Can I sponsor my wife in UAE if tenancy contract is in her name?

Dubai - One has to have a tenancy contract in his or her name in order to sponsor his or her spouse.

Question: My wife is residing in the UAE on a visa sponsored by the company she works for. She is planning to quit her job and I will be sponsoring her. However, the tenancy contract of the Dubai flat we live in is in her name. Will I encounter a problem in sponsoring my wife's visa since the tenancy contract and Ejari are in her name?
Answer:
It is understood that you and your wife reside in the UAE and your wife's visa is sponsored by her employer. She has now decided to quit her employment and, thereafter, you will be sponsoring her visa in the country. However, the tenancy contract of the flat where you live stands in the name of your wife.
In Dubai, one has to have a tenancy contract in his or her name in order to sponsor his or her spouse's residency in the UAE.
Since the tenancy contract of your residence stands in the name of your wife, it is recommended that you approach the owner/landlord of the apartment and request him to cancel the existing tenancy contract and Ejari and re-issue the contract in your name for the remaining period of the tenancy or for a new tenancy period. Further, you can also request your landlord to return the postdated cheques issued by your wife to the owner of the property so you can replace them with your cheques.
In the event the owner/landlord refuses to cancel the existing contract and issue a new one in your name, you may get a letter from your wife, stating that she has no objection that you are using the tenancy contract in her name to apply for her residence under your sponsorship.
For clarifications, you may approach The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs and seek their advice.
KNOW THE LAW
You may submit a letter from your wife, stating that she has no objection that you are using the tenancy contract in her name to apply for her residence under your sponsorship.
Ashish Mehta is the founder and Managing Partner of Ashish Mehta & Associates. He is qualified to practise law in Dubai, the United Kingdom, Singapore, and India. Full details of his firm on: www.amalawyers.com. Readers may e-mail their questions to: news@khaleejtimes.com or send them to Legal View, Khaleej Times, PO Box 11243, Dubai.