Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I have two questions; one is about the non-compete clause term and another is about predetermined compensation. 1) My contract includes a non-compete clause stating that an employee cannot "in any capacity be engaged, interested or employed in a competitor's business in the UAE during 12 months after termination of the contract." I don't work in sales. I am working at a managerial level, I won't take clients or secrets with me when I leave. Is it valid when I join a competitor in a similar position? Can changing the job title/department avoid this clause? 2) My contract states that if an employee breaches any provisions of the clause, "the employee agrees to pay the damages equivalent to the employee's monthly salary for each month for the entire period." Does the company need to prove that I caused the damages to the company to file a case? Can they file a case as long as I join any competitor? Do I need to prove I didn't cause any damage to the company? Thanks in advance for your help!

س: مرحبًا، لقد وقّعت على شرط عدم المنافسة (بموجب عقد غير محدد المدة) مع الشركة التي كنت أعمل بها سابقًا. ولكنهم قاموا بإنهاء خدمتي بعد العمل معهم لمدة ثمان سنوات. لقد انضممت في الوقت الحالي للعمل لدى أحد المنافسين نظرًا لعدم وجود وظيفة أخرى متاحة في السوق. ولكن بعد مرور سبعة أشهر، رفعت الشركة السابقة قضية ضدي للمطالبة بتعويض حيث أنني أشغل منصبًا مماثلًا وفي نفس المنطقة. ما هي سبل الانتصاف القانوني المتاحة؟

س: مرحبًا، لديّ عقد عمل يتضمن بند: عدم المنافسة لمدة عامين في حالة الاستقالة. لكن، لم يتم ذكر هذا البند في خطاب عرض العمل الخاص بي عندما قاموا بتوظيفي. سؤالي هو؛ هل يجب عليّ الآن توقيع خطاب تعهد بعدم المنافسة في حالة ترك الشركة عن طريق الاستقالة لأن إدارة الموارد البشرية تجبرني على توقيع خطاب التعهد في الوقت الحالي؟

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I have signed an offer letter which contains the following: "The employee is not allowed to work with the company's client or direct competitor on the end of the employment without prior permission of the company". But my labour contract with MOHRE doesn't contain any such provision. Labour contract only contains the following provision: The Second Party shall be committed not to work in the same competing business of the First Party in UAE for the period of Two Years if the employee has terminated the employment contract or if their employment contract had expired without prejudice to the First Party’s legal or contractual obligations. So if I want to join a client after cancelling my existing job & labour contract, is the provision for getting the "prior permission to join the client" mentioned in the offer letter still valid? Does the offer letter have any validity after my resignation & cancellation of the existing labour contract? Do I have to obtain an NOC?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, What is the case scenario for those employees who sign a non-compete agreement in a different document? It is not mentioned in my labor contract from MOHRE. Does it still apply?

Q: Dear Lawyers, I’m returning to Dubai after being away for a month and moving to a client of my previous company. Can my former employer file a case against me three months after my visa cancellation?

Q: Hi. I have resigned from a company to move out of the country. Later I decided to come back and I asked them if they could take me back. They declined and I have a message stating that I'm free to join anywhere. I joined a new organization and they are filing a labor case for a non-compete clause and not clearing my FnF.

أقرت دولة الإمارات إصلاحات تشريعية كبيرة أسفرت عن إدخال 40 قانونًا وتعديلًا جديدًا على قانون الشركات والقانون الجنائي وقانون الأحوال الشخصية وغيرها. تهدف هذه التعديلات إلى تطوير الهيكل التشريعي في مختلف القطاعات، وكان أحدثها قانون العمل. نحاول في هذا المقال إلقاء الضوء على التعديلات التي أُدخلت على قانون العمل الجديد وتأثيرها على كلٍ من صاحب العمل والعامل.

The provisions of this Law, known as "UAE Labour Law", govern the relationship between employers and employees and other labour matters in the United Arab Emirates. There are special labour related regulations applicable in some of the free zones in the UAE.

This Decree sets the rules and conditions for the termination of fixed-term (limited) or unlimited (not term-bound) employment contract between employer and worker in the United Arab Emirates.

The provisions of this Decree-Law, known as "New UAE Labor Law", govern labour relations in the private sector of the United Arab Emirates. The New Labor Law repeals the previous UAE Labor Law (Federal Law No. (8) of 1980).