A Sri Lankan expatriate family in Dubai is struggling with accumulated debt, legal penalties, and separation after the husband's detention related to a bounced cheque case, leaving their three children unable to attend school and the family facing potential homelessness.
Rabiya Razick, who has lived in the United Arab Emirates for the past decade, finds herself navigating a cascade of financial and legal difficulties that have destabilised her family's life. Her husband, Mohamed Waseem Ubaidulla, has been detained since July following a case connected to a cheque that bounced in 2019, while Razick herself is prevented from travelling due to outstanding loan obligations. The couple's three children, aged three, seven, and fifteen, have been unable to attend school as a result of the family's circumstances.
The family's troubles began when Razick lost her job last year. Her husband subsequently found new employment, but before his work visa could be finalised, legal proceedings against him resulted in a travel ban that prevented his employer from completing the residency and work permit requirements. Beyond the bounced cheque case, the family faces mounting debts including credit card balances totalling approximately Dh33,966 and unpaid loans. According to documents reviewed by Gulf News, Razick has requested permission from Dubai Court to settle Dh56,236 in legal fees and penalties through monthly instalments of Dh4,498 following an initial payment of Dh11,247, though she states the family currently lacks the means to make even the down payment.
The situation has taken an emotional toll on the children, who struggle with their father's absence and have been unable to participate in normal activities such as school and summer programmes. The family also faces the prospect of losing their rented home in Al Muhaisnah after falling two months behind on rental payments. Razick, who continues to search for employment despite repeated rejections, is appealing for assistance from charitable organisations or legal aid bodies to help navigate their financial obligations and legal complications. The family is now considering returning to Sri Lanka to be near relatives, though they had previously hoped to build a permanent life in the UAE.
