س: لقد دفعت أموالاً لشركة الهجرة في دبي، ولم يتمكنوا من تزويدي ببطاقة إقامة وضرائب. لقد دفعت أتعابهم بالإضافة إلى المبلغ الذي قالوا إنه استثمار في العمل وسيتم إعادته في غضون عام. الآن لا يستجيبون للرسائل والمكالمات من جهتي. زرت مكتبهم حيث يوجد موظفة استقبال وامرأتان أخريان ولكن الرجلين اللذين كنت أتعامل معهم ليسا هناك. أتساءل عما إذا كانوا قد فروا من البلاد. ما هي الخيارات القانونية المتاحة لي الآن؟ أقدر كثيرًا توجيهاتكم.

س: مرحبًا. أدعى آرون من تايلاند. أحتاج إلى رأي قانوني منك بشأن الغش الذي أواجهه من شركة مقرها الإمارات تدعى R. I. في يناير 2017، وقعت زوجتي اتفاقًا معهم بشأن خطاب عرض عمل إلى كندا. مجموع الرسوم التي طلبوها كانت 7000 درهم إماراتي، ولكن بالنسبة للدفعة الأولى فقد دفعت لهم 4000 درهم إماراتي. قالوا أن الأمر سيستغرق 6 أشهر. في يناير 2018، أخبروني أنهم في الوقت الحالي ليسوا قادرين على توفير عرض عمل لي لأنه لا توجد شواغر حاليًا. بعد ذلك، أعطوني عرضًا آخر لبرنامج الهجرة الأطلسي إلى كندا. صدقتهم أيضًا في هذه الحالة وبدأوا البرنامج. بعد ذلك فقط عرفت أنهم لا يعرفون حتى كيفية ملء طلب الهجرة. لذلك طلبت منهم إيقاف المعاملة واسترداد المبلغ بالكامل في شهر أبريل الماضي، ولكنهم لم يردوا أموالي حتى الآن وهم يؤجلون الدفع باستمرار. فكرت في فتح دعوى ضدهم، لذلك أطلب منك أن تعطيني نصيحة حول ذلك.

س: لقد وقّعنا اتفاقية في شهر أكتوبر 2020 للحصول على "تأشيرة بدء الأعمال التجارية الناشئة في المملكة المتحدة" مع وكالة هجرة في دولة الإمارات. وفقًا للاتفاقية، لقد دفعنا 25,000 درهم إماراتي باعتبارها حزمة كاملة للحصول على التأشيرة. بعد تقديم الطلب والمتابعة لمدة ستة أو سبعة أشهر، يطلبون الآن الحصول على رسوم تصديق تبلغ قيمتها 50.000 / - درهم، والتي يجب دفعها للجهات المسؤولة عن التصديق لمدة عامين. في وقت سابق، لم يبلغونا بهذا الأمر ولم يذكروا ذلك في أي مادة من هذه الاتفاقية، مما يدل على أنهم تعمدوا إخفاء ذلك عنا عند توقيع الاتفاقية. ولهذا السبب، لا نريد الاستمرار ولا توافق الوكالة على رد أموالنا التي تبلغ قيمتها 25,000 درهم إماراتي. يرجى تقديم المشورة والمساعدة.

Q: My husband & I applied to migration services hoping to have a chance to work in Canada. After months of waiting, we decided to withdraw our application & refund the money as per the contract. We need to wait for 24 weeks before we can claim. 1-Jun-22 is our schedule but till now 18-May-23, we didn’t receive it. They always send emails to reschedule the refund. Since we are going on vacation, we consider collecting whatever recovery they have which is 2500 each but then they send an email saying that we have only 2000. I replied & corrected them but instead, they sent an email saying we have only 1500. We were really losing hope as they keep on changing their statement. So when we meet in their office we record whatever promises the staff has given us but when they found out that we are recording they said all our entitlement for refunds is forfeited because of this action. A total of 8000 dirhams for both of us is due for a refund. Our only purpose in the recording is to have evidence of their promises. Thank you

Q: Hello respectful Sir/Madam I applied for migration to Poland through a consultancy in Dubai on December 28, 2022. They said I would get a work permit within 60 days, but it has been more than 6 months. I now need my deposited amount back, but they are saying to mail customer care. I have receipts for payment and a fake offer letter. Can you please suggest how I can get a refund legally?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I applied for a Poland job through a Dubai consultancy in 2020 and paid all of the required fees, totaling AED 11,000. The consultancy then released my work permit for Poland, which expires after one year. They then said that they would apply for my Poland visa from the Poland embassy, and I believed them. However, when I messaged them about my visa because my Poland work permit is about to expire, they suddenly asked me to pay an additional AED 3,750 to apply for a new work permit. When I said that I do not want to pay and that I would like a refund, they said that they will not refund my money. Please advise me on how to get my money back. Thanks!

Q: Respected Lawyers, I am working and living in Abu Dhabi. A year ago, I submitted my documents and paid AED 6,000 to an immigration consultancy in Abu Dhabi to help me obtain a Canada work permit. According to them, they would complete and provide the work permit within one year. However, more than a year has passed, and there has still been no positive response or progress. I requested a refund, but they sent me an email saying that they would refund me after 120 working days. Please advise me on how to file a case to get my refund as soon as possible. Thanks! Best Regards

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I paid money to a documents clearing company in Dubai to process a freelance visa for me. After receiving payment, they kept delaying and didn't even start the process. Doubting their intentions, I have demanded a refund of my payment, which they are now delaying as well. They keep promising they will do it in a day or two but are not keeping their word. I have payment proof in the form of an invoice issued by them and proof of the refund request in a WhatsApp conversation, where they repeatedly say they will do it but have not followed through. What action can I take against them to recover my money?

An interview-format article covering the topic of contracts in the UAE. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of Lawgical with LYLAW.

The Law sets up the legal framework for the protection of consumer rights in the UAE. The Law establishes the Higher Committee for Consumer Protection and the Consumer Protection Department, and sets up the fines for breach of its provisions.

The provisions of this law, promulgating UAE Civil Code, govern the civil transactions in the United Arab Emirates. The commercial transactions remain subject to the laws and regulations applicable in their regard.

The provisions of this Federal Law, known as the "New Consumer Protection Law", govern Consumer Protection regulations in the United Arab Emirates. The New Consumer Protection Law repeals the previous UAE Consumer Protection Law (Federal Law No. (24) of 2006 on Consumer Protection).

The provisions of this Cabinet Resolution No (12) of 2007 Concerning the Executive Regulations of Federal Law No (24) of 2006 on Consumer Protection.