u/Single-Comment-1551

Hi everyone,

Has anyone faced an issue where a UAE skilled employment visa got stuck or delayed because the name on the passport and educational certificates/documents were different?

In my case, my employer says the name difference could be one possible reason for the skilled visa application being stuck, but they haven’t confirmed the exact cause.

If anyone has faced a similar situation, how did you solve it?

Did you:

Provide additional documents/affidavits to prove the names belong to the same person?

Reapply with a different visa category?

Change the occupation/skill level?

Resolve it after entering the UAE?

Would really appreciate hearing from people who have actually gone through this and what worked for you.

I recently received an offer for a tech role at one of the top banks as a contract employee through an external employer. I submitted all the requested documents in early July, and initially I was told that the labour contract process would take around two weeks.

I’m now into my third week, but I still haven’t received any clear update or timeline. I’ve followed up, but there doesn’t seem to be any definite information on when the process will be completed.

For people who have worked in large banks or joined UAE companies through contract roles — is this kind of delay normal?

Does the labour contract and onboarding process usually take longer than the initial timeline they provide?

Just trying to understand whether this is a normal process or if I should be concerned.

I recently came to the UAE on a visit visa for job searching and have now received a job offer. The company has started processing my labour card and employment visa, and as part of the documentation, they have asked me to provide a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC).

I’m a bit confused about this requirement. Is this because of the new rule regarding PCC requirements for Indians, or is this something commonly requested by companies as part of the standard visa/work permit process?

In either case, I’m trying to understand how someone who is currently in the UAE on a visit visa can obtain a PCC. If anyone has gone through a similar situation or has any leads, I’d really appreciate the guidance.

Hello everyone, I’m looking for an affordable personal gym trainer around International City, Dubai. I’m new to the UAE, so I’d really appreciate any recommendations or contacts you can share. Preferably looking for Indian trainers, ideally someone from Kerala as well. Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone,

I’ve been trying to research Artefact, an AI consulting company. but surprisingly I’m not finding a lot of employee reviews or detailed discussions online. From what I understand, they’re a French AI/Data consulting company with global presence and offices in the Middle East, including UAE.

I’ve recently gone through their interview process and have cleared all rounds for a Senior Software Engineer role.

Before moving ahead, I wanted to check if anyone here has experience with the company or knows more about:

Work culture and management style • Compensation competitiveness (for 12 yrs exp) (especially in UAE/Middle East offices) • Stability of the company and long-term prospects

Since there isn’t much discussion available online compared to other consulting companies, I thought I’d ask here and see if anyone has first-hand experience.

Would really appreciate honest feedback — good, bad, or anything I should know before making a decision.

Thanks in advance!

I’ve been using Volkswagen cars for years and I’m curious if others feel the same about the Kozhikode experience. My perception is that the Škoda and Volkswagen ecosystem in Kozhikode feels much worse compared to kannur/any other nearby places.

For reference: EVM Škoda Showroom and Volkswagen Calicut Pavangad Kozhikode - Showroom & Service are among the major authorized options in Kozhikode.

In Kannur, I generally felt communication was more straightforward. Service advisors seemed more willing to explain issues clearly and there was less running around.

With Kozhikode, I’ve had experiences that felt frustrating and unprofessional at times — repeated visits for similar concerns, inconsistent responses from different staff members, and not always getting clarity on what exactly was done during service. It sometimes creates the impression that customers need to keep following up aggressively instead of getting proactive updates.

I’m also curious whether others felt pressure toward additional recommended work or add-ons during servicing. I’m not saying anything unethical is definitely happening, but transparency is something that can make or break trust in service experience.

I found mixed experiences online too. Some owners reported good support from current Škoda dealers in Kozhikode, while others simply responded with “Not good.” Broader VAG owner discussions also mention concerns around recurring issues, repeated visits and feeling that unnecessary items were being added to service bills.

Hey everyone,

I’m looking for contacts, shops, printing units, or advertising agencies around Vadakara / Payyoli / Quilandy area where I can get used flex sheets (banner sheets) for cheap or in bulk.

Need them mainly for covering/shading/DIY purposes, so printed or old event flex is completely fine.

Please dn contact or share details here.

I’ve been driving the Skoda Kushaq for a while now, and out of nowhere an engine warning light popped up. No noticeable drop in performance, but obviously got it checked right away.

After inspection, the service centre says it’s an O2 sensor failure. Fair enough — things can fail. But the explanation that followed is what caught me off guard.

They’re claiming this is happening quite often now because of ethanol-blended petrol, which apparently attracts insects, and in some cases leads to a tiny bite/puncture on the sensor wiring or component. Based on that, they’ve categorized it as external damage and straight-up denied warranty.

Estimated cost? Around 15k+.

What doesn’t sit right with me: • If this is “common” due to fuel changes, shouldn’t the components be better protected? • How does something this minor end up knocking out a critical sensor? • And more importantly, why is the customer expected to absorb this?

I’ve previously owned Volkswagen cars and never ran into something like this, so this feels a bit off.

Genuinely curious: • Has anyone else with Kushaq (or even other Skoda/VW cars) faced this O2 sensor issue? • Were you given the same “bug/ethanol” explanation? • Was it covered under warranty or handled the same way?

Trying to understand if this is actually a widespread issue or just an unlucky one-off.

I’ve been driving the Skoda Kushaq for a while now, and out of nowhere an engine warning light popped up. No noticeable drop in performance, but obviously got it checked right away.

After inspection, the service centre says it’s an O2 sensor failure. Fair enough — things can fail. But the explanation that followed is what caught me off guard.

They’re claiming this is happening quite often now because of ethanol-blended petrol, which apparently attracts insects, and in some cases leads to a tiny bite/puncture on the sensor wiring or component. Based on that, they’ve categorized it as external damage and straight-up denied warranty.

Estimated cost? Around 15k+.

What doesn’t sit right with me: • If this is “common” due to fuel changes, shouldn’t the components be better protected? • How does something this minor end up knocking out a critical sensor? • And more importantly, why is the customer expected to absorb this?

I’ve previously owned Volkswagen cars and never ran into something like this, so this feels a bit off.

Genuinely curious: • Has anyone else with Kushaq (or even other Skoda/VW cars) faced this O2 sensor issue? • Were you given the same “bug/ethanol” explanation? • Was it covered under warranty or handled the same way?

Trying to understand if this is actually a widespread issue or just an unlucky one-off.