LEGAL-ISH Dukkan Media

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.