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.

Dear Legal Advice Middle East, I hope you are well. I am seeking legal advice regarding an unpaid salary issue with my former employer, [-----]2 LLC. I was employed with them from December 4, 2024, to January 7, 2025, on a monthly salary of 5,000 AED. However, I only received a partial payment of 2,473 AED on February 24, 2025. The remaining 2,527 AED is still unpaid. I submitted a complaint to MOHRE on March 2, 2025, but I am unable to proceed further through their official channels. This is because I was working under the visa of my previous employer, [---] LLC, and not under [----]’s sponsorship. As a result, I do not meet the criteria to file a labor complaint via the MOHRE app or hotline. Given this situation, I would appreciate your guidance on how I can legally pursue the recovery of my remaining salary, considering the complications related to my visa status during the employment.

Hello, I already have a dispute order with MOHRE. Then my employer became willing to settle the case. What should I do in case they do not follow through with the promised amount to pay?

Hello, My wife's company renewed their insurance and registered my wife as single, so the maternity benefits are not covered, even though we were already married before she joined the company. She is now 35 weeks pregnant. What should we do?

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؟

I am writing to seek your legal expertise and advice on a pressing issue concerning a property sale transaction that my brokerage company has facilitated. Here are the details: Our brokerage company represented the seller in a property sale where the property was sold with an existing rental agreement in place. As per the terms of the agreement, the rental balance was supposed to be given to the buyer, who is now the new owner of the property. In this transaction, our company is entitled to a 40% commission, and the buyer's brokerage company is entitled to 60%. However, the buyer's brokerage company, which has complete control over the buyer's funds, has transferred the entire 100% commission to their own account. They are currently withholding this commission, stating that they will release it once the rental balance is paid to the buyer. Unfortunately, we have lost contact with the buyer, as he has blocked the seller's agent, making it impossible for us to fulfill this condition.

I want to be a lawyer and study law in the UK. I am a UAE national but I am worried about studying outside the UAE and not being able to actually become a lawyer in the UAE. Do I really need to study in the UAE to become a lawyer here?

سيدي العزيز لقد تقدمت بطلب للحصول على برامج Canada AIPP من إحدى وكالات الاستشارات في دبي في عام 2021، وأخبروني أن العملية ستستغرق عامًا واحدًا. والآن استغرقت أكثر من عامين. أخبروني أنهم تقدموا لي هذه السنوات ولكن لم أتلق أي رد من أي شركة، وعندما طلبت منهم إخباري بمكان تقديم الطلب، أخبروني أنه سري. الآن أخبرتهم بإيقاف العملية وسوف يعيدون لي أموالي ولكن سيكون المبلغ أقل بكثير وفقًا لهم. يرجى إخباري كيف يمكنني الحصول على أموالي حيث دفعت ما يقرب من 9000 درهم إماراتي أو كيف يمكنني المضي قدمًا بشكل قانوني.

مرحباً لقد عملت في شركة تحت كفيل محلي مع شريكين لمدة 6 سنوات وستنتهي تأشيرتي الشهر المقبل. ومع ذلك، أبلغتني شركتي أنها ستنقل تأشيرتي إلى شركتها الأخرى مع نفس المالك مع شريك جديد (بدون كفيل محلي). في هذه الحالة، ماذا علي أن أفعل؟ هل سيتم إضافة مكافأة نهاية الخدمة السابقة إلى تأشيرتي الجديدة أم يجب أن أحصل على مكافأة نهاية الخدمة وأعمل كموظف جديد؟ يرجى تقديم اقتراح.

مرحبًا، اشترينا شقة في يوليو. الشقة مؤجرة حتى نهاية نوفمبر مع المالك السابق الذي قدم لهم إشعار إخلاء العام الماضي لبيع المنزل. الآن يريدون تجديد العقد لكننا لا نريد التجديد لأننا نريد الانتقال إلى شقتنا للعيش فيها. هل يمكننا الانتقال إلى شقتنا ويجب على المستأجر الخروج؟ هل يمكن للمستأجر رفض الخروج؟

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.

Hello, I already have a dispute order with MOHRE. Then my employer became willing to settle the case. What should I do in case they do not follow through with the promised amount to pay?

Hello, My rent cheque was bounced, and my landlord filed a case against me in Sharjah Court. I received a fine of 2,000 AED, which was later reduced to 1,000 AED upon appeal. Does this case count as a criminal conviction under UAE law, or was it handled as a civil matter? If I apply for a U.S. visa, will I need to submit court records under the requirement for applicants with past convictions?

Hello, Can I stay home if my boss doesn’t pay my salary on time?

Hello, I am planning to change to another company and I am waiting for the offer. The visa from the current company is going to end in 2 months. Should I inform them about my leaving? I haven’t received any offer yet, so I didn’t inform them, and they’re asking about the renewal every day. Is it mandatory to inform them 2 months in advance?

Hi Lawyers, Many individuals have invested in a Forex trading company based in the UAE. Should we hire a lawyer to file a case, or can we report it to the police station to summon the involved party, allowing them to settle and refund our money? The company is not regulated in the UAE, yet it accepts payments in the UAE and manipulates trades, causing clients to lose their money. Please help us. Thank you!

Good day, One person owes me 50,000 dirhams and was supposed to return the entire amount, including the monthly investment with 5% interest. However, he has suddenly disappeared and is not returning the principal amount or the interest. I have not received any security check from him. Can I take him to court or explore other options to ban him in this country?

Hi, I need help in filing an infidelity complaint with the Dubai police. The perpetrator is a serial sex abuser who holds an EU passport and resides in Dubai. He is English-speaking. Please provide me with the necessary procedures and post-submission processes. I can verify the power of attorney (POA) via UAE Pass.

I am in India right now and I wanted to cancel my work visa in the UAE but my employer is not willing to cancel it. If I stay more than 6 months, will my visa be canceled automatically? After that, will I face any problems coming back to find a new work or when I get a new visa?

I have a travel ban (blacklisted) issued from the UAE due to an unpaid credit card outstanding (approx AED 20k). Can I enter Saudi Arabia on a visit visa (French citizen) and how long will the travel ban last?