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, I have a criminal case for fighting, and it is now in prosecution. The decision shows “a temporary matter” as both parties are accused. What does it mean? I have not received a call from the prosecution yet.

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?

My current landlord has sold the building I live in, and my rent cheque was due to be presented on April 1st. I contacted the new landlord and the current landlord about my rent cheque. My current landlord advised that they had withdrawn the cheque and presented it to the new landlord. However, the new landlord has ignored three requests for clarity on how to pay my rent, which is now overdue. What are my options here? I am attempting to pay the rent, but they are unresponsive.

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 I joined my new company on February 26, 2025. Upon joining the new company, I asked HR if it was free to join the company, and she said yes. After working with them for 1 month, I experienced a salary delay, and I had to go to the office to ask why there was a delay in my salary. That is when the HR told me she deducted my whole salary to recover the transfer fee. Now my question is, who is supposed to pay for the transfer fee, the employee or the employer?

Is it possible for a foreigner to get a divorce here in Dubai?

Hello, I want to inquire regarding my leave privileges. I am now 11 months in my company. How many leaves am I privileged to? Based on Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 regulating labour relations and its executive regulations, you are entitled to a paid weekly rest for not less than one day, as specified in the work contract or the work regulation. The Council of Ministers may increase the weekly rest day stipulated in this article. The Decree-Law and its executive regulations also stipulate that you are entitled to an annual leave with full pay as follows: - Thirty days for each year of your extended service. - Two days per month in respect of any employee with more than six months and less than one year of service. - Leave for parts of the last year of your service in case it is terminated before you use your annual leave balance. Now my question is: do I have 22 days I can use? Can someone explain to me in detail? Thank you!

Hello, Can I sell branded replica watches online, on Facebook Marketplace, etc.? Not in a physical store, just online.

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؟

I have received a judgment in my favor from RDC that awarded me legal fees. However, RDC says that legal fees do not mean lawyer fees; they are RDC fees only. Is this correct?

Good afternoon, Thank you for your time. The public prosecution appealed my judgment (a fine that I satisfactorily cleared) and requested increasing the fine. Can you please explain what happens during a criminal case appeal hearing for me as a defendant? Will I be asked questions? Is the hearing just for the Public Prosecution to present their appeal to the judge, and I do not need to give a response? Thank you again for your time.

Dear lawyers, The new employee will start on June 1, 2025. However, he would like to open a new bank account in the UAE thus asking to provide the salary certificate mentioning his salary in AED and if possible not mentioning the start date. Legally, can the company provide such a certificate?

I received a termination letter from my company on January 31st, 2025, with a one-month notice period, stating my last working day as February 28th, 2025. The reason given for the termination is "considering the current business scenario, the company has considered measures to reorganize the business." Could this be considered arbitrary dismissal? Am I entitled to any compensation or benefits from the company as a result of this termination?

By checking in Al Adheed, I have found there is a marital matter case against me in Dubai Courts. There is a hearing date for next week and the time mentioned in the case status with a link for an online hearing. However, I have not received any message from Dubai courts regarding this by mail or phone. I have all contact details updated with EID. In this case, what should I do? I don’t know what the case is about. Should I hire a lawyer or I can attend the hearing by myself? Please do suggest options.

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 I joined my new company on February 26, 2025. Upon joining the new company, I asked HR if it was free to join the company, and she said yes. After working with them for 1 month, I experienced a salary delay, and I had to go to the office to ask why there was a delay in my salary. That is when the HR told me she deducted my whole salary to recover the transfer fee. Now my question is, who is supposed to pay for the transfer fee, the employee or the employer?

Is it possible for a foreigner to get a divorce here in Dubai?

Hello, I want to inquire regarding my leave privileges. I am now 11 months in my company. How many leaves am I privileged to? Based on Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 regulating labour relations and its executive regulations, you are entitled to a paid weekly rest for not less than one day, as specified in the work contract or the work regulation. The Council of Ministers may increase the weekly rest day stipulated in this article. The Decree-Law and its executive regulations also stipulate that you are entitled to an annual leave with full pay as follows: - Thirty days for each year of your extended service. - Two days per month in respect of any employee with more than six months and less than one year of service. - Leave for parts of the last year of your service in case it is terminated before you use your annual leave balance. Now my question is: do I have 22 days I can use? Can someone explain to me in detail? Thank you!

Hello, Can I sell branded replica watches online, on Facebook Marketplace, etc.? Not in a physical store, just online.