Leaving aside all the morals of it etc: if you want to do a runner on a loan you can do so.
But you can never return to the UAE as you will be stopped once the case at the public prosecutor's office gets registered.
If you travel to another GCC state you will not be detained for a loan default in Dubai. This is nonsense.
We had an employee go rogue here a few years back and defaulted in about 600,000 AED in loans, wrecked a rental car, and had a police case for leaving the scene of an accident.
He went to work in the country next door and never had an issue in the five additional years he stayed there - flying in and out all the time for business.
Once he stayed out of the UAE, he was fine.
(That being said, he always felt uncomfortable during foggy mornings when an airport closure could give AUH or DXB as an alternate.)
(From a friend who is a risk manager in a bank) If your loan is sizable enough - over 500,000 AED, you do run the risk of them coming to your country and looking for you, however if it is the UK or the EU you are under no obligation to entertain any contact as it's not a criminal case there. (Both countries have to be in agreement on the legalities of the 'crime' in question.)
According to contact, any less than 500,000 or even more is not economically viable to pursue through the courts in another country, and they are not coming after you.
But they will pick you up should you land in the UAE again.
The numbers he quoted about the people they do go after are huge.
Guys who did runner on 5,000,000 or 10,000,000 AED loans.
He tells me that most of the time, the letters etc are to prove to insurance companies that they actively sought to get the money back. After, I think it's two years without contact, the insurance pays out on the remainder.
Last edited by Farrell; 22nd Aug 2020 at 04:51.