My wife was pregnant and gave birth in the first week of her seventh month. The company she works for refused to give her leave when she requested it before giving birth, claiming that work required it and that she was still in her sixth month. Now the company she works for is refusing to pay her full salary and is offering to pay only half her salary. Do they have the right to do this? What are my wife's rights with the company she works for, and how can we demand them?

Hi, I am a non-Muslim indian expatriate, residing in Dubai since 2015. The first 5 years, I was on a working visa, and after the delivery of my first baby, I left my job and became dependent on my husband. In 2018, we bought a house together where I invested AED 2 hundred thousand from my income (I have proof in the form of a cheque). I also paid AED 3300 monthly installment for 1 year, for a personal loan taken out for the house. But in spite of my resistance, my husband tactfully put the house in his name, so the title deed was in his name. In 2024, when my kids and I were in India for vacation, he cancelled our visas and residency. He also filed for a divorce in India. The divorce is not yet finalised, and we are still married. Since August 2024, he hasn't let me access my house in Dubai, so I filed a case, which eventually went in my favor in January 2025. Since I used to travel on a visit visa, I left for India and returned in March, to find out that my husband had already sold the house. The new owner is residing there. What can I do now? Help!

Hi I'm a nanny, and at the same time, I work as a housemaid (khadama) here in the house. I work, but as I know, the nannies and housemaids have different rights, and my employer doesn't give me rest. My work starts at 7:30 am and then finishes at 10 pm or less. It depends on whether the baby is asleep or what time they will take on me if not yet asleep. Is this right? Also, at the time of eating, I'm still working because the baby is with me, so I just let her sit in her chair. That's how I eat. Please answer me. I want to know my rights. Because if I can leave during the 6-month probation, I want to take it if the employer is this kind. I don't know. They are also expats, but they don't follow the rules of the UAE regarding a housemaid.

I recently joined a new organization in the Hamriyah Free Zone, and my previous organization has not released my end-of-service benefits. The HR has instructed the finance team not to do so because I had contacted one of their clients. In my DMCC contract, there is no Non-Compete clause, but the offer letter has one, and now they are not releasing the end-of-service. Is this legal? What are my rights?

Hello, I have multiple cheque execution cases filed against me due to financial strains last year. My trade license and visa will expire next month, along with my Emirates ID. Is it possible for me to renew my license and visa along with EID prior to settling the execution cases? The trade license and visa were issued by the free zone authority. I look forward to your response. Thanks.

Respected Advisors, I have been involved in a few criminal cases since 2017, but all of them were cleared by this year. I have obtained release letters for all the cases from the public prosecution office through an online portal. Recently, I also received my residence visa. After the visa process was completed, I applied for a PCC online. However, the request was rejected. I contacted the 901 office, and they advised me to visit the CID. I arranged for a power of attorney to be granted along with all the necessary documents to update the system. Twice I was told to come in person, but I am hesitant to do so because of my previous negative experience. Could someone please advise me whether I must go in person or if the person holding the power of attorney can handle the process? Thank you!

My father died recently. We are Muslim residents in Dubai. I have siblings including a minor who is 16 years old. My father has land and vehicles under his name. If I am applying for inheritance, does the minor need to have a share in ALL the properties and vehicles or can she be given a particular property/vehicle? Secondly, if we want the land to be in her name, and she manages it (like renting and bank), does it require an adult? Can the vehicles be transferred to someone else’s name without including her? Your guidance will be very much appreciated.

سيدي/سيدتي العزيز/ة، لقد فُصلتُ تعسفيًا (إنه أمر شخصي من جانبهم) ولم أحصل إلا على راتب شهرين بالإضافة إلى مكافأة نهاية الخدمة الإلزامية ومكافأة إشعار الفصل. أرغب في المطالبة بأكثر من شهرين بصفتي مديرًا تنفيذيًا كبيرًا. ما هو الحد الأقصى للمبلغ الذي يجب أن أطالب به، وهل سيكون هذا المبلغ معقولًا لأحصل عليه؟

تم رفع دعوى قضائية ضد موظف فشل في المشاركة في حدث دولي في المملكة العربية السعودية بسبب مشكلة عائلية نتج عنها حظر سفر، مما أدى بدوره إلى عدم توقيع صفقة بقيمة 100000 درهم إماراتي مما أدى إلى خسارة للشركة. - ما هي الأسباب القانونية التي تسمح لصاحب العمل بمقاضاة الموظف في هذا السيناريو؟ - هل يوفر قانون العمل الإماراتي أي إرشادات أو علاجات محددة لمثل هذه المواقف؟ - ما هي النتائج أو العلاجات المرجوة التي يمكن لصاحب العمل السعي إليها من خلال الإجراء القانوني؟ - هل هناك أي عواقب أو مسؤوليات قانونية محتملة لصاحب العمل في متابعة هذه القضية؟ - ما هي الوثائق والأدلة اللازمة لدعم قضية صاحب العمل؟

سيدي/سيدتي العزيزة، ما هي الكلفة لفتح ملف تنفيذ في الشارقة لقضية طلاق وكم من الوقت سيستغرق تنفيذ أمر المحكمة؟ أخبر زوجي المحكمة أنه لا يملك المال لدفع نفقتي ونفقة ابنتي لأنه يكسب مبلغًا أدنى لا يستطيع العيش إلا به. في هذه الحالة، ماذا يمكنني أن أفعل؟ لقد أغلق جميع حساباته المصرفية وأرسل الأموال إلى والديه في الهند. كما أخبرني أنه سيثبت في المحكمة أنه ليس لديه وظيفة أو مال، وبالتالي لا تستطيع المحكمة أو الشرطة فعل أي شيء له. هل يمكنك من فضلك أن توجهني بشأن ما يمكنني فعله في هذه الحالة؟ ليس لدي أي دليل على راتبه أو حسابه المصرفي لأنه لم يخبرني بأي شيء يتعلق بأموره المالية. في الواقع، كان يجبرني على مطالبة والديّ بإرسال الأموال إلينا. وبسبب عدم وجود دليل، وافقت المحكمة على رأيه ورفضت استئنافي. ليس لدي عمل وأعاني من مصاريف أساسية. هل يمكنني أن أطلب من المحكمة الاستفسار عن مكافأة نهاية الخدمة ونهاية الخدمة؟ أو هل يمكن للمحكمة أن تطلب منه تقديم إثبات للمال الذي حصل عليه من شركته، حيث كان يعمل لمدة 30 عامًا في نفس الشركة؟

Hello, I want to confirm: if an employee is terminated during the probation period, does the employer have to pay them their accrued annual leave, even if it's during the probation period? Or is the employee only eligible for leave payment after the probation period? Thanks!

I live in Dubai and I have a one-year rental contract with my landlord. According to the agreement, I must tell the landlord at least 90 days before the contract ends whether I want to renew it or leave. I followed the rule and sent them an email before the 90-day deadline, saying that I want to renew. They replied and said okay, and they asked me to send the new contract so they could sign it. I prepared the new contract (with the rent price fixed according to RERA rules) and sent it to them about two weeks ago. But since then, they haven’t replied or signed the contract. I think maybe they are waiting to see if someone else will offer more money to rent the apartment, so they are delaying their response. Now I am wondering: if they finally send back the signed contract after a long delay—let’s say in one more week—and by that time I’ve changed my mind (for example, I found a better apartment or I’m leaving the country), am I legally required to continue with this landlord?

Hello, I'm from the Philippines, working here for 15 years. I have a big problem, and they have repeatedly given me a case of a cheque worth AED 73,000 for almost 9 years. Recently, they filed a case again after knowing that my case was done last October. This cheque is a guarantee cheque only for my 5-year monthly car installments. I paid for almost 2 years and have 3 years left to be paid, but I gave the person who guaranteed my car a cheque worth AED 73,000 at that time. I don't have enough requirements to get the 5-year monthly installment car, so I asked someone to help me, but my biggest mistake is that I don't have any agreement for this cheque because I totally trust him as my family. After delaying payment for 2 months because I went on vacation and came back, he asked me to visit their shop. When I went, they just called me and told me to get his things.

Can I join another company during my probation period? And what difficulties will I face during that transfer process?

Hello, After the 7-day notice period in a cheque execution case, how long do I have to file for enforcement? Is it acceptable to wait and file after one month as I’m out of the country?

السلام عليكم، أعمل في شركة في العين مند ثلاث سنوات ونصف "منها سنة وعشرة أشهر إقامة تابعة للشركة" وما تبقى كنت أعمل بالإعارة من شركة أخرى. راتبي في عقد العمل 500 درهم ولكن راتبي الفعلي 2500 درهم. هل يحق لي المطالبة قانونًا على حسب الراتب الفعلي؟ وهل فترة العمل بالإعارة تدخل ضمن أيام المستحقات؟ علمًا بأنني أستلم راتبي بشكل مباشر بإيصال قبض من الشركة، وراتب العقد (500) أستلمه بنكيًا أو عبر فروع الأنصاري.

Hi everyone, I rent an apartment. After two days in the apartment, water started leaking from the ceiling. It turned out to be a fault in the building's construction, which caused condensation in the false ceilings. When the panels were demolished, it was found that they were all full of mold. The building manager has started work, but the apartment is no longer habitable. Should the landlord compensate me for the lack of peaceful enjoyment of the property?

My company is asking us to do 9 hrs. duty this Ramadan starting last 8th of April 2023 without overtime pay. And no one from my colleagues wants to complain as they are scared of what might happen. Just today, my showroom manager is asking me to extend until 12 pm when I started my duty from 10 am and I am fasting. What can I do?

Dear Sir/Madam, Can I give birth legally in Dubai if I am unmarried to the father?

Dear Sir/Madam, My employer (Federal) signed a 3-year contract with me. They have now given me 3 months' notice, ending my contract in May rather than August, saying that my contract was not renewed. There was no reason given for my non-renewal. My evaluations have been consistently excellent. Further, they are now demanding 3 months of housing allowance be repaid. Is this legal?

Dear Lawyers, I signed a Form F with a buyer for the sale of my house as we were planning to leave the country. The contract was signed about a month ago, but the handover is not until August. Due to personal circumstances changing, we are no longer leaving Dubai and would like to cancel Form F. The Form F contract stipulates that we have to pay the buyer 10% of the purchase value. The real estate agent is now claiming that we also have to pay the buyer's real estate commission and the conveyancing fee. Our understanding is that the 10% penalty is the only penalty. Which is correct, and what are the next steps to dispute this? Also, is there any way to dispute the 10% itself under the law due to personal circumstances changing?

I got an offer letter from Al-Haldin Gulf Construction & Petroleum LLC. Can you please advise about the company?

Hello, I have a tenant who is always late with their payment. Their renewal was supposed to be last December 2023. Currently, they have not signed any new contract, provided any new cheques, and have stayed for three months from December until now without paying rent. Additionally, I just discovered that they have sublet the apartment with partitions, which is clearly stated as not allowed in the old contract. Please let me know what should I do legally!

Dear Concern, How long will it take to receive the cancellation paper from my previous employer? My last working day at my current company will be on April 7, 2024.

Hi, We sent a renewal notice to our Dubai-based tenant 84 days before his contract renewal, with a 10% increase in rent. The tenant neither agreed nor disagreed with the proposed rent and replied on the day of renewal that he wouldn't be paying the proposed rent. Due to the argument, the landlord decided to reduce the rent, but the tenant has not yet renewed his contract. It has been 12 days since his contract expired. Kindly suggest what could be done in this matter.