I have just had to re-register our car. This has to be done annually and you cannot register unless you have a vehicle inspection certificate, an insurance certificate, no outstanding traffic fines and a no objection letter from your immigration sponsor.

While I was working my sponsor was the company I was working for. Now that I am not, my sponsor is now Sue. This involved lots of new paperwork, including proof of marriage and eventually a new visa in my passport. So to get the car registered I had to have a letter from her (in English and Arabic) saying that she had no objection to me driving a car.

So car was inspected and certificate obtained. Insurance was organised and certificate printed from email. Online traffic fines website was checked – no outstanding fines. Wife consented to giving no objection letter – I guess she wanted a chauffeur. All ready to re-register.

Thursday. 7.30am. I am first in the queue for registration. I fall at the first hurdle. My proof of insurance does not have a stamp on it so I have to wait until the courier delivers the documents on Saturday.

Sunday. 7.30. First in the queue. Insurance OK. No objection letter OK. Vehicle inspection OK. Traffic violations. Thursday 5 March. 121 kph in a 100kph zone. 300 AED please. Cash will be fine. Shukran.