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.

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?

السلام عليكم، أود الاستفسار بشأن قضية إبعاد زوج خالتي من دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة. زوج خالتي كان مقيماً في الإمارات وكان قد وُلد وترعرع هناك. في عام 2013 تم إبعاده من الإمارات، وكان ذلك نتيجة لسياسات حكومية كانت تستهدف مجموعة من المقيمين في تلك الفترة، وهو لم يكن قد ارتكب أي مخالفة في ذلك الوقت وكان يُعتبر ضحية للسياسات المتبعة. أرغب في معرفة الإجراءات التي يجب أن أتبعها حالياً من أجل رفع هذا الإبعاد وتمكينه من العودة إلى الإمارات. أرجو أن توضح لي كيف يمكنني مساعدته في هذا الموضوع. شكراً جزيلاً.

As the HR manager of a company, I have issued a salary advance to the employee. Upon joining, he failed to go to duty and used alcohol daily in the camp. I have a signed thumb-impression cash receipt. What options do I have to recover the AED 7000 advance paid to the employee? Please help. Regards, B.

Hello, My sister filed a criminal case against her employer (sexual harassment), and it is already with the Public Prosecutor. Her employer refuses to compensate her at all. Can we file a civil claim? When should we do it? Can we still file a civil claim after the judgment of the case?

هل تقسم الأملاك بعد الطلاق بين الزوجين وفق القانون الإماراتي؟

Hello, I have my husband's case number. Can I get information about his exit date using the case number? Fujairah Jail.

السلام عليكم، أتواصل مع بنت بداعي الحب والزواج. بعد مدة اعترفت لي أنها تعرضت للاغتصاب من قبل شاب آخر. ترسل لي صورها وهي عارية، والآن تطلب مني الاعتراف أنني أنا مَن اغتصبها.

السلام عليكم، تأخّر المطور في تشغيل المشروع الفندقي. بعد مرور ٣ سنوات من استكمال البناء ولأنني أحد الملاك، فقد دفعت أكثر من ٩٠% من قيمة الوحدة وتم تسجيل الوحدة في دائرة الأراضي والأملاك. الآن بحسب الزيارة الميدانية فإن المشروع غير مؤهّل لأن يعمل حتى هذا العام ٢٠٢٣. هل يحق لي المطالبة باسترداد الأموال المدفوعة؟

مرحبًا سيدي في حال وجود قضية في المحكمة هل سيكون هناك منع سفر؟

سيدي/سيدتي، انتهى عقد عملي في 18 نوفمبر 2022. بعد انتهاء العقد، أرسلت خطابًا إلى شركتي بأنني لن أجدد عقدي لكنهم لم يوافقوا على رفض التجديد وأخبروني أنه لا يمكنهم تسريحي حتى منتصف يناير 2023. هل هذا صحيح؟ هل أخالف أي قانون عمل إذا لم أذهب إلى العمل بعد قضاء فترة الإشعار لمدة 30 يومًا؟ يرجى تقديم المشورة. شكرًا لك مقدمًا.

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

Dear Sir/Madam, If an employee is still on probation period, can the employer terminate the contract with 14 days' notice even if the employment contract states 30 days' notice? The company is under MOHRE.

Dear Sir/Madam, I reside in a Dubai community, and my tenancy renewal is approximately 95 days away. The landlord is proposing a 15% rent increase, primarily based on rents listed on propertyfinder.ae, claiming that my current rent is 25% below market rates. However, the RERA Rental Index indicates "no increase in the rental value" as my rent is at the top of the quoted range, prompting me to reject the proposed increase. The real estate broker he hired at the time of my move-in recently contacted me, serving as an intermediary, mentioning that he would conduct a DLD valuation, likely resulting in a higher value. However, he is attempting to negotiate first, considering the cost of around 2500 AED. If we were to dispute, is the RERA Index Calculator the sole authoritative source for determining rent increases? Additionally, if the DLD valuation is accepted, what is the potential maximum increase?

Hello, I have a commercial execution case for the recovery of payments. I sent a notification to the local owner (100% ownership of the LLC), but I see that the company has closed its office and its license has expired. How can the courts get the money ordered in the judgment? Thank you!

سيدي/سيدتي العزيز/ة، رُفضت تأشيرة عملي. عندما زرت مكتب الهجرة، طلبوا مني الحضور برفقة موظف العلاقات العامة الخاص بشركتي. فعلت، وأخبرني موظف العلاقات العامة الخاص بي أن تأشيرتي رُفضت لأسباب أمنية. لا أفهم سبب رفض تأشيرة العمل، فليس لديّ أي قضايا في الهند أو الإمارات العربية المتحدة. أنا جديد في الإمارات العربية المتحدة. هل يمكن لأحد مساعدتي في حل هذه المشكلة؟ ما العمل؟ هل هناك أي حل بديل؟

أنا مساهم بنسبة ٥٠٪ في شركة تابعة لراكز، والمساهم بنسبة ٥٠٪ هو شريكي الذي غادر البلاد ولن يعود. لا أستطيع إدارة الشركة بمفردي. الشهر القادم يحين موعد تجديد الشركة، ولا أستطيع تحمل تكاليف ذلك. أريد إغلاق الشركة. يقول موظفو راكز: ارفعوا دعوى قضائية وأحضروا أوراق المحكمة لإغلاق الشركة. أين يمكنني الذهاب، ماذا أفعل، هل يمكنني الحصول على مساعدة؟ أعمل في مشروع صغير في المتجر.

Hello, My landlord vacated the property with 12 months' notice, stating he would live there himself. However, he started renting the property through the holiday homes system. Is a permit issued by the DTC for a holiday home valid proof to prove that he is renting and to claim compensation?

On Jan 2, 2025, one of my close friends did a privacy breach and recorded me and my van in some specific place. On Feb 5, when I called and asked him why he did this to me, he went and gave a complaint that I scolded him and threatened him. The same case was later closed by the PP when we negotiated outside the station and apologized. At this juncture, can I file a privacy breach case against him, which happened on Jan 2, 2025, and on Feb 5 I scolded him only for the privacy breach that happened on Jan 2?

I have a video recording of my husband beating me in our garden. Can I show this in the child custody hearing? It was filmed with my phone camera

Hello, My partner voluntarily withdrew from our company which we established in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. We established this company on July 1, 2024. Until now, there is no income or revenue. What is the legality?

Hello, I'm in Canada, and I filed for divorce. My husband, who owns a real estate company in Abu Dhabi, kidnapped our children and took them to the UAE to avoid the divorce and force me back to him. My children are twin boys, 8 years old, and a 10-year-old girl. What can I do? I want to follow them and take my children back, but he says his local Emirati connections will file criminal cases against me and have me jailed if I go there. What can I do remotely? Does the UAE return kidnapped children to their mother? In the UAE, a guardian cannot legally kidnap their own child; what does this mean for my case? If I report him, what happens to my children? Will they be held until I arrive to take them?