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, I am switching jobs soon. Can my current work visa be canceled if I still have a personal loan and credit cards that I am making payments on?

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.

My relative is staying with his friend. His friend was arrested for drug trading (MDMA). My husband also got arrested, but he is not involved in trading. He is a first-time offender in drug use. He got arrested two months ago and he is in Ajman, Jurf jail. He is asking us to give money to a lawyer to make the court order and release fast. Is it possible? How long will it take for his release and court order? What will be the court order?

Hello, I bought an apartment, but the previous landlord is refusing to vacate it. The contract clearly states that the landlord should hand over the apartment on the day of the transfer. Out of courtesy, I gave him three days to vacate so he could find a new place to stay, but the time has passed, and he is still refusing to vacate and hand it over. What should I do in this case?

I would like to know how to clear my police record due to a legal case that was closed 1 year ago. I need to clear it in order to be able to get a job position.

Hello, I bought a brand new car. After 2 weeks, it completely shut down while driving. It got fixed. Then, a few weeks later, when driving on the highway, the whole car started to shake. They have taken the car back in and are saying it will take 3–4 weeks to repair. I don’t trust the car and am not happy with the car dealership for selling me a car that clearly had faults. What should I do?

Hello, I have a case in Sharjah for a rental dispute. How do I find the case number?

Good day, lawyers! I do not understand what is going on. I was at the prosecution office last week and was informed that the other party is not in the country. Today, I was given another reason, saying they need the police to change the case number and revert to them. Is it possible to change the case number, or is this just an excuse to buy more time?

I had a rental dispute case with my previous landlord. I’ve been evicted now, and she took the keys right there in the presence of the police she came with. Upon going to Takhlees in Deira to open an account for installment payment, she hasn’t put on the website that the keys are handed over. I’m waiting for this because money keeps piling up since I last vacated the premises. I have been placed on a travel ban, which is also affecting my visa status. I need to regulate. Any advice, please? What to do?

Hi, I need some guidance regarding a property transaction that is not progressing as expected. My broker initiated a manual Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between me (the Buyer) and the Seller, with an expiry date of 01/02/2025. Within this period, I successfully arranged the bank mortgage, property evaluation, and NOC. However, the broker started giving excuses, such as the seller being hospitalized. Later, the broker attempted to arrange a Power of Attorney (POA). However, after that, they started ignoring my messages and calls. It now seems like they no longer intend to proceed with me, and the MOU has already expired. Meanwhile, my bank EMI has already started, and I have paid two monthly installments. The broker is still unresponsive. I have raised multiple complaints through DLD RVS against the broker, but the response has been very slow and unsatisfactory. I’m feeling stuck and financially burdened. Please advise

If a landlord has granted a power of attorney to another individual to handle their property and litigation, can the PoA holder be held liable for an execution order, especially where a property has been sold and the owner owes money to a previous tenant for a RERA case? The proceeds of sale have been transferred into accounts held in the name of the PoA holder.

In the UAE, I joined an IT company as an IT salesperson. I signed an NDA stating that I will not join any competitor company. After my visa cancellation from that company, can I still join any IT company according to UAE law?

I am going to file for a no-fault divorce soon. We got married in Dubai, and we own a studio apartment jointly. I have paid AED 150,019 and have bank statements to prove. As per the Land Department, my ownership is 49.91%. Will I get this share as per the current value, or will the court determine who paid what amounts? Thanks

Hello lawyers, Could you please clarify the regulations regarding working hours for nursing/breastfeeding mothers in the UAE during Ramadan? How many hours are they entitled to?

If a landlord has granted a power of attorney to another individual to handle their property and litigation, can the PoA holder be held liable for an execution order, especially where a property has been sold and the owner owes money to a previous tenant for a RERA case? The proceeds of sale have been transferred into accounts held in the name of the PoA holder.

In the UAE, I joined an IT company as an IT salesperson. I signed an NDA stating that I will not join any competitor company. After my visa cancellation from that company, can I still join any IT company according to UAE law?

I am going to file for a no-fault divorce soon. We got married in Dubai, and we own a studio apartment jointly. I have paid AED 150,019 and have bank statements to prove. As per the Land Department, my ownership is 49.91%. Will I get this share as per the current value, or will the court determine who paid what amounts? Thanks

I would like to know how to clear my police record due to a legal case that was closed 1 year ago. I need to clear it in order to be able to get a job position.

Hello, I have been separated for 7 years from my late ex-husband in the Philippines. I am a converted Muslim since 2016, and my ex-husband was not Muslim. Can I marry my Egyptian fiancé here in the UAE?

I am going to file for a no-fault divorce soon. We got married in Dubai, and we own a studio apartment jointly. I have paid AED 150,019 and have bank statements to prove. As per the Land Department, my ownership is 49.91%. Will I get this share as per the current value, or will the court determine who paid what amounts? Thanks

Hello lawyers, Could you please clarify the regulations regarding working hours for nursing/breastfeeding mothers in the UAE during Ramadan? How many hours are they entitled to?

Hello, "Late renewal charges" for my freezone license are adding up. Last year, the free zone refused to waive the late renewal charges, but then agreed to do it. Still, it had to be approved by the free zone director and then by the Dafza general director, which took about a month. It was a month during which I had an office this time. Still, no license to operate, and for 2025, the accountant is late because he promised to deliver the audit report in early January, and then was away on pilgrimage. I found out this week, I also have a medical certificate because I am not in condition to work and can renew it by any doctor in the UAE right now, so I have to pay a 6-month fine, which is a total of AED 6000. The free zone this time does not want to waive off anything and blames me for the situation. Is there a way that I can pay and dispute the late renewal fines later? Or paying means I accept and can't dispute? It is clear that I was wronged initially, even for the lease, which they partially admitted to last year.

Dear lawyer I seek help on whether I can return to the UAE or not. I exited the UAE on an outpass due to overstaying. I have been patient for more than 7 months. I was advised that I am able to return to the UAE. The process was successful, and I traveled to the UAE, but I was denied entry to the UAE at immigration. Why? I was only overstaying, I hadn't been a criminal, just my boss refused to do a visa for me. After overstaying, my employers traveled to their country. I had no idea how to resolve the issue other than to get an outpass and go back home.

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.

Good morning, My landlord notified me 90 days before my contract’s end of a 15% rent increase, raising it from AED 55,000 to AED 63,250. However, according to the RERA index, the maximum increase should be 5%. I tried to negotiate, but they refused. On October 15, I made an offer and deposit of AED 57,250 (including the RERA-approved increase). The judge accepted it, but the landlord rejected it, claiming their other 1-bedroom units rent for AED 75,000. My contract expired on October 31, 2024. Recently, the landlord emailed saying I’m now staying illegally and will be charged AED 100 per day for not signing a new contract. Last week, I requested a new contract based on the RERA index, but they responded by refusing my offer and deposit, demanding full payment. My question: Should I be concerned, or should I let them pursue a case? Or just wait and see? Thank you for your assistance.

Hi everyone, I’m facing an issue with my rental situation and would appreciate any advice. I purchased a company in July that’s renting a shop space, and the tenancy contract (under the company’s name) is ending on November 22. The landlord is insisting on a 40% rent increase, even though the RERA Index clearly indicates a 0% increase for this area. I’ve informed the landlord that this increase isn’t in line with RERA regulations, requested a new contract, and asked him to come by to collect the cheques—but he’s been unresponsive. To protect our position, I filed an offer and deposit with the rental dispute center, but it was automatically closed because the landlord didn’t respond. My question is: what should I do next? Filing a case for renewal will cost 5% of the rent, which is a significant amount right now. Are there any alternatives to proceed without incurring that cost, or any other steps to ensure the landlord adheres to the regulated rental terms?

Dear Lawyers, Is it mandatory for a memorandum of defense to be signed by an applicant representing themselves without an attorney in a civil dispute in Dubai? If not, what are the potential consequences of submitting a memorandum of defense without a signature? Thank you!

Hello Experts! Kindly assist with the below: In a penal case that is still at the investigation stage, if your statement was taken and they realized you are truly innocent, with your name included only by association, is there a chance that your name can be dropped before being referred to court? Or does the fact that they took your statement mean you must appear in court?

Dear Lawyers, How can a wife file for khula when she is financially dependent on her husband and has no funds to support it?

Salam, My company has filed a complaint against me in MOHRE related to training fees. This is the clause mentioned in my contract: "The Second Party shall be obliged to pay back the value of the training (which is estimated at an amount of 10000 AED) when they terminate the employment contract based on their own free will (within One Year) from the date of commencement of their contract, without prejudice to the First Party's legal or contractual obligations. (the amount agreed on for the value of the training period must be commensurate with the employment period of the employee)" My question is: 1. I served 11 months in the company. Can they demand the full 10,000 or it should be less due to 11 months (as per the last line of the clause)? 2. I didn't even get training from the company. I learned normally by working on projects with seniors. No training session was conducted for me. Should I still have to pay? My case is in MOHRE. Thanks

Hi, Amnesty 2024 has just started, and I really want to apply for it, but I have a company bounced cheque and personal credit card debt. Is there any solution to avail of the amnesty and legalize my status? If yes, what is the step-by-step procedure? Thank you to those who can enlighten me on this question, and God bless us all!

Hello, I have a civil case for a bounced check and a travel ban. My passport has expired and can only be renewed in my home country. Due to the travel ban, it is not possible to exit and renew the passport. With an expired passport, I can't work. What are the options in this situation? Can my wife take this case and start paying in installments so that I can go to renew his passport and come back? Thank you!

I have an unpaid credit card of approximately AED 45000 in the UAE. I will be traveling to Qatar due to work. Will I be arrested in Qatar?

Good day, I requested the lessor to divide my upcoming cheque into two payments instead of the full amount on the 1st of December. I paid 50% on 1st December, and the second payment was scheduled for 30th December. However, they considered it as a cheque postponement and asked for an additional fee. Upon reviewing the contract, I found point number 8 states that a cheque postponement request will be subject to management approval, and it doesn't mention any extra fees—just approval. Is this normal, and should I pay for it, or not? Please help!

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.

Hi, I've got a mutual divorce decree from the Dubai Courts. Is there anything else I need to do to ensure its validity in India? Thanks!

Hello, What is the minimum duration an employee must work for the employer who brought them into the country before they can terminate the contract in the UAE?

Hello, My ex-wife has already obtained a travel ban for my 7-year-old son, who has been living with me for more than two years without any support from her. What should I do to get the travel ban lifted permanently? Should I file a custody case, and will it help? How can I get full custody of my son, as his mother cannot properly take care of him?

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, Two days ago, I bought a used car. But yesterday, I found out that there has been major tampering with the odometer. I have all the necessary proof to provide. Where do I move forward from this?

Hello, The matter is whether we can file a case against an Ajman-based firm for non-shipment of cargo against the payment made to them. They haven’t delivered the cargo nor returned the amount.

Dear Lawyers, I have a question regarding an immediate eviction petition to the Urgent Judge. The tenant did not return the apartment on 26 January 2025, despite a 12-month legal notice that ended on 25 January 2025. The tenant rejected all gas and fire prevention maintenance for 12 months. Al-Fanar Gas submitted a report with the tenant's signature and refusal after the tenant broke the gas detector. The apartment was sold, and the new owner gave the tenant 90 days' notice. The tenant refused to show the new owner the apartment and ran away, according to building management. The tenant ignored the 12-month legal notice, did not return the apartment, broke the gas detector, and refused gas and fire detection system maintenance. The deal will be voided if the new owner cannot enter the property promptly. Can I petition the Urgent Matters Judge for quick eviction based on the tenant's violations?

A contractor recently did waterproofing on my townhouse roof and confirmed a warranty of 5 years (on WhatsApp). The payment receipt and invoice are available. In 4 months, water leaks from the roof damaged the false ceiling inside the house. When contacted, he avoids calls and delays by making some excuses. Is there any way I can get my money back?

Good Day! I am a partner in a trading license with two other individuals. Both of them were managing the business together as a cash-based operation without a bank account, while I was working elsewhere as an employee. Now, one of the partners has passed away, and his parents are in conflict with the remaining partner, claiming he owes them money. However, the surviving partner insists that no money is owed and that everything is settled. The license has now expired and cannot be renewed because the deceased partner’s family is not cooperating, leading to fines due to the inability to renew it. Additionally, the remaining partner continues to conduct the same business, occasionally purchasing items under the company name. As I am a low-salaried individual and cannot afford court fees, is there a way to remove myself from this situation, or are there any authorities who can assist me in this matter? I am willing to help and provide whatever is required as evidence in this case. Please advise!

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.