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.

Hello, How many days do I need to wait for company cancellation following resignation and one-month notice?

We received a cheque which has now bounced. We have tried for over a month and a half now to get a new cheque from the person, and every day he says the next day. We need the money now. We have been to the police station, and they said they can not do anything as the reason the cheque bounced is "Insufficient funds." We have been to Al Barsha - Dubai Courts, and they said there is nothing they can do about it. We are not sure what we can do. We need the money asap to pay our kids' school fees, let alone all the interest we have lost.

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!

Hello, I filed an execution order against my ex-husband to ensure he pays child support. The judge issued an order to impound his vehicles and accounts; however, this has not yet been carried out. Could you advise on how long this process typically takes and whether there are any additional actions I can take to enforce the payment? I would appreciate your guidance on the best course of action to ensure my ex-husband complies with the order. Thank you for your time and assistance!

السلام عليكم، رفعت دعوى جزائية ضد شخص عن السب مع طلب التعويض المدني المؤقّت. حُكم على المُشتكَى ضده بغرامة بقيمة 5000 آلاف ولم يحكم القاضي بالتعويض المدني المؤقت 5001+ للمشتكي. المحكمة أحالت الدعوى إلى المحكمة المدنية المختصة. هل عدم القضاء من القاضي الجزائي بالتعويض المدني المؤقت يُعد حجة على القاضي المدني بعدم التعويض؟

Dear Sir/Madam, How can we get a company to pay us for the services provided? We are a medical center in Abu Dhabi that provided round-the-clock PCR services to the staff of a Marine company in Abu Dhabi between July and November 2022. The credit period for payment has expired more than 4 months ago, and the company has not provided any updates regarding our outstanding payment of over 100,000 AED.

السلام عليكم، لدي بنت تجاوزت ١٣ سنة وابن تجاوز ١١ سنة وهم في حضانة أمهم حاليًا. أمهم متزوجة من رجل أجنبي عن المحضونين وأنوي رفع قضية إسقاط حضانة الأولاد وضمهم إليّ. السؤال: هل يجب أن أكون متزوجًا أو لدي من النساء مَن يقوم برعاية الأبناء حتى أربح القضية؟ علمًا بأنني أقيم بمفردي حاليًا.

Dear Lawyers, I have a criminal case against me. The person who filed the case has withdrawn it, and I have received a letter of consent from them. However, the police are not canceling the case. They say that the public prosecutor has not canceled it, even though it was not a big problem.

Dear Sir/Madam, I was a Dubai resident until 2018. I then moved to Singapore, where I had a dispute with my ex-girlfriend over stolen property that belonged to me. She filed a harassment case against me in Dubai while I was in Singapore. I came to Dubai last week for a holiday, and the police detained me at immigration, placed a travel ban on me, and took my phone. The harassment took place while I was in Singapore, and she was in Dubai. Can the Dubai police still confiscate my phone and place a travel ban on me?

Hi, I wanted to purchase a 2-bedroom apartment in JVC Dubai. I gave a 10% security deposit cheque to the seller. The price mentioned in the MoU is very high compared to other similar apartments in the same building. The bank’s valuation also came in very low. Since the valuation is much lower, how can I terminate the MoU and get my cheque back? The MoU ends on 1st October 2024. One of the articles in the MoU states: In the event that the Buyer fails to make the payments as agreed or fails to complete the transfer on the agreed date due to his own acts or omissions, the Seller has the right to terminate this agreement and retain the deposit, provided that the termination is due to a violation of the agreed terms, unless both parties agree amicably to different dates. I need help urgently.

Dear Sir/Madam, There is an employee who has been absent repeatedly. However, the company is not paying salaries on time, with regular delays in salary payments. Can the company terminate the employee without end-of-service or notice period compensation if the employee cites occasional salary delays as the reason for their absences?

If staff did not come back from vacation, after how long can we terminate him/her?

I was married in Abu Dhabi last year at the family court, is my marriage certificate valid in the US?

Regarding the probation period, when is the deadline for an employer to terminate me if the DOJ anniversary is Friday 2nd Feb? Will the six-month period end at midnight on the 1st, therefore completing six months, or can the employer still terminate on the 2nd? Appreciate any guidance provided.

Hello, I was driving my car when the police stopped me at one point on the road and told me that I was driving under the influence of alcohol. I tried hard to deny that because I had not actually consumed any alcoholic beverages that day or in the previous three days. However, a report was filed and a case was opened, but the alcohol test report came back negative. Will I be convicted despite that? Please answer me. It is urgent.

I’m looking for legal advice regarding a hair salon incident that caused serious damage to my hair and scalp. I visited a salon for a colouring treatment, during which two rounds of bleach, which is not what I booked in for, were given to me without proper approvals, and were applied back-to-back without a strand test or proper consultation. As a result, I’ve been experiencing extreme hair breakage, daily hair loss, and ongoing scalp irritation. This has been especially distressing as I’m currently pregnant. It’s now been over 20 days since the incident, and despite multiple polite follow-ups, the salon has ignored all communication. I’m now exploring legal action to pursue compensation for the physical and emotional distress caused. I have full documentation, messages, and photos. Any guidance on the best next steps or legal routes I can take would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

Is it still applicable to file a complaint with the police for a bounced cheque?

Good day. For the last 3 years, the landlord's office has not responded to renew the contract, so I contacted RERA for renewal. The office doesn't respond to emails related to renewal, even though I started sending emails and reminders 2 to 3 months before expiry, and I have no choice but to contact RERA and send a notice. Once the renewal was processed by law, the landlord's office delayed in releasing the Ejari. Since it is a commercial property, my renewals are related to a staff visa, and I have to pay delay penalties. The landlord's office staff tried to take advantage of the Emirati owner, and no direct meeting was fruitful. What is the law that safeguards expats and sorts out issues without mutual compromise as they try to force their terms to be acceptable by law and not supported by any documentation?

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!

Hello, My employer fired me under Article 44 for not showing up for work for 7 days in a row. But that’s not the case at all. I was sick and the management was aware and they let me go. I went to another country to get treatment because it’s expensive in Dubai. My employer did not pay me my salary for the month I worked and fired me. I have official sick leave from another country and there is correspondence where my employer sent me to another country for treatment. The problem is that the employer says that he will take compensation for the training that was specified in the contract, but I did not undergo training at all; I immediately started work from the first day of work and there was no training. Does my employer have the right to charge me such a fee and not pay my salary?

Should the seller in Dubai hand over their tenant's security deposit to the buyer upon completing a sale? Who is responsible for managing this process? At the time of the exchange, the broker said he would follow up with the seller and collect the deposit. He hasn’t, and the seller has not handed over the deposit.

Dear Sir/Madam, My husband's family constantly provokes me and then records my every exaggerated reaction. Now I'm worried that they might use those things against me.

Hi, I have a situation where I signed an MoU and gave my security deposit to the seller's agent. However later, the bank valuation of the property is lower than the selling price. On my MoU, it has a clause that “the buyer has a right to cancel/negotiate if the bank valuation is not the same as MoU.” I tried to negotiate, however, we didn't agree on the price so I asked to cancel. Now the agent is threatening me that they will not cancel the MoU and that will deposit my cheque. Later I also came to know that the person I am dealing with is not the same person whose name is mentioned as a broker in the MoU. The agent I am dealing with is constantly messaging me with threats. I decided not to speak to him and instead, I wrote an email to the broker whose name is mentioned on the MoU but received no response. I am on a very tight timeline as I need to vacate my apartment in 3 weeks, I found another unit but I don't know if I can pursue this while the initial MoU still not canceled. Please, I need advice.

Hello Sir/Madam, I have already finished my first year with my company and resigned. My employer is asking me to reimburse the cost of my visa because I did not finish my two-year contract. Do I need to pay? The cost is 7,000 AED.