unmarried family with emirates
 

I'm thinking or applying to emirates as an FO but was wondering what the culture would make of my home situation. I live with my partner and our baby daughter. Anyone know whether they recognise us as a family?

Nope! You would need to be married to be able to live here together. You would not even be able to sponsor her and your child their residence visas. They could come visit as tourists, but would have to leave the country every sixty days I think on visa runs.
And then if the authorities caught you living together......:{ not saying living together doesn't happen here, but it's at your own risk. You could both face prison time with deportation.
And you would not be able to get company sponsored family accommodation, medical aid, etc.....
Take the plunge or stay away......:ok:

..................As well as your partner getting no company medical coverage, no staff travel, no epc card, no nothing. Definitely not worth it in your case.

Just to compound CEP's reply, the tourist visa is presently only valid for thirty days. So that's a monthly drive to the Oman border crossing or a regular holiday to Doha for the day to renew!

And not too sure about the drive to the Omani border working anymore . Apparently people in Oman cannot do the drive into UAE for visa renewal anymore , so it is most likely a 2 way street for all concerned .

New rules - so I've heard - are one road trip to renew and then must fly out and come back to renew tourist visa. But things change weekly in immigration here:eek:

Tourist visa's
 

A tourist visa is valid for 30 days after entry (but I think it can be extended on request to a max of 60 days once you are in the UAE). Then you HAVE to leave the country and can only apply for another visa after 30 days outside the country. :\

Not Allowed!

more importantly......
 

I about fell out of my chair to see pilot's actually telling another pilot to get married LOL.

In regards to the visa situation. Visa run every 40 days ( yes 40, friends go all the time and I went with them a few days ago) at the RAK/Oman border. At this time you do not have to fly out but making the border run every 40 days at 200 aed is not only a pain in the butt, but it can add up in the pocket too.

Something very important to keep in mind. Say you do move here, remain unmarried, life is great and you couldn't be happier. Your gf gets pregnant with your 2nd child. Your busy flying...she delivers here... you will come back and visit her in Jail. THAT IS A GIVEN! And then EK fires you for being in the middle of the drama.

Unmarried women who have a child in this country go to jail. A dear sweet girl who worked for EK had a child out of wedlock and EK terminated her immediately. She was not in Dubai at the time, thank God or she would have been jailed. However, she was not spared turmoil as she delivered 3 months prematurely during a layover. EK not only terminated her on the spot, they made her vacate the hotel, they terminated her health insurance and the baby was in NICU and left her without any help or resources.

PUT A RING ON IT !

PS.. if you dont want to wed in your country for whatever reason, you can get married in the UAE

:=:=:= Don't come out here, stay single!!!

If you have started a family and are living together why the reluctance to get married? The alternative is to get married in the Shariah courts here which would allow you all the benefits of husband and wife in the Muslim world ONLY

I know the UAE has a reputation for being strick, but didn't realise they were quite so down on unmarried couples! Just to clear up any confusion, I'm a guy and my partner is a girl. As far as we're concerned we're in a committed relationship for life were we've had a planned child. It's just neither of us have been bothered about making it official as we've always felt we had more important things to spend our money on. However, we would have nothing against getting married if there was a good reason for it, like a new job and lifestyle. (I know you're all thinking "How romantic!")

Do you think I could be open with them about this in the selection process or would I need to get married before I make contact? Feels like pretty extreme interview preparation, especially if I failed selection!

Thanks for all the information so far...

Be honest. Everyone involved in the selection process understands you are coming from somewhere where de-facto relationships are acceptable.

A lot of people have had to go through "Shot-gun" weddings prior to coming, it won't be held against you.

Be Careful
 

If the child does not have your surname on the Birth Certificate and you marry your partner you have opened another can of worms. :}

Unmarried Emirates wannabe
 

Bredrin If you have started a family and are living together why the reluctance to get married? The alternative is to get married in the Shariah courts here which would allow you all the benefits of husband and wife in the Muslim world ONLY

... How does this work? I was reading up on it and it seems that I would need to prove citizenship first... :sad:

1. Pass EK selection.

2. sign contract.

3. Search for you nearest registry office in London

4. pay £160 for the 'big day' (about a ten minute service)

5. join EK

Another embelished, emotionally charged story that contains fact but loses credibility by seeking to EK bash.

She was given support initially by the company, but it was limited and not what we would have liked to see her given. Management can only go so far (NO, I'm not mangement) and given that she had broken the law here, their ability was limited.

This is not the tree huggers delight of the West. It's the Middle East. Shariah Law applies and the culture that goes with it. You don't have to like it, but you choose to live in it. If that's a problem for you, caveat emptor.

Yeah..Sharja law..based on something written 1600 years ago by a guy that got his brain overheated in scorching sun in the friking desert ..still the very base of civilization and the legal system here. That should be enough for every person with a little of brain to stay thousand miles away from this ****** up place!

Chekymunki, I'm in the exact same relationship status as you, in a relationship, unmarried with a kid. Recently went throug the pre-screening process and got moved on to the next stage. In the interview they highlighted the fact that we would need to get married to enjoy the full benefits, but otherwise no problem...

Whats with the kids first and then get married.Your worried
that you may commit to marriage and maybe not get the job.
That sounds like someone who would like to keep one foot
out the door in his relationship.Then a query about Sharia
marriage, another desperate attempt to commit without a
total commitment.
Have a good look at your child and think about this childish
attitude as you wriggle with your total relationship fears.
Don't start this, we hav'nt bothered yet crap, its a five minute
job to get married, about half the time it took to make your child!