they're saying true? And if so, what are we supposed to do when we do get into accidents?”“I got divorced in 2016. And I have a son with my ex husband. I don't live in Dubai, but my ex husband was arrested in 2019 by the CIA for possessing drugs. I have not had any contact with my ex husband or anyone from his family until recently. I lost my job last year, and I visited him in jail and January 2021 to request that he signed the guardianship paper. He refused to sign the guardianship paper when the father called me in June. I asked again, and he refused. It's become quite difficult for me, as I'm struggling to find a job and pay for school fees. It seems that he's been relocated, and I don't know how to find him. Is there a way for me to know what happened to him and get a copy of the case files? Is there a way for me to file for full custody of my son as his father has been absent for years? Will there be a case against my son our eye if we come back to Dubai?”Send your questions to hello@dukkanmedia.com or slide in our DMs, and we promise to keep it anonymous.Check out the episode on your favorite podcasting platform.#WeCauseCultureHosted by OT, Reem, and Ahmed Odeh, Legal-ish is brought to you by the audiophiles at Dukkan Media.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can you go to jail for slander? Ahmed Odeh breaks down the legal lingo before getting into the FAQS. #LEGALISHThis Week’s Questions:“What is the difference between slander, defamation, and libel?” “If I've committed slander or libel, do I need to get a lawyer?”Send your questions to hello@dukkanmedia.com or slide in our DMs, and we promise to keep it anonymous.Check out the episode on your favorite podcasting platform.#WeCauseCultureHosted by OT, Reem, and Ahmed Odeh, Legal-ish is brought to you by the audiophiles at Dukkan Media.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is it legal to hire unpaid interns or have multiple vehicles registered under one license plate? Ahmed Odeh gets us all answers all to your exciting questions on #LEGALISH.This Week’s Questions:“Is it legal to hire interns in the UAE? And is it legal ta have people work for you for free, under the pretense of giving them experience?” “My neighbor has five cars, four of them have no number plate and he just takes the plate off and drives the car for the day. He has four cars and one license plate. They are not luxury cars. They are economical. Is this legal? I'm not a snitch, but I'm curious about what is legal or illegal here.”“My father passed away at the end of January. And we're trying to get a hold of his HR end of service, plus his life insurance provided by the company that he used to work for. We hired a legal consultant in Dubai to work on the case and he charged us about 15,000 Dirhams to handle all the matters in regards to my dad's estate, including bank account closure since they were frozen, when we reported that he passed away. RTA matters, and so on as well, we're also included. The issue I'm having is that once the lawyer saw the end of service and life insurance amount and the court files, he is now demanding more money from us. And saying that he will deduct a percentage from the inheritance before depositing the money into my mother's account. He's asking for 100,000 dirhams, apart from VAT. He's saying that the lawyers actually charge 1%. And if he had known the inheritance amount was large, which obviously we're not aware of it ourselves, the terms would have been different. Is there anything I can do in this situation at all? I'm at loss on to who to call or where to go for this.”Send your questions to hello@dukkanmedia.com or slide in our DMs, and we promise to keep it anonymous.Check out the episode on your favorite podcasting platform.#WeCauseCultureHosted by OT, Reem, and Ahmed Odeh, Legal-ish is brought to you by the audiophiles at Dukkan Media.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can we fly a rainbow flag in the UAE? If your car rental company makes an error, can you claim damages? Tune in to this week's episode on #LEGALISH.This Week’s Questions:“I'm a content creator. I rented a car for video shoot and paid in advance. The night before the shoot, I was told that the rental company had mistakenly given the car to somebody else. I remember the specific I needed the specific car for the shoot that I had booked the locations, the crew and the suppliers and everything was sorted. Do I have a right to claim damages or compensation because of their error?“It is currently Pride month all over the world. And I noticed on Twitter that the US and UK embassy in the UAE have have pride flags raised. Is this legal?“A friend of mine came out as gay on her Twitter account in the UAE. Is this legal?”Send your questions to hello@dukkanmedia.com or slide in our DMs, and we promise to keep it anonymous.Check out the episode on your favorite podcasting platform.#WeCauseCultureHosted by OT, Reem, and Ahmed Odeh, Legal-ish is brought to you by the audiophiles at Dukkan Media.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the first time on #LEGALISH, our question is not anonymous. OT’s bank account was wrongly frozen. Here’s what you can do to stop this from happening to you. Ahmed Odeh gets us all the answers.This Week’s Question:“Is there any legal grounds that the bank has to ask me about my private affairs? Whether I'm transferring receiving money amongst people. Whether I'm pulling out cash or paying checks? Whether I'm receiving my salary or if my brother decides to send me some cash, whatever it is. So do they have grounds to ask for these? All these details about my personal affairs?”Send your questions to hello@dukkanmedia.com or slide in our DMs, and we promise to keep it anonymous.Check out the episode on your favorite podcasting platform.#WeCauseCultureHosted by OT, Reem, and Ahmed Odeh, Legal-ish is brought to you by the audiophiles at Dukkan Media.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are you over 18, but under 21 and you want to go clubbing in the UAE? And what does it mean to have something notarized in the UAE? Ahmed Odeh puts everything in Layman’s Terms this week on #LEGALISH.This Week’s Questions:“I'm 19 years old. I know the age for drinking is 21. But I'm not interested in drinking. Can I still enter clubs just to hang out with using my Emirates ID? And what are some good clubs to visit to just chill out with some with some of my friends?”“I need to get an affidavit for financial responsibility notarized for a visa. What's the process? So far,  know that the unsigned document needs to be taken to Dubai courts, and I've emailed them and I haven't received a reply. What documents need to be carried? I just need some help. It's all so confusing.”Send your questions to hello@dukkanmedia.com or slide in our DMs, and we promise to keep it anonymous.Check out the episode on your favorite podcasting platform.#WeCauseCultureHosted by OT, Reem, and Ahmed Odeh, Legal-ish is brought to you by the audiophiles at Dukkan Media.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.