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!

Hello, How can I be exempted from paying the 5% court fee, and where should I go to apply?

Hello, Our customer has gone into liquidation, and we are shipping goods to Saudi Arabia. We have stopped the shipment and requested payment of their outstanding balance. How can we request to take ownership of their goods to sell in order to recover our outstanding invoices? Is this possible in Dubai Courts?

Hello, I bought an apartment, but the previous landlord is refusing to vacate it. The contract clearly states that the landlord should hand over the apartment on the day of the transfer. Out of courtesy, I gave him three days to vacate so he could find a new place to stay, but the time has passed, and he is still refusing to vacate and hand it over. What should I do in this case?

Hello. I went to a very well-known and professional salon (or so I thought) for a normal hair dye. The guy who did my hair left the dye on my hair for over an hour when it was supposed to be on for a maximum of 30 minutes. He wasn’t paying attention to me walking around the store talking to everyone and also doing another customer's extensions. Now my hair is potentially damaged, my skull burns, and is flaky (meaning the dye wasn’t ammonia-free which is extremely unprofessional for such an expensive salon). I didn’t even get the outcome that I wanted and the dye color doesn’t even show. I talked to him about it but he shut it down so fast and gaslit me the whole time and made me feel like I was the wrong one and I was ‘complaining about something so light’. Please let me know what I can do legally about this. Thank you.

Good day, I need help, please. I was involved in an accident. I was run over by a car and I was not the guilty party. Now, I have received the judgment order from the court. How do I submit it to claim my compensation from the guilty party? Thank you!

Hello, The company has a policy allowing employees to work from home once per week. Now, employees are asking if overtime is applicable for those who work from home as well. Could you please clarify? Thank you!

I’ve lived in my building for over 4 years, with the most recent rent being AED 50,000. Each year, the management collects cheques and extra AED 2,400–2,500 cash (no receipt) for management and Ejari fees. My contract was due for renewal on 15 Feb 2025, but management delayed, demanding a 10% rent increase even though no formal 90-day notice and the RERA index did not allow it. After a month of excuses, the manager called on 12 March, insisted increase to 55K, and threatened eviction if I refused. When I referenced RDC, he hung up. The next day, he again made unprofessional remarks, so I decided to go with RDC. I submitted my offer and deposit on 13th March, but the management didn’t respond. The case went to the judge on 14 April he ruled in my favor. On 30 April, I applied for the execution of the ruling, and RDC says I can renew Ejari only on 8th May at DLD with cheques given to them. However, on 1st May 2025, I received a notarized eviction notice for non-payment of rent and communication. My question is, what will happen at DLD now?

I am working in the private sector, and currently I am in the probation period. I got a government job, so I submitted a one-month resignation notice. My current company rejected my one-month notice and ordered me to serve a three-month notice (as per the contract). I enquired with One Time Centre, and as per their advice, after one month, I can stop work and register a complaint against my company. For this matter, how will the UAE law help me to solve it?

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.

Hello, We are a building materials trading company based in the UAE. We supplied materials worth AED 50,000 to a customer around 8 months ago, but despite repeated follow-ups and reminders, no payment has been made to date. We would appreciate guidance on the following: 1. What legal action can we take to recover the amount? 2. What documents should we have ready (e.g., delivery notes, invoice, emails)? 3. How long does the legal process typically take in the UAE for such cases? 4. Is there a recommended timeline or deadline after which legal steps should be initiated? Thank you in advance for your advice!

السلام عليكم هل يسجل الطفل قانونياً بالإمارات (أب إماراتي يحمل جواز من الشارقة ، أم وافدة) في حال كان الفرق بين عقد الزواج الشرعي والولادة تقريباً 166 يوم أقل من 6 أشهر؟ هل يمنع من استخراج شهاده ميلاد؟ وما هي الإجراءات والعقوبات المتوقعة؟ مع العلم بأن الأب معترف بالطفل قبل الزواج وبعده. شكراً

Hello, An investor has a residence visa valid until February 2027; however, he wishes to close the company before the current license expires in December 2025. Can the investor still legally reside in the UAE until the residence visa expires?

Hello, I had a case regarding fraud by technical means, and we did a tanazul. It was attested and submitted to the court, but the case still hasn’t been dropped and is now with the public prosecution. What do I do now, as I need to travel urgently?

My new employer is not changing my visa status and refuses to provide cancellation papers, especially when I don’t recall signing any cancellation documents and haven’t received my gratuity yet. How can I register a complaint against my employer for holding my passport after visa cancellation? I had completed my one-month notice period and followed all procedures properly when I resigned. I'm currently working in a free zone company.

سيدي/سيدتي، هل يمكن أن أرفع قضية نفقة على زوجي إذا لم أنجب بعد؟ أم عليّ أن أنتظر حتى أنجب الطفل ثم أرفع قضية ضده؟

مرحبًا، منذ عام 2018، كانت هناك قضية شيكات مرفوعة ضدي بقيمة 345,000 درهم إماراتي. أصدرت المحكمة حكمًا علي غيابيًا بالسجن لمدة 18 شهرًا. في الوقت الحالي أقيم في دولة الهند. كيف يمكنني تسوية الحكم باستخدام توكيل؟ وما هي المدة التي سيستغرقها الأمر؟ يجب عليّ العودة إلى دولة الإمارات في أسرع وقت ممكن.

هل من الممكن رفع قضية طلاق ومغادرة البلاد؟ هل يجب علي البقاء داخل دولة الإمارات ما لم يتم إصدار الحكم في قضية الطلاق؟ الإجراءات بطيئة للغاية ولا يمكنني البقاء في دولة الإمارات في الأشهر المقبلة. ما هي الخيارات المتاحة لمتابعة قضية الطلاق وإجراءات المحكمة أثناء التواجد خارج البلاد؟

لقد اعتدى عليّ زوجي جسديًا وذهبت لإعداد تقرير طبي. هل يجب علي رفع قضية جنائية ضده أم يمكنني تقديم التقرير الطبي فحسب إلى محكمة دبي؟

كنت مديرًا وشريكًا بشركة ذات مسؤولية محدودة، وبحكم وظيفتي بصفتي مديرًا للشركة، وقَّعت شيك ضمان لأحد العملاء بمعاملة تجارية باستخدام دفتر شيكات الشركة، وبعد عامين تركت وظيفتي وانسحبت من الشركة وسلَّمتها لمدير وشريك آخر. حدثت بعد هذا التاريخ خلافات تجارية بين الشركة من ناحية وبين العميل من ناحية أخرى فرفع العميل دعوى مدنية ضدي وضد الشركة. ما موقفي وحجتي القانونية في هذه المشكلة مع العلم أن قيمة الشيك مُثبتَة بالعقد ومُعرَّفة على أنها شيك ضمان وليس وفاء؟ شكرًا لحضراتكم!