Latest news with #expats
Khaleej Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Al Ansari Exchange offers customers up to Dh60 cashback after remittance delay
Al Ansari Exchange customers impacted by the recent remittance delays have received cashback vouchers ranging from Dh20 to Dh60 that can be used in their next transaction, the company confirmed to Khaleej Times on Friday, with assurances that enhanced safeguards have been implemented to avoid recurrence of the incident. The issue started on July 5, when customers who sent remittances had to wait for days to clear their transactions. It happened on a busy weekend, when many expats — after getting their monthly salary — sent money back home earmarked for household expenses, education, rent, medical bills, and other expenditures. Al Ansari Exchange, touted as the UAE's largest remittance and foreign exchange company, had apologised to their customers and noted a technical glitch caused the delay. Last week, Al Ansari Exchange confirmed to Khaleej Times that the remittance delays experienced on July 5, 'have been fully resolved and all other services remained unaffected by the technical issue.' In yet another statement on Friday, July 18, Al Ansari Exchange said: 'We have thoroughly investigated the incident and have since implemented enhanced safeguards to prevent recurrence. (We) remain steadfast in (our) commitment to operational excellence, customer satisfaction, and the highest standards of security and reliability.' 'As a gesture of goodwill and in appreciation of our customers' patience and understanding, we have extended cashback vouchers ranging from Dh20 to Dh60. These amounts were determined based on the value of the transaction fees and the length of the delay. The vouchers are redeemable on customers' next remittance transaction,' the company added. Al Ansari Exchange, a subsidiary of listed company Al Ansari Financial Services PJSC, again acknowledged the inconvenience experienced by their customers and 'affirmed that immediate and comprehensive remedial actions were taken.' 'We sincerely thank our customers for their continued trust and loyalty,' the company added.
Forbes
4 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
This French Region Is Offering €1 Houses
Puy-de-Dôme, France, is offering €1 houses in its village of Ambert getty Expats often look to Paris or the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts for relocation, where you won't get the best value for your money and you'll find the crowds. Instead, you could try a small village in France that has launched an initiative to sell €1 houses to attract new residents and reinvigorate its community. Ambert has a population of 6,500 and is located in the Puy-de-Dôme region of France, approximately 134 km west of Lyon, and 475 km east of Bordeaux, and La Rochelle on the Atlantic coast. The aim is to combat population decline, revitalize the local economy, and breathe new life into its streets. The houses for €1 are part of a five-year plan aimed at halting population decline and encouraging people to relocate there. After a new class opened at the school and with several renovations underway, it might be working. However, there is still a long way to go. In some parts of the town, vacancy rates reach 60%. France is often associated with having an 'empty' middle, a strip of vast land that traverses the country diagonally (the 'diagonale du vide', the empty diagonal), which is less populated than its mountains or coastlines and has fewer infrastructure and services. It's not empty, though, and has many lovely towns and villages within. However, it's where the population has shifted from rural to urban areas since the end of the 19th century. Many of these places have increasingly begun to offer stimulus to encourage newcomers. It's common to find these types of opportunities across Italy and sometimes Spain. Last summer, for example, one rural region in Spain offered remote workers the promise of a permanent, idyllic home and additional income, up to $16,000 if you relocated to Ambroz Valley, just a three-hour drive from the Spanish capital, Madrid, and a four-hour drive to Lisbon, Portugal. Several other French villages have offered €1 houses in the past, notably in the northern Picardie region, where, in 2019, they were offering €5,000 to relocate there as well. These houses never actually cost just one euro, as you would have to commit to restoring the home, including the façade, which increases the real cost by several thousand euros. The U.K.'s Independent newspaper recently noted that in Italy, "the cost of renovations is still relatively low compared to other countries – in the region of €20,000–50,000 depending on the size of the property." You wouldn't need to be a French citizen, but you would need to be keen to live there, and a little French might go a long way when dealing with contractors. However, aid is available to help with the cost of reconstruction in the form of grants and low-interest loans. Buyers are also required to commit to renovating the homes within a specific timeframe, ensuring the properties are restored and liveable. They also need actually to live there for at least three years. Anyone interested in living in Ambert, France, and buying €1 houses, can contact the local town hall here. MORE FROM FORBES Forbes Retire To France, Live Like A Tourist—It's More Affordable Than You Think By Alex Ledsom Forbes The Five Safest Countries In The World, Per 2025 Global Peace Index By Alex Ledsom Forbes What It Means To Be Wealthy In New Zealand By Alex Ledsom
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Travel + Leisure
6 days ago
- Travel + Leisure
These Are the Best Cities in the World to Retire for $1,500 or Less a Month
Getting to a comfortable place financially is certainly the common goal. However, saving up all those dollars and cents so you can enjoy those golden years seems to be getting harder and harder. There is, however, one easy solution: moving to a destination where your money stretches further. And, according to a new list by International Living, there are plenty of places you can live for just $1,500 a month as a senior citizen. "While the costs of everyday life may be rising back home, there are places overseas where $1,500 a month covers you for housing, healthcare, food, fun … the whole nine yards," the website dedicated to helping expats live their best lives, shared. "And that's for a couple. If you're flying solo, you can call these places home for even less." According to the site, the Iberian Peninsula reigns supreme when it comes to affordable retirement living. It named Bragança, a city in northern Portugal, as a top spot thanks to its furnished apartments, which can be rented for about $400 to $500 a month. It also noted that the cost of living here is also rather affordable, with electricity, water, and internet costing about $150 a month. Access to health care is also easy, thanks to private health insurance, which costs around $100 a month. Add in a $400 food budget and $30 for transportation, and you're squared away for a retirement under $1500 a month. Also joining Bragança is the city of Covilhã, located in central Portugal, where you can also find one-bedroom apartments for about $500 a month. Here, International Living shared, a meal out at an inexpensive restaurant can go for as little as $8.50 per person, while groceries remain affordable, too, with "a liter of milk, a loaf of bread, a dozen eggs, a pound of beef, a pound of cheese, and a bottle of wine" totaling around $15. International Living added, "With utilities (electricity, phone, Internet) averaging $175, a couple can live comfortably within a $1,500 budget while still having funds for travel and savings." Joining Portugal are three destinations in Spain, including Oviedo, close to the Bay of Biscay, where retirees can snag a furnished one-bedroom apartment for about $630 per month, while utilities average about $185, and a monthly public transportation pass costs $34. Alicante, Spain, also made the list, where you can get a city apartment or an ocean-view spot for less than $700 a month. Granada, Spain, rounded out the list; here you can get a city apartment for $600 a month and the overall cost of living for two people averages just $1,000 a month. Of course, there are other places outside the peninsula that made the list, including several spots in Mexico, Malaysia, and more spread across Asia. See all the places you can move for an affordable retirement at
Times of Oman
6 days ago
- Times of Oman
Expats arrested for gambling in South Al Batinah
Muscat: More than 15 expats have been arrested for gambling in a residential building in the Wilayat of Barka, South Al Batinah Governorate Police. A statement issued online by Royal Oman Police (ROP), said : "South Al Batinah Governorate Police Command arrested 19 Bangladeshi nationals while they were gambling in a residential building in the Wilayat of Barka. Legal procedures are being completed."
Arab News
7 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
GCC expats can now invest directly in Saudi main market
RIYADH: Residents of Gulf Cooperation Council countries, including expatriates, can now directly invest in Saudi Arabia's main stock market for the first time, under new regulations announced by the Capital Market Authority. The reform, unveiled by CMA Chairman Mohammed El-Kuwaiz, removes previous restrictions that limited access to swap agreements or required investors to go through licensed intermediaries. It applies to current and former residents of Saudi Arabia or other GCC states, according to an official announcement. The initiatives align with the Kingdom's economic diversification goals under Vision 2030, which seeks to deepen capital markets and attract global capital. By streamlining account openings and broadening access, the CMA aims to enhance liquidity, transparency, and investor confidence. In a post on X, El-Kuwaiz said the move 'promotes the openness of the market internationally, while at the same time building a long-term investment relationship with wider segments of investors around the world, within the framework of a more flexible and attractive regulatory environment.' In a separate statement, the CMA said the updates would 'enhance the attractiveness of the Saudi capital market for local and international investors, increase the level of investor protection, and strengthen the confidence of market participants.' The amendments were approved following the CMA's publication of the draft on Nov. 20, 2024, titled 'Facilitating the Procedures for Opening and Operating Investment Accounts for Various Categories of Investors.' The draft was open for public consultation for 30 calendar days via the Unified Electronic Platform for Consulting the Public and Government Entities, affiliated with the National Competitiveness Centre, and the CMA's website. The GCC investor expansion is part of a wider regulatory overhaul unveiled by the CMA last week to modernize Saudi Arabia's investment fund landscape. Key reforms included expanded distribution channels, allowing investment fund units to be distributed through licensed digital platforms and fintech firms approved by the Saudi Central Bank. Stronger governance measures have also been introduced, including new safeguards for fund manager transitions, which require CMA approval and a 60-day handover period to protect investors. REITs listed on the parallel market now have greater flexibility, as they can invest in development projects without strict asset allocation limits, potentially enhancing returns. The latest regulatory changes represent another strategic step to deepen liquidity, attract foreign capital, and position the Saudi Exchange as a leading money market in the region.
