Dear Lawyer I hope this message finds you well. I set up a business license in a free zone in 2023. Unfortunately, the license expired in September 2024, and due to being occupied with other matters, I was not aware of the penalties associated with the expiration. I recently attempted to cancel the license but was informed that a significant penalty has accrued. When I inquired about cancelling my visa first, I was told that it’s not possible to proceed without addressing the license issue. Could you please advise if there is any legal way to waive or reduce this penalty? I would greatly appreciate your guidance on how to resolve this situation with minimal cost.

Hello, Can I go on vacation even though I have already resigned from my employer and my visa is not yet canceled?

In how many days can we file a criminal case and what is the role of the public prosecutor?

I'm trying to resign from my company and found out there's incorrect information between my employment contract, my government contract, and the employee handbook. I was under the impression of having a week's notice period but I'm being told it's 3 months and I'm losing a month's worth of salary. On top of that, it's showing a non-compete clause for the same industry. I'm trying to change companies in the same industry, how much of an issue is that?

My friend is currently in the UAE on a visit visa and has received a job offer from a company. However, the employer is asking him to pay for the visa status change from a visit/tourist visa to an employment visa since he is inside the country. According to UAE labor law, who is responsible for covering these charges—the employee or the employer?

Dear Lawyers, Can a partner in an LLC company (Dubai Mainland) sell their shares to a third party without the consent of the other partners? If one partner wants to exit the company and the other shareholders are neither responding to this request nor giving permission, what is the way forward? We have sent an email to the other shareholders notifying them of the intention to sell the shares, but there has been no response. Please advise. Please advise!

Dear Lawyers, I joined a company in Dubai. According to the contract agreement given to me by the company, if I leave before the fixed contract period, I have to give two months' notice and pay a sum of 6000 dirhams. I agreed to this and continued to work under that agreement. However, the company has now introduced a new contract agreement, and all employees are under pressure to sign it. The new conditions state that no employee can take a similar job in the UAE and must agree to pay USD 3500 (AED 12600) upon leaving during the contract period. What actions can I take regarding the unfairness of this situation?

Dear Lawyers, How to request my passport back from my employer after many requests have been refused?

Dear Sir, I hope this message finds you well! I am writing to seek your advice regarding a debt case filed in 2016 in the UAE. The debt amounts to approximately 45,000 AED (20,000 AED cheque amount and 25,000 AED credit card amount). The associated interest has now possibly exceeded 150,000 AED. I have recently secured a job in Dubai and am eager to return; however, I am currently unable to pay the full debt amount. I am aware of a court fine of 5,000 AED. I would like to understand if there is any possibility of returning to Dubai by paying only this court fine and lawyer fee. Could you please advise on any available legal avenues or procedures that may allow me to resolve this matter and return to Dubai under these circumstances? Your guidance on this matter would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time and assistance! Best Regards,

Dear Sir/Madam, I have been a tenant in a residential unit since 2023. The real estate representative of the landlord sent a WhatsApp message stating that my rent is finalized at 24,200 AED, up from the previous contract amount of 22,000 AED, without any prior notice or email from the landlord. Kindly guide me!

Hello, I have filed a case against my employer, and the session is still ongoing in the Dubai court. Can I travel outside the UAE and then come back?

Hello, I own and run a company. We received stock from an international supplier in 2019. However, we were unable to pay due to financial circumstances. The supplier is now threatening to file a civil case in 2025. Is there a limitation period within which they can still pursue this debt?

In 2018, I was involved in a dispute concerning unpaid rent related to a property managed by [-----] under the jurisdiction of the Land Department. [----] proceeded with legal action, resulting in a civil case and the imposition of a travel ban. A civil case had been reported in an Arabic-language newspaper. Not being fluent in Arabic, I missed the Land Department hearing, and the obvious outcome included an order for payment and a travel ban, but I had already left the country by that time. questions: Statute of Limitations: After how many years does such a civil case expire under UAE law, thereby allowing me to legally return to Dubai without facing arrest or enforcement actions? International Travel: Am I currently at risk of arrest or extradition if I travel to non-GCC countries like India or Pakistan? Forgive my brevity and rudeness due to 1000-character limits

Hello, According to UAE labor law, is it correct that weekends before the start date and after the end date of annual leave are not counted? Example: if the leave is applied from Monday to Friday, how many days should be deducted from the annual leave balance?

Hello, My husband is in jail and the case is still under investigation, but the complainant wants to settle and withdraw the case. Is it possible for my husband to get out of jail on the same day the case is withdrawn?

Good morning. Kindly help me out with the below query: If a sole establishment is converted into an LLC, what would happen to the existing Lease Agreement with the Sole Establishment as the tenant? Thank you.

Good day, Sir, I have received a message from the Dubai Court stating that a bank has filed a civil case against me. The loan has been pending since February 2019. I cleared the cheque bounce case earlier with a court fine in 2019. I am looking forward to a minimum settlement plan with the bank. The outstanding amount was around 70,000 AED, and now the message is for 115,000 AED. What will be the best way for me to proceed: approaching the bank or dealing with it in court? Best regards,

Hello, I have given my notice, and my last day is July 24, but the employer is refusing to pay my salary; even the salary for June. Is this even legal? He claims I'll get everything at once, which is after leaving the country or changing status.

Dear Lawyers, I worked at a bakeshop here in Dubai. I resigned exactly one year ago. Now they want me to pay for visa charges, as stated in the offer letter. If I cannot pay for the charges, my employer will claim financial loss due to the damages, estimated to be at least 7,000 AED. What should I do about this? My monthly salary is only 2,800 AED.

Dear Lawyers, Is an employee eligible for maternity leave in the first three months of pregnancy? If an employee takes sick leave in the first three months of pregnancy, can it be considered normal sick leave or maternity leave?

Hello, I have filed a case against my employer, and the session is still ongoing in the Dubai court. Can I travel outside the UAE and then come back?

I purchased a tour voucher from a holiday agency in Dubai in 2023 worth AED 4239.00, but was not able to use it due to a visa problem. I have constant email and communication through phone with them, and they informed me back then that my voucher will be available and has no expiration date that I can use anytime I want. Now I wanted to use it, so I called them last Saturday, 31st May 2025, and they told me it has already expired due to the new policy. Can I still claim and ask for my money back?

Hello, I had sent a cargo from Dubai to India. I received the cargo late and with 35% damage. My TV, for which I had paid AED 1500 separately as cargo fees, was received after nearly 2 months in a completely damaged condition. The cooking range was received after nearly 6 months and had superficial damage. They are not replying to my emails but are only responding through WhatsApp. Could anyone please guide me?

Someone impersonated an employee in the company I have owned since 2012 and extracted 18 mobile lines in addition to several iPhones. I was surprised that the company cut off our landline and mobile communications on the pretext that he was monitoring a debt of 167,000 dirhams. This person was arrested, tried, found guilty, and sentenced to deportation. However, the telecommunications company is still demanding from my company and pursuing me because of this debt that we are not to blame for. How can this matter be resolved?

Last Friday, I was booking tickets for the Miracle Garden on some Dubai tickets website, and on the OTP page, it showed 225 to be paid on my phone. The otp was added automatically, and I couldn't read the message properly. It turns out 4,225 got deducted from my account. I immediately called the bank, and they said they can't reverse the transaction, fill out the dispute resolution form, etc. Even tho the transaction was in process today, the transfer shows complete. Is there a way to get it back? I registered an online complaint with the Central Bank and cybersecurity. I really need the money with my rent coming up, please guide me.