Category: General Interest

Smart Money Moves for a Financially Healthy 2020

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Planning to set your financial goals right at the beginning of the year is a great way to start in 2020.

Review your financial position, check where your money goes, review your debt, cut down on extra expenses and plan efficiently. This will help you stay on savings course and prevents you from getting into any money hurdles.

Here are a few ways to help you do that:

1: Revisit your mortgage loans.

Home loans are one of the biggest financial responsibilities that require regular revisits. Look for better options to save your money or get other benefits when there is a change in your financial situations, bank’s loan terms or interest rates.

Check if refinancing can help you save money. Compare your loan interest rates with the current rates because even half of a percentage point drop will give you substantial savings.

Lower interest rates help in reducing your mortgage term because here you can raise your monthly payments and prepare to clear the loan early. For example, paying off the loan in 10 years instead of 20 years offers great savings incentive to the homebuyer.

2.  Get a personal loan

A personal loan is a viable money-saving solution in many situations when you borrow it for the right reasons. With personal loans, you can settle higher interest loans, create a good credit score, pay off credit cards or consolidate debts with more manageable fixed EMIs.

For instance, when you want to consolidate debts on your different credit cards, taking a personal loan can help pay off all the charges in one monthly payment. You benefit from lower loan interest rate compared to the annual percentage rates (APRs) on your credit cards.

However, before taking a loan, calculate your repayment capacity using an online app, select repayment tenure that is within your reach and carefully review all the fine print.

3.  Select the right credit card

A properly selected card can help you make savings on purchases, but the choice of the card should be based on your use and habits.

For instance, a frequent traveler will make savings when his card offers discounts and rewards on air tickets, hotels or lounge access.

The choice of the card also depends on whether you carry a balance each month or pay off dues before time. When you take forward a balance on credit, select a card that has a low annual percentage rate (APR).

Knowing your credit scores always helps you to apply for a card that is more likely to get approved. Lastly, compare the annual savings you make on the card against the card’s annual fee to see if it is right for you.

4. Find a balance transfer scheme

A balance transfer can help you make substantial money savings. Transferring high-interest debt from credit cards or loan to a card with a lower interest rate gives saving on interest and helps in clearing off the debt faster.

However, check if any balance transfer fee is levied to carry the balance to your new card. Another critical factor is the new card APR rate; check the introductory APR offer and price after the promotional period ends.

Always evaluate the terms carefully and put a debt repayment plan in place. Remember your debt doesn’t disappear when you do a balance transfer, but effective planning can help make good money savings.

5. Work out your monthly budget

Make a note of your cash flows to curb all unnecessary spending. Different apps come as a handy tool to do all the calculations for you.

Feed-in your monthly income and your expenses and the app will give you a clear picture of how to plan yourself well.

These tools help you consolidate all your bills, track the spending pattern and get an alert message when the due date of any statement is nearby to avoid late fees. Money management is a vital step to rein spending and get finances under control.

6. Review your subscriptions

If you are a Netflix and Amazon Prime addict, ask yourself if you need all these subscriptions and if you have the time to watch them?

Most people pay more on subscribing too many services but hardly use that entertainment and reading channels they have.

It’s the time to evaluate the spare time you have at hand to use these services and the cost you are spending monthly on subscribing to these. This helps you track the service you can do without and make money savings.

Besides entertainment, your current telephone and mobile plan also needs to be reviewed. Check your bills to study your usage patterns. If you are not using the full service, try considering another package. And if you are paying extra after the service amount, see if you can sign up to a new scheme that serves best to your needs.

 

Transactor vs revolver – What’s Your Approach with Using Credit Cards?

Transactor or a Revolver – What’s Your Approach with Using Credit Cards?

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Plastic money is a popular and convenient way to pay for purchases. Credits cards and debits cards are often referred to as plastic money. Most people prefer them as they make transactions more convenient.

So whether you are purchasing a ticket to travel, shopping for groceries and everyday essentials, buying gadgets, clothing or other luxury treats, paying via a credit card is typically the first choice for most consumers. You can also order food, make purchases online, and book different transport needs effortlessly by using your preferred plastic card, thereby saving you a lot of time and energy.

If you are careful with your transactions, the use of a credit card makes your life hassle-free. However, if you make impulsive purchases beyond your means, using plastic money irresponsibly can put you into a vicious debt cycle.

So, what’s your style of using your credit card?

Do you use a credit card only for convenience? This means you never pay interest on the card and instead prefer to pay all dues on time. If that’s your approach, then the industry sees you as a “transactor” – a person who uses credit cards to make transactions easier and does not really utilize the “credit” facility offered by the card fully. Transactors enjoy benefits by accumulating points, miles and other rewards on their card transactions and hence effectively enjoy a “discount” on their purchases.

On the other side of the spectrum, many people use credit cards to make purchases without having enough funds to pay for them in full by the due date. Such users are known in industry parlance as “revolvers” as they “revolve” their balance outstanding across multiple billing statements.  “Revolvers” use credit cards to furnish today’s needs via tomorrow’s income. However, revolving your credit card balance can cost a lot of money in the form of interest, and this type of spending habits can severely strain your personal finances.

When does a revolving habit become risky for your financial life?

Banks typically give consumers a grace period of 21 to 30 days – the period between the end of the billing cycle and the payment due date. When you pay the outstanding amount in full before the due date, you won’t have to pay any interest.

For those who struggle to find the funds to clear their credit card balance each month, it’s easy to enter into a vicious cycle of debt.

When the payment is made after the due date, i.e. when you  “revolve” a balance, interest is calculated on an average daily balance method from the date you made the purchase.

If you continue to revolve a balance, there will be no grace period. You accrue daily interest on your balance outstanding and new purchases. So, your statement will then show substantial interest each month. In such a scenario, everything you purchase automatically becomes 30-40 per cent more expensive (depending on your particular card’s interest rate). This is a lousy buying strategy.

Moreover, for Personal loan seekers, this revolving balance can act as a disadvantage. It impacts your debt-to-income ratio (DTI) adversely, which in turn affects the credit score.

Revolvers that tend to accrue interest daily will have higher utilization rates and DTI ratios. The utilization rate and the percentage of the available credit you’re using are vital elements in determining a credit score.

For example, if your statement balance says Dh1,000, your credit report will indicate that you have a debt of Dh 1,000 that month. Now, if your credit card has a Dh1,000 credit limit, then the utilization rate here will be 100 per cent, even when you pay the bill in full.

So, here, to lower your utilization rate, you need to limit your purchases for the month or make payments early.

Whether you use the card and make payments as a revolver or transactor is not essential here. What you need to keep in mind is that for a better utilization rate, you must bring the total balance as low as possible and pay the remainder of the bill on time.

A higher DTI results in you paying extra money as extra interest charges in the long run (as these could impact your other loan interest rates in the future). Hence, a low DTI is vital for securing more favourable terms on a new loan or line of credit. It is also recommended you pay off all existing debts before submitting such a loan application.

The revolving habit overall imposes a high risk on your saving strategy and financial health. However, if you are revolving the balance at the time of an emergency, then carrying a balance for several months on a credit card is a better option to other even more expensive financing methods.

Even for other mindful larger purchases made with a credit card that is backed with a good plan to pay off the debt, it can be a wise decision. Remember, credit card companies will always prefer having revolvers because interest charged equals higher income for them. But, if you are looking for a robust financial situation, aim to be a transactor and always pay your credit card balance in full each month.

 

Top 4 tips to consider while looking for Personal Loans

Top 4 tips to consider while looking for Personal Loans

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UAE Residents have several options to finance purchases or to meet certain expenses. Savings is probably the best option to start with, but for those who are on tight budgets there are other options such as Credit Cards and Personal loans in Dubai, UAE.  While there are several other options which are mushrooming across the globe for instance, peer to peer lending and alternate finance, the most prominent and favoured one is the Personal loan which has several advantages over the rest. UAE banks offer personal loans up to AED 1 Million based on several qualifying factors.

Personal loans are generally preferred due to the following reasons:

  • Easy to avail – Simple and easy documentation. Most banks don’t even need a bank statement these days as they would be able to verify your salary details from your bank thorugh your IBAN, of course based on your authorization.
  • Short term generally – Payback period can generally be as short as 1 year
  • With or Without Salary transfer
  • No collateral required
  • Clear visibility on interest that one would end up paying for the entire loan availed.
This article primarily focuses on certain key aspects of personal loans that one should be aware of prior to signing on the dotted line-
1. Compare Personal Loans

It is important that one is aware of the various loans available in the market. UAE banks offer personal loans both with and without salary transfer. The ones without salary transfer, loans are offered on higher interest rate than the ones with a salary transfer. To compare loans, best places to refer are the comparison sites which are a one stop place to do research prior to signing up.

Make sure you do the math, refer to the interest rates, fees and processing charges. You can compare personal loans offered by UAE banks here

2. With or Without Salary Transfer?

It is always wise to take a personal loan with a salary transfer as the interest rates are as low as 5%. However, you will have to also check with your HR if they are fine in transferring salary to the bank of your choice. Normally, HR has a tie up with certain banks for processing salaries and the best place to start would be to identify the banks from your HR.

A salary transfer loan would need a letter from your HR in the format as specified by the bank. A personal loan without a salary transfer is recommended as a second loan or when someone is not eligible for a top up loan on their current salary transfer loan. This type of loan does not require a salary transfer letter from your HR but might need just a salary certificate.

3. Credit History dictates your loan interest rate or cost to borrow

Most of the banks in UAE have moved to a credit score / credit history-based interest rate. A high credit score would mean a lower interest rate.

Please refer to the article to learn about credit history and how to maintain a health credit score

4. Other eligibility criteria

Apart from credit bureau, banks also look at:

Work information: Employer, Designation, Years in Work, Fixed and Variable income

Debt Burden: Percentage of liabilities (financial obligations one owes on a monthly basis like Loan EMIs, minimum dues on credit cards etc.,) against total fixed salary.  The general condition is including the new loan EMI debt burden should be less than 50%.

Takeaway

Personal Loans are a convenient and popular method for purchasing products or services. Soulwallet recommends customers to make sure if there is a real need for a loan as any sort of debt must be avoided if possible. Having said that personal loans are also a simple and easy to avail with many banks in UAE moving to digital channels.

As a personal finance aggregator Soulwallet has analysed various personal loan features. For more details visit us on personal loan in UAE page.

 

 

5 Smart ways to make your credit card work for you

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UAE certainly has the highest credit card, internet and e-commerce penetration in the MENA region. However, a significant percentage of transactions are still made through cash. Visa and Mastercards are popular and are widely accepted by merchants in the region.

There have been several changes in recent years, which are moving the needle on credit card usage in the market. Some customers would have witnessed their credit cards being reissued by the issuers with a chip around 2016/17. This was due to a mandate from the Central bank of UAE for the issuers to comply with EMV (Europay, Mastercard and Visa global standard for chip-secured credit cards) standards a few years ago.

Credit cards are extremely convenient, secure and what’s more also reward cardholders on usage as well. There are more than 200 credit cards issued by banks and financial institutions in the UAE. While the number of banks is shrinking with the recent M&A announcements, there are several new credit cards which keep popping up with innovative and irresistible offers to the customer.

Many of us would have had a difficult experience with our first credit card. Not understanding differences between a credit or debit card, we would likely have dashed to the nearest ATM to withdraw some cash and spend on stuff which we really did not have any plans of buying. A scenario which would most likely have ended finally with some sort of settlement with the bank after weeks and perhaps months of painful collections calls and negotiations.

As we got a little more aware of how credit cards work, we generally end up with one or two cards (ideally issued to us by the banks where our salary gets credited) and have built some sort of loyalty to these cards over the years.

This article gives a credit card user 5 useful tips on how to use a credit card and maximize savings. These are simple and proven steps which can help one save thousands of dirhams:

  1. No one Credit Card is best suited for everyone

Credit cards are diverse in their offerings. One must understand that 200+ credit cards in the market come with several differences. Some of them being:

Fees and Charges: Annual Fees, Interest rates, International transaction charges, cash advance charges and so on.

Reward Features: Cashback, Airmiles, Reward Points, No Rewards no fee, Reward earn rates, Redemption or burn rate etc., Note- The value of the rewards might vary based on spend amounts, type, location etc.,

Features: Airport Lounge, Free Cinema, Complimentary Golf, Valet Offers etc.,

 

Apart from the above there are also credit limits, co brands (Skywards, Etihad and so on) etc., which differentiate cards.

With so many differences among them it is important to spend a few minutes to compare the features and identify the most suitable credit card for your specific needs.

Soulwallet’s  “Best Fit”  comparison tool uses smart algorithms that can match one’s individual spend pattern and feature preferences with the most suitable credit cards among all options available.

One will also get a good indication of annual saves in dirhams earned through credit card rewards. Do check how your current credit cards stack up against the ones which are best for you. Click here to find out.

Also, do look at the feature wise rankings to find out which is the best card for your favourite credit card feature (Cinema, Golf etc.,)

 

  1. No one Credit Card can give you the best value

Why do banks have multiple credit cards under their offering? These are typically to cater to different segments of customers who are keen on a specific feature or a reward program. Cashback and Airmiles are couple of popular reward categories.

After evaluating credit cards in the UAE and the reward offering across their products, it is quite evident that there is no one card which may fit in the best for you. In order to optimize your savings (reward value for the transactions you make on the credit card), you probably might have to keep 2 or 3 credit cards in your wallet which satisfy all your requirements with a high rating.

For example, John travels frequently. He spends his weekends generally watching movies with his wife and two school going children. The best option for John is to look at the below combinations:

Credit cards that:

  • Reward him with maximum reward rates for a) School Fees b) Grocery expenses c) Travel spends
  • Includes complimentary features such as a) Cinema Offer b) Airport Lounge c) Airport Transfer
  • Has low international (foreign currency) transaction charges.

The answer might be more than 1 card and if the saves are significant, why not?

 

  1. Pay on time and if possible, in full

Making payments on time is probably the most important criteria which helps build one’s credit score. Having a healthy credit score means keeping your credit options available. There is always going to be a need for some sort of credit requirement, for example a home loan, salary transfer loan and so on. Find out more on Credit scores in the UAE.

Making your credit card payments on time is extremely critical and if possible, try to make them in full. This means one would save money on interest which can be in thousands of dirhams.

Most banks have options such as Standing Instructions (from your bank account to your credit card if both are with the same bank), Direct Debit (a standard transfer instruction on your bank account), exchange house payments etc. One has an option of setting this up for a minimum payment or full and sometimes a fixed recurring amount as well. Enquire with your bank and set up a payment instruction which will ensure you don’t miss a payment date.

Regular payments build one’s credit history well and allows banks to re-underwrite your credit lines periodically and automatically.

 

  1. Balance Transfer – If you are incurring interest by not paying your credit card dues in full each month

Balance transfer in simple terms is moving debt from one credit card to another. If you are not paying the total outstanding and incurring interest on your statement balance, a balance transfer is a smart and easy method to save money on interest.

Balance transfers normally come with an interest free offer period. This is a no brainer – it can help you save interest that you would otherwise end up paying on your current card for 3 to 12 months (and more in most cases), depending on the balance transfer offer period.

Example: If a cardholder has an AED 5,000 balance on a credit card with a 20% interest rate. Such a balance would incur an interest of approximately AED 1,000 in a year. By transferring his credit card balance the card holder can save on the AED1,000 of interest with only a small balance transfer fee instead.

Note:

  • Balance transfer does not earn you rewards on transferred debt.
  • Once you have transferred your balance to a low interest card, do review the need of continuing to keep the high interest credit card active. Any unnecessary spend on this open credit card can delay your payoff on the new card.
  • Defaulting on the new credit card might trigger standard or higher interest rate as per banks policies.
  • Before you make the balance transfer move, do the math to ensure that you end up saving. Points to consider are Annual fees, Interest rates etc.,

 

  1. Change with the industry- Adapt to smarter payment methods

In recent years, banks have evolved and are continuously evolving in the digital space to stay updated and relevant to the future customers. Smart payment methods have gained a lot of momentum and acceptance among UAE consumers.  Apple pay, Samsung pay are already common names and are quite popular.

These smart payments make the process seamless and are focused primarily on convenience and security.  While Apple and Samsung are already building the culture of adapting and shifting to newer technologies in the mobile space, one must be more adaptive and embrace future technologies to leverage upon the benefits available.

 

Takeaway

Credit cards are convenient and a popular payment method for purchasing products or services. While it is quite a privilege to flash a prestigious credit card from your wallet for a purchase, it is important to make sure that the credit card works best for you..

As a personal finance aggregator Soulwallet has analysed various credit card features and rated them to identify the best credit cards for each feature.. Be it golf offers, complimentary airport transfers, valet services or even cinema offers, one can easily find the best credit cards with the ratings provided. For more details visit us www.Soulwallet.com.

 

How to get the best dining deals out of cashback credit cards?

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The more you spend, the more you save! Unbelievable yet holds true and here is how you do that if you are smart enough. Enter Cashback.

Cashback is an offering from Credit Card companies that rewards you instantly for making purchases.

How does it work?

Cashback credit cards benefit the user by paying a percentage of the purchase you make. Not just purchases, using them in your favorite hotels, restaurants or any other experience centers in UAE can also save you some dirhams. So, the next time, you are swiping your card in a restaurant or purchasing the latest mobile phone, look out for the exciting cashback offers and maximize it.

Lookout before you Swipe!

Though it is exciting and absolutely fantastic to get some hard earned money back do note a few pointers that needs a closer look before you swipe.

Like any credit card, these credit cards are entitled with pre-determined limits which many people fail to notice. It is for the simple fact that these are in fine print and easy to ignore or miss out.

If you are a frequent visitor to restaurants, here are some credit cards that offer the best dining deals which could save you from spending more.

Citi Cashback Card:

With a minimum salary of AED 8000, you can avail this card which can provide a lot of cashback benefits while dining at your favorite restaurants. You can enjoy up to 20% discount at over 400+ dining outlets in the UAE. The redemption is automatic as well. No calls, no emails!

Dunia Finance Platinum Credit Card:

The minimum salary requirement is the same as that of the Citi Cashback Card. But Dunia finance offers free Zomato Gold Annual Membership when you opt for this credit card. It also offers hundreds of Buy 1 Get 1 (BOGO) offers from MasterCard throughout the Middle East and Africa.

Najm One Cashback Card:

This cash back credit card from Majid Al Futtaim Finance offers a lot of discounts on dining and entertainment. With this card, you can avail up to 30% discount at selected restaurants. They also make payments easy by providing card-less solutions i.e., Samsung pay.

CBD Visa Infinity Card:

The Commercial Bank of Dubai offers great deals on dining with this visa card. It has great dining privileges which include Dragon Pass, the World’s 1st all-in-one Digital Airport platform which lets people enjoy food at restaurants within the Airport. In addition to this, dining discounts in Premium Hotels in UAE can also be availed with this card.

Standard Chartered Platinum Credit Card:

The Platinum credit card from Standard Chartered lets people enjoy a wide variety of offers that includes offers up to 50% in popular cafes and restaurants. To be even more specific, it offers a Buy 1 Get 1 offer (BOGO) at all outlets of Costa Coffee.

 

 

Personal Loans without Salary transfer & Easy documentation

A Dream Come True: Personal Loans without Salary transfer & Easy documentation

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The growing trend in today’s lifestyle is opting for a loan that is readily available especially for the salaried class as it is seen as one of the easier targets to win over by banks. And how?

Enter Personal Loans with easy documentation, minimal fuss, and practically the money is in your hands within a day of application.

It is a fact that Personal loans are today available for every purpose heard and unheard of. Apart from meeting marriage expenses, emergency medical situations and tiding over the odd credit card overdue, you can opt for a loan to go on an overseas vacation, purchase one of the most expensive headphones and even take your valentine for a boat ride around the Dubai Marina.

Easy documentation and process

While banks in UAE demand other documents such as a valid passport or a UAE National ID, for an Expat, a valid residency visa is mandatory. The salaried or self-employed people have the option of showing their salary slips as it is one of the major proofs the banks seek in order to sanction a personal loan.

No more Salary transfers

Initially, some banks in the country had demanded people to create a salary account in their bank and transfer the salary to it. By doing so, the customer is benefited with exclusive offers, faster processing of loans and even a free credit card. But many do find the process tedious or some may prefer not to change their existing salary account.

Nowadays, UAE banks are offering personal loans to customers without mandating them to transfer their salary. This is commonly called as a Non-salary transfer loan. This is a hassle-free process and it doesn’t consume much time for banks to process since there is no salary transfer involved. But the income proofs need to be provided. Furthermore, these don’t require any collateral or guarantors.

Though banks do not mandate customers to give any collateral, do keep in mind the interest rates are mostly high when compared to other loans such as home, car or gold loans. The loan amount is purely dependent on the salary and the interest rates which vary from bank to bank.

Let’s look at various banks which offer personal loans without salary transfer:

Emirates NBD:

It is a National Bank in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates. It is one of the oldest and largest banking groups in the region. They offer loan amounts up to AED 500,000 for both UAE Nationals and Expats who have a minimum salary of AED 10,000. The repayment period offered is up to 48 months and the interest rates start from 14.99%.

Dubai Islamic Bank:

It is the largest Islamic bank in terms of assets and is the first bank to incorporate principles of Islam in all practices. People are considered eligible if they earn a minimum salary of AED 3000 which would get them loans up to AED 400,000. The repayment period extends up to 48 months.

Union National Bank:

One of the leading domestic banks in the UAE region which offers personal loans up to AED 200,000 for UAE Nationals and Residents. For this amount, the bank expects the applicant to have a minimum salary of AED 10,000. The repayment period offered is up to 12 months.

Citibank:

A subsidiary of the multinational company, Citigroup and is one of the famous banks in the UAE region. Possessing a Minimum salary of about AED 8,000 per month would get you a maximum finance amount up to AED 175,000. This bank is known for its fast approvals on personal loans.

Conclusion:

While there are several options for one to avail a personal loan in UAE. It is important to note that a clean credit history is essential for availing credit in the country. Hence, borrow if its required and ensure you make payments on time.

Credit Cards in UAE

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Around 71 percent of affluent residents in the United Arab Emirates own more than one credit card as per the statement of a weekly report. The majority of the residents access credit cards while 64 percent of the public use them for a day- to -day purchases. Another 63 percent admitted using credit cards when traveling abroad.

When you pay with a credit card, you are effectively borrowing money from your bank or lender. Every month you receive a statement that lists all the transactions you have made, along with place, price and sometimes even details of the item.

When it comes to credit card balance transfers and savings in Dubai, it is always advisable to pay the full outstanding on your credit card each month to avoid unnecessary fees. Most banks offer a minimum promotion rate of 2.5 percent and up to 10 percent cash back on spends. The minimum salary requirement to apply for credit cards in the UAE is 5000 AED as per the rules and specification of the banks which may vary with higher or lesser salary rates depending on the lender. The facility of balance transfer is freely available for the first 6 months with a minimum of 2 percent processing fee. Banks offer foreign currency rates with a minimum of 2 percent based on the expenditure or purchases made. If you are a frequent traveller, you might want to make sure you apply for credit cards offering lower foreign currency rates. The annual fee on a credit card will be applicable on a yearly basis as a part of your statement. Some UAE banks advertise and state that they do not charge annually, but it is preferable to opt to pay the annual fees as it has many benefits to offer.

The Soul Wallet Savings Simulator is a financial tool developed to help customers understand which credit cards offer them the best opportunity to maximize their savings. This is done based on an analysis of the customer’s unique expenditure pattern both across the type of monthly and annual expenditure and also the amount spent on each category. The unique algorithms help you ascertain which credit cards offer you the maximum savings potential for your specific spend. This varies from individual to individual.

A frequent traveler will probably consider taking a credit card that offers air miles. However, if you don’t travel a lot but like to save on your transactions, you might prefer a credit card that gives you cash back. Also, cash back amounts could vary based on the total amount you spend in a month. Visa International, MasterCard and the different banks in the UAE offer additional benefits on premium cards, such as access to airport lounges globally, discounts on dining, valet parking, free golf, cinema discounts and other transport facility benefits. You can compare all the benefits on Classic, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Titanium, Infinite and World credit card benefits or choose to search for premium cards directly. Premium cards generally require a higher income or have a higher annual fee.

 

World Expo 2020: The impact it will make in the lives of an ordinary citizen

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The Burj Khalifa in 2013 wanted to celebrate Dubai’s Victory to host the 2020 World Expo and this small but highly enterprising country did it in style and How!, by making a ginormous crowd of well wishers witness the fireworks from their tallest building that was telecast the world over!

It is a widely accepted and expected too that Dubai does everything in style and gigantic proportions. Dubai is leaving no stone unturned as this World Expo 2020 will be the first large-scale international event that is about to take place in the Middle East. An event with such magnitude will bring a lot of advantages for Dubai and UAE in general, especially for its real estate sector which has been pretty sluggish the past 2 years. 

Quick facts about the World Expo:

  • A once in 5 years mega event that is spread over a six-month period.

  • Almost 130 countries participate in this expo to showcase their inventions, according to the motto set for every expo.

What’s New and Trending:

5G network makes its debut:

Dubai will be pronounced as the first nation amongst the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa to unveil the future cellular technology – the much awaited 5G at this event. The technological aspects are said to run on this fast-paced network, as the event is set to attract around 25 million visitors. The people visiting the event will also be thrilled to view a 65m tall digital sphere wrapped around them that can display videos and pictures all around, which can also be enjoyed by the people outside the sphere.

Soon, 5G will be made available across the Middle East and every Smartphone user gains the advantage of it. 5G helps users with faster transactions, unlock new features and much more.

Enhancing Infrastructure:

For the mega event, the UAE Government started funding new road and rail links to manage the influx of tourists and the locals. The Dubai International Airport is about to have a 60 percent rise in the number of stands, as the number sums up to 230 from 144 which is currently present. In addition to this, floor space is said to increase to a whopping 675,000 square meters in the terminals. As estimated, this would accommodate the millions that are about to land here in 2020.

Many new hotel projects are in full swing to provide proper hospitality to every visitor. Dubai’s roads and transport authority announced that there will be an expansion of metro lines from Dubai Metro’s Red line to Dubai World Central. This is estimated to be worth of 1.36 billion USD.

These improvements will be of huge benefit to the citizens as these will be considered as enhancements around them which will ultimately profit them.

Positive effects on the property market:

According to a report in 2018 [Source: JLL Real Views], the real estate market in Dubai witnessed slow growth with global currency and oil prices also taking a beating which further contributed to the fall in the real estate market.

But this could drastically change, as the event will rope in a lot of supplies to the market which would be a long-term investment for the country.

Life after the Expo:

Unlike other countries, Dubai has a Vision to use the Infrastructure of the Expo as a home to millions of people in the UAE. It aims at giving well established, affordable homes with family-friendly amenities that can enhance the quality of life.

Around 120,000 new homes are about to be built by 2020, with new developments around the site. As the site is positioned as a residential community with three economic sites – Dubai World Central, Kizad and Jebel Ali Port, it is expected to bring in a residential investments as all the necessary facilities and infrastructure would already be available.

This will be home to 1 million residents and 500,000 jobs with Developers already initiating to transform certain important tourist sites that include the Dubai Water Canal, Museum of the Future, Deira Islands, Dubai Theme Parks, Jewel of the Creek and other projects.

Are you too young for life insurance?

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Are you too young for taking an insurance policy? It’s a good question that was posed to many a teenager and most of them responded with, “I am healthy. I am alive.” Unfortunately, they do not realize life is uncertain. A 2017 survey conducted by Insurance quotes.com has proved this statement and it was found that 65 percent of the young adults do not own life insurance and almost 71 percent of them said it wasn’t necessary for them because they are healthy. 

Awareness is key

Many parents in the UAE are not aware of the fact that they can enrol their toddlers for life insurance, which is the best way to safeguard their children. There are a lot of protection plans for children. Right from the age of 1, they are eligible for children protection plans which cover their education as well as their health. They are designed in such a way to help a child’s future education needs at a minimal premium.

In the past decade or more, many insurers have devised policies that offer insurance right from the tender age of 1 till the age of 75. It is heartening to notice that families are opting for this.

Many may ask why a one-year-old child needs life insurance. An insurance policy taken by the head of the family for his children is definitely not for the money that he can bag if some untoward incident happens to the child but, for the simple fact that premiums are far lower at that age compared to anyone taking a fresh insurance policy at the age of 30 or 40 with ailments or diseases always around.

The other reason that insurance is recommended to be taken at a young age is, there are many benefits that come with that. It could be a free health check-up, scholarships or even can stand as collateral or a good credit score.

Pay the premiums on time every time

You can consider taking a whole life insurance policy, which can back you up as long as you pay the premiums. You can select the mode of premiums which can be paid either monthly, quarterly or even annually depending on the monthly earnings of yours.

The basic Whole Life Insurance policy can be considered though other options are available. As you get older, you will have a lot of other requirements that need to be protected. Anything as such can be covered by adding riders to your existing policy.

To summarize, life insurance policies are a must for every individual and nobody is considered too young for a life insurance policy as there is one for everyone. By obtaining more knowledge about the policies, you can be able to narrow down on the list of policies according to your requirements and for your family.

Quick Steps to Stake a Claim for Auto Insurance in UAE

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Making a claim for your automobile can be a nightmare if it’s your first time. The negotiations, the white sheets that you need to sign and the different terms that are mentioned in them can make you very stressed adding to the the stress of an auto accident you are already in.

Furthermore, you can also have issues with your Insurer whether they are doing the math right and not safeguarding their interest only. Before landing in such a situation, having some knowledge can help you get through it.

Here are some of the things you need to know before making a claim for auto insurance:

Know what’s covered:

It’s best to know what your policy covers. This gives you a whole idea of what can be claimed and what cannot be. Do go through the policy thoroughly (even the small print which everyone tends to ignore or skip as it is too fine a small print).

Next, the terms that you must be aware of:

Insured Declared Value (IDV) – which is the amount the insurer promises for your vehicle which changes every year at the time of renewal.

Zero Percent Depreciation Value – Check whether the insurance policy has this line, which means there will be no depreciation to your vehicle’s tires and alloys.

PA Cover – This specifies an amount that can be claimed if the person is injured or dead in an accident.

Required proofs and documents:

  • The police report is mandatory after an accident

This is a mandatory document when you happen to be in an accident and there are any casualties from your side or to the other person who was involved. It is to be noted that in Dubai, a mobile application called the “Dubai police mobile app” can help you file a police report in a simple and easy way.

This report will be required by both the police and the insurer, as it covers the details about the accident as well as the exact information of the party/parties involved.

  • Vehicle registration certificate:

This is one important proof which details about the vehicle from the purchase date to the engine number.

  • Driver’s license:

As everyone knows, this document is the ideal proof which specifies whether a driver is legal to drive or not. The legal age for driving in UAE is 17.

Informing the Insurer as soon as possible:

Before making a claim, you need to inform the insurer about what exactly happened. This is the most important step before making a claim. This will make the insurer prepare documents necessary for the recovery. It would even better if you can take photos of the accident spot, the damages to your vehicle/other party and their vehicle thus ensuring there is a chain of evidence that is not mixed up.

You will be asked by the insurer to submit the police report and the policy number that can be found on your registration card. You will need to fill in a claim form provided by the insurer which will take care of the claims promised by them. After analyzing your policy and the damage that happened, the insurer would take the necessary steps.

The insurer would ask you to go to the nearest service center and give the vehicle for repair.

From this point onwards, the insurer would take care of the process.

Do not sign any documents without any prior knowledge:

Always clarify before signing, what the document is and what terms is being stated. You can approach the insurer for a better understanding of the document if in doubt.

Keep the documents for future reference:

Always keep proofs such as pictures and documents of the accident that took place in a safe place, as you might need them for future reference.

Though the Government makes every effort to ensure there is no mishap or accident involving vehicles or persons, it is unfortunate that these do take place and it is prudent to be safe than sorry. Be insured and be safe. Always