Hello, Is it legal to reduce the salary after signing an employment contract?

I raised a cheque execution case against a company and its owner and won. There is a travel ban on him. I was receiving installments for three months and now he stopped paying. The court after request summoned him. In total, he paid only 30% of the owed money. I found that his company license is expired and also in the month his visa will expire. Does he have any option to avoid payment? Please note he was deceived by showing no money in his bank account and no assets in his name but he is running multiple businesses. Also a month ago, he tried to convince me to lift the travel ban but I refused to do so. But he submitted a guarantee and left UAE. Now the status shows he is back in the UAE and the travel ban imposed again. But after that, he stopped payment. Is there a 1% chance of him not paying me the remaining money? Is there a way he can leave the country through the Amnesty program or any of this sort?

Hello, In EMARATAX (The Federal Tax Authority), if someone has two licenses in different emirates for the same activity, does he need to register two taxable persons, or how should he proceed?

Hello, I purchased a one-bedroom off-plan unit in Dubai from a well-known developer under an SPA specifying an area of 801 sq. ft. I completed all payments as per the developer’s payment plan, and the unit was handed over to me without a Title Deed. After taking possession, furnishing the unit, signing a tenancy contract, and making repeated follow-ups to obtain my Title Deed, the developer informed me, 45 days after handover, that the actual area was 1,041.41 sq. ft., a 30% increase from the original SPA terms. To receive my Title Deed, they are now demanding payment for the increased size. Key issues: - Failure to notify me before handover about the 30% increase in area. - The SPA allows for price adjustments for area variations but specifies that such adjustments must be reflected in the final installment, which I had already fully paid before handover. - The developer has now filed a legal case through Dubai Courts, demanding payment. I require legal advice based on RERA/DLD laws and the SPA.

Hello, A client of mine used our consulting services online and is refusing to pay. Despite multiple reminders, she still has not made the payment. What legal action can I take against her?

Hi Everyone, I have been working in the UAE since 2019. Since 31 December 2024, I have been in my home country because my visa was rejected a couple of times. After waiting for 3 months, I found a new job in the UAE, but the employer told me again that the government did not approve my visa, and that was part of the CID approval. I would like to know if I can find something to clear my issues, which would allow me again to start my work in the UAE.

Hello, If I take unpaid leave and a weekend falls in between, will the weekend also be counted as unpaid leave, meaning I will not receive a salary for those weekend days? Thank you!

Hello Sir, I am facing an issue with my employer. I work in the private sector in the UAE, and my employment visa expires in June 2025. After two years, I traveled to my home country for vacation, and one week after my arrival, the company sent me an email terminating my employment due to performance issues. However, I was never given any prior warning or written notice. The termination email also did not mention any notice period or other details. I would like to know my rights and what I should do in this situation.

Hello, I recently found an apartment for rent and agreed with the agent to make payments in three installments. I provided the agent with post-dated checks for the second and third payments and planned to transfer the first payment, deposit, and agency fee to the agent’s account once the lease agreement was finalized. However, the lease agreement has not been finalized yet, and I have since found a better place. Since I have not signed any lease agreement, should I be concerned about the landlord cashing the checks for the second and third payments? Is it legal? Additionally, the agent requested an extra 2,000 dirhams beyond the amount he intended to include in the lease agreement.

Hello, My landlord issued an eviction notice stating an intention to sell. He has since sold the property before the eviction date, and now the new owner intends to use the old notice to evict me and re-rent the apartment at a higher rate. Is this allowed?

Good morning. My tenant was supposed to vacate the property on 15th April 2025 as per the contract. Now he is not answering the phone, and the property is still in use. Please guide the way forward. I have already rented the property to a new tenant.

Dear Lawyers, The case needs to be filed during official working hours, on a subsequent working day (if the last day falls on an official holiday), in Dubai. With Smart Police Stations operating 24/7, how are these situations considered? Should the case be filed during working hours, say before 3 PM, etc.?

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, Am I allowed to wear a burka during the divorce hearing at the family court?

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

Hello, I understand that if anyone wishes to resign without serving their full notice period, they are supposed to compensate the employer for the remaining time that they didn't serve the notice, also known as "notice Compensation". Is this notice compensation deducted based on the full salary or on the basic salary?

Hello, Can a registered company work with a freelancer who does not have a freelancer permit? At the same time, they are employed by another company.

I, as a UAE-based Seller, entered a sales agreement with a KSA-based Buyer. The Buyer defaulted on the LC payment, breaching the contract. The goods are stuck at the port as they need original documents, which I am holding to recover the outstanding balance. They later made a partial payment but now threaten to cash the PBG (UAE bank) I provided if don't release the document. The contract mandates DIAC arbitration but lacks a governing law clause. I need advice on: 1. Which law applies to this dispute? 2. Where can I seek an injunction to prevent PBG encashment, given the Buyer’s bad faith and breach? Or should I send a letter to their bank with the brief above? Kindly advise.

Hello, If I take unpaid leave and a weekend falls in between, will the weekend also be counted as unpaid leave, meaning I will not receive a salary for those weekend days? Thank you!

I recently purchased a rented apartment in Abu Dhabi and agreed to honor the existing lease. After the transfer, I discovered that the lease is not a Tawtheeq contract, meaning it is not officially registered. Since I am not receiving rent (as it was a non-refundable arrangement with the seller), I prefer not to issue a new Tawtheeq. I also want to avoid a formal notice to vacate to prevent disputes, as I plan to move in. However, I have already informed the tenant that I will not be renewing the lease. I need legal advice on the implications of proceeding without a Tawtheeq contract. What are my risks, especially if the tenant refuses to move out? What legal actions, if any, can the tenant take in this situation?

كيف يمكن لشركة ذات مسؤولية محدودة أن تعلن إفلاسها؟

Hi I'm a tenant of an apartment and a new owner has purchased the apartment. I would like to know: 1. Should I revise the Ejari by canceling the previous one and applying for a new one? 2. My current rent is 35% less than the current market value. Can the new owner change the rent as per the market value, or he still has to follow the RERA Index calculator for a new contract?

I'm staying in JLT in a house with a rent of AED 140,000 per year. The lease starts on 1st Sep '23 and expires on 31st Aug '24. The landlord sent me a legal notice from the Dubai Courts in mid-Sep '23, giving me 1-year notice to vacate the house as he plans to sell the house. The notice was received by me through email from the court. He claims the email notice sent by the court is not valid till I receive it by courier via Aramex for my physical signature. Can you please confirm if this is true? The landlord is now ready to let me stay in this house for two more years. He has proposed that we maintain the existing lease agreement and Ejari. However, I should pay him AED 14,000 in cash (10% increment). We will sign a separate paper document wherein we will agree that I will further rent increase of 10% (10% on (140,000+14,000)) on 1st Sep'24 when my current lease expires. Should I insist on making a fresh written contract with the higher rent (140,000+14,000=154,000)?

Hi I have signed the MOU Form F since July 2023 and we prepared all the papers and the loan from my end on 23/8/2023. When I went to DLD for the transfer, the seller had registration issues and asked for some papers to be provided as the property is under the company not an individual. Since that time, we have kept renewing the MOU every month in the hope of finalizing but I am not seeing any progress. So I am asking about legal action as I already got a bank mortgage and started paying as well but not seeing any progress from the seller. So I need to ask the following: 1. If my MOU expired on 20.11.2023, can I file a complaint on 20 or after a couple of days like 23? 2. What will happen in terms of 10%? Will it be returned and what about the fees paid to the bank like mortgage fees, evaluation, and cancellation of loan? Will the EMI payment be compensated by the seller? 3. What is your advice? Thanks

Dear Sir/Madam, I own an apartment in Dubai and served the tenant a legal eviction notice through Dubai courts in March 2023. The reason for the eviction notice was that I was planning to move into the apartment. However, my circumstances have changed, and the original tenancy contract end date is December 2023. The tenant has now requested a one-month extension of the contract until January 2024. Can I revoke the eviction notice that I have already served?

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?

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 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?

سيدي العزيز / سيدتي العزيزة، لقد وقعت عقد عمل مع وزارة العمل ولم يكن به شرط "عدم المنافسة". الآن، أريد مغادرة الشركة، لكن صاحب العمل يريد مني أن أوقع على شرط "عدم المنافسة" في عقد الإنهاء. في هذه الحالة هل سيطبق علي شرط عدم المنافسة أم لا؟

Dear Questioner, In the UAE, is there a maximum amount an employer can deduct from an employee's severance pay due to damage/negligence?

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.

صباح الخير، ما الطُرق المتاحة للإنذار بأمر الأداء قبل إقامة الدعوى في حال كون المدَّعِي (فرد) والمدَّعَى عليه (شركة) في الإمارات؟ شكرًا!

السلام عليكم، اتفقت الشركة مع مكتب محاماة على عقد سنوي بمبلغ مقطوع بالإضافة إلى نسبة من المبلغ الذي يتم تحصيله من القضايا. هل يستحق المحامي نسبة من الفائدة القانونية المقضي بها حكمًا؟