Dear Sir/Madam, I want to get married, but my father is refusing. I am a UAE local.

Hello, Good day! My landlord has sent me an eviction notice, which I received on 14 August 2024. The reasons are: - For personal use or close relatives. - For sale. Now, my landlord is pressuring me to move out at the end of my contract on 30 April 2025. I am aware that the eviction notice must be served 12 months before the eviction date. In this case, the vacating date must be 14 August 2025. For context: last year, three months before my tenancy renewal, my landlord sent me an email informing me that I had to move out on 30 April 2024. I objected, as there was no official 12-month eviction notice served through a notary public or registered mail. Based on this, I renewed my contract at RDC for another year on the same terms. Today, the landlord is telling me that because he informed me of his intention through email more than a year ago, he can now evict me at the end of this contract, on 30 April 2025, and not wait until the legal notice period ends on 14 August 2025. What are my rights?

Is the employer supposed to keep the employee's passport during his/her contract?

I have undergone a surgical treatment in India and got a medical leave report from there for 15 days. Can I submit the same medical leave report in the UAE so that the annual leave won't be affected? The HR is responding that the same 15 days of medical leave will be counted from my annual leave. Kindly assist

Hello, Kindly advise how to renew a company's trade license without an Ejari when there is a disagreement with the landlord over the rental contract.

Dear Lawyers, My brother was sentenced to 25 years in jail for a minor drug case (1 gram) on October 24, 2024. Can he get bail? What will happen next, and what can I do to help him get released? Kindly advise!

Hello, I have a question. My husband had a loan 15 years ago, he had difficulty paying this loan, and the bank opened a case, which was solved, and he paid the full loan. He is still in Dubai and has a good work position. How is it possible to remove the solved bank case from the database to have the possibility of getting the credit card and loan? Thank you.

Good Day, As someone unfamiliar with local laws and a non-Arabic speaker, the police took my statement but did not provide a translation and told me to sign. I have no idea what they wrote or presented in the case. The case is now with the Public Prosecution. What should I do to ensure the authorities are aware of this?

Dear Lawyers, My husband is under investigation, and I want to get him bailed out from detention. However, I am a visitor. Can I get him bail by providing my passport?

Hi, good morning, I’m an Indian residing in the UAE and want to apply for a divorce. My husband and I have been living separately for more than 3 years, and he has been living in India since our separation. We are both Indians and Christians (non-Muslims). We have a son who is 8 years old now. Can you please let me know the divorce procedure if we want to proceed in the UAE, both with and without mutual consent? Additionally, please advise on how to proceed with custody, as my son currently resides with me. Thank you!

السلام عليكم، أود الاستفسار بشأن قضية إبعاد زوج خالتي من دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة. زوج خالتي كان مقيماً في الإمارات وكان قد وُلد وترعرع هناك. في عام 2013 تم إبعاده من الإمارات، وكان ذلك نتيجة لسياسات حكومية كانت تستهدف مجموعة من المقيمين في تلك الفترة، وهو لم يكن قد ارتكب أي مخالفة في ذلك الوقت وكان يُعتبر ضحية للسياسات المتبعة. أرغب في معرفة الإجراءات التي يجب أن أتبعها حالياً من أجل رفع هذا الإبعاد وتمكينه من العودة إلى الإمارات. أرجو أن توضح لي كيف يمكنني مساعدته في هذا الموضوع. شكراً جزيلاً.

Hi I'm a nanny, and at the same time, I work as a housemaid (khadama) here in the house. I work, but as I know, the nannies and housemaids have different rights, and my employer doesn't give me rest. My work starts at 7:30 am and then finishes at 10 pm or less. It depends on whether the baby is asleep or what time they will take on me if not yet asleep. Is this right? Also, at the time of eating, I'm still working because the baby is with me, so I just let her sit in her chair. That's how I eat. Please answer me. I want to know my rights. Because if I can leave during the 6-month probation, I want to take it if the employer is this kind. I don't know. They are also expats, but they don't follow the rules of the UAE regarding a housemaid.

I recently joined a new organization in the Hamriyah Free Zone, and my previous organization has not released my end-of-service benefits. The HR has instructed the finance team not to do so because I had contacted one of their clients. In my DMCC contract, there is no Non-Compete clause, but the offer letter has one, and now they are not releasing the end-of-service. Is this legal? What are my rights?

Hello, I have multiple cheque execution cases filed against me due to financial strains last year. My trade license and visa will expire next month, along with my Emirates ID. Is it possible for me to renew my license and visa along with EID prior to settling the execution cases? The trade license and visa were issued by the free zone authority. I look forward to your response. Thanks.

Dear Legal Advice Middle East, I hope you are well. I am seeking legal advice regarding an unpaid salary issue with my former employer, [-----]2 LLC. I was employed with them from December 4, 2024, to January 7, 2025, on a monthly salary of 5,000 AED. However, I only received a partial payment of 2,473 AED on February 24, 2025. The remaining 2,527 AED is still unpaid. I submitted a complaint to MOHRE on March 2, 2025, but I am unable to proceed further through their official channels. This is because I was working under the visa of my previous employer, [---] LLC, and not under [----]’s sponsorship. As a result, I do not meet the criteria to file a labor complaint via the MOHRE app or hotline. Given this situation, I would appreciate your guidance on how I can legally pursue the recovery of my remaining salary, considering the complications related to my visa status during the employment.

Good day, I need help, please. I was involved in an accident. I was run over by a car and I was not the guilty party. Now, I have received the judgment order from the court. How do I submit it to claim my compensation from the guilty party? Thank you!

Hello, The company has a policy allowing employees to work from home once per week. Now, employees are asking if overtime is applicable for those who work from home as well. Could you please clarify? Thank you!

I’ve lived in my building for over 4 years, with the most recent rent being AED 50,000. Each year, the management collects cheques and extra AED 2,400–2,500 cash (no receipt) for management and Ejari fees. My contract was due for renewal on 15 Feb 2025, but management delayed, demanding a 10% rent increase even though no formal 90-day notice and the RERA index did not allow it. After a month of excuses, the manager called on 12 March, insisted increase to 55K, and threatened eviction if I refused. When I referenced RDC, he hung up. The next day, he again made unprofessional remarks, so I decided to go with RDC. I submitted my offer and deposit on 13th March, but the management didn’t respond. The case went to the judge on 14 April he ruled in my favor. On 30 April, I applied for the execution of the ruling, and RDC says I can renew Ejari only on 8th May at DLD with cheques given to them. However, on 1st May 2025, I received a notarized eviction notice for non-payment of rent and communication. My question is, what will happen at DLD now?

I am working in the private sector, and currently I am in the probation period. I got a government job, so I submitted a one-month resignation notice. My current company rejected my one-month notice and ordered me to serve a three-month notice (as per the contract). I enquired with One Time Centre, and as per their advice, after one month, I can stop work and register a complaint against my company. For this matter, how will the UAE law help me to solve it?

Hi I'm a nanny, and at the same time, I work as a housemaid (khadama) here in the house. I work, but as I know, the nannies and housemaids have different rights, and my employer doesn't give me rest. My work starts at 7:30 am and then finishes at 10 pm or less. It depends on whether the baby is asleep or what time they will take on me if not yet asleep. Is this right? Also, at the time of eating, I'm still working because the baby is with me, so I just let her sit in her chair. That's how I eat. Please answer me. I want to know my rights. Because if I can leave during the 6-month probation, I want to take it if the employer is this kind. I don't know. They are also expats, but they don't follow the rules of the UAE regarding a housemaid.

My friend's company had done a construction project for a company and the project showed an outstanding amount of AED 130000. When he went to ask for payment, the company told him that they had shut down already and then we found out that they were operating with a new name. How can we get that payment?

Hello, I am writing to seek your advice regarding an issue with my previous employer. I resigned from the company due to the non-payment of my salary and gratuity for the past 8 months. I have since joined a new company, and my employment with my previous employer has been officially canceled. I would like to know if I can still file a case or recover my unpaid salary and gratuity from them, despite my employment with them having ended. I would appreciate your guidance on the next steps and any legal actions I can pursue to recover the owed amounts. Thank you for your time and assistance!

Hello everyone, I’m seeking professional legal opinions regarding an ongoing dispute we are facing with a free zone authority in the UAE. We are an official channel partner for the Free Zone and have generated several clients and successful business registrations through our efforts. Despite fulfilling our responsibilities as per the agreement, the Free Zone has not released our due commission. It's been several months now, and we've experienced repeated delays, vague justifications, and non-committal responses from their end. It appears they are intentionally using delaying tactics. We are exploring our legal options now and would appreciate guidance on the following: What legal steps can be taken in such a case in the UAE? Is this considered a breach of contract or unfair commercial practice? Would it be advisable to send a legal notice first, or directly approach the relevant dispute resolution authority?

I bought an investment property last year on the condition that the landlord serve the 12-month notice specifically for the purpose of selling the unit and gave the tenant the notice. The landlord sent a court notice of 12 months for selling the property which was sold to me. Plus at the time of renewing the lease with the new landlord (myself) during these 12 months. It was mentioned in the contract that the landlord will not renew. It was also mentioned that the validity of the contract is until the date of court notice. The landlord sold the property as per the notice. The tenant got their 12 months. Now the tenant is refusing.

Hello, We would like to ask for legal advice. Our company is currently renting a warehouse, and our contract ends in June. We have just received an email from the landlord stating that they do not wish to renew our contract once it expires. Please note that we were informed through a regular email, not via an Emirates Post registered email or Dubai Courts. They mentioned that they will use the warehouse for their own purposes. May I know if this is allowed, considering we were given only three months' notice? As I understand, a one-year notice is required for eviction. Does our case fall under eviction? I look forward to your response, as we would like to explore our options.

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?

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?

Hi In an RDC enforcement case, what is the best way to pay? 1. On the RDC app or directly to the landlord? 2. I will pay today 1/3 of the outstanding, can I apply for a payment plan and how shall I do this? Please advise. Also, what will it cost me to get assistance in this process? Thank you

Hello, We are a building materials trading company based in the UAE. We supplied materials worth AED 50,000 to a customer around 8 months ago, but despite repeated follow-ups and reminders, no payment has been made to date. We would appreciate guidance on the following: 1. What legal action can we take to recover the amount? 2. What documents should we have ready (e.g., delivery notes, invoice, emails)? 3. How long does the legal process typically take in the UAE for such cases? 4. Is there a recommended timeline or deadline after which legal steps should be initiated? Thank you in advance for your advice!

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, An investor has a residence visa valid until February 2027; however, he wishes to close the company before the current license expires in December 2025. Can the investor still legally reside in the UAE until the residence visa expires?

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.

Hello. My company has filed a case against a client for failure to pay and a bounced cheque. The client's company is registered as a virtual office in the Creative City Free Zone in Fujairah, so our case is filed there. The client basically purchased some equipment from us, and his payment via bank transfer did not go through and was rejected. Then, when we deposited his security cheque after multiple attempts to contact and no answer, the cheque bounced. The company is under his wife's name, and we have filed a case on the same. The court has accepted our application, however, they have instructed the execution bureau to get the Emirates ID of this authorised signatory. The bureau is asking us to get it, and we have no way to do so, unfortunately. Without the Emirates ID, the court cannot freeze the bank accounts or put a travel ban, etc. What are our options here?

Hello, My husband has a police case now and a travel ban, and is still waiting for trial with the prosecutor. Is it possible for him to transfer to a new employer within the country? Will he be able to process his visa?

Hello, We are a building materials trading company based in the UAE. We supplied materials worth AED 50,000 to a customer around 8 months ago, but despite repeated follow-ups and reminders, no payment has been made to date. We would appreciate guidance on the following: 1. What legal action can we take to recover the amount? 2. What documents should we have ready (e.g., delivery notes, invoice, emails)? 3. How long does the legal process typically take in the UAE for such cases? 4. Is there a recommended timeline or deadline after which legal steps should be initiated? Thank you in advance for your advice!

I am in the process of applying for a golden visa, and the nomination letter from Creators HQ will take up to 4 weeks. In the meantime, my previous employer has started my labour card cancellation. Amer has told me that my visa and labour card need to be active before my golden visa is issued. How can I stop my former employer from cancelling my labour card and visa?

I’ve lived in my building for over 4 years, with the most recent rent being AED 50,000. Each year, the management collects cheques and extra AED 2,400–2,500 cash (no receipt) for management and Ejari fees. My contract was due for renewal on 15 Feb 2025, but management delayed, demanding a 10% rent increase even though no formal 90-day notice and the RERA index did not allow it. After a month of excuses, the manager called on 12 March, insisted increase to 55K, and threatened eviction if I refused. When I referenced RDC, he hung up. The next day, he again made unprofessional remarks, so I decided to go with RDC. I submitted my offer and deposit on 13th March, but the management didn’t respond. The case went to the judge on 14 April he ruled in my favor. On 30 April, I applied for the execution of the ruling, and RDC says I can renew Ejari only on 8th May at DLD with cheques given to them. However, on 1st May 2025, I received a notarized eviction notice for non-payment of rent and communication. My question is, what will happen at DLD now?

Hello, I have multiple cheque execution cases filed against me due to financial strains last year. My trade license and visa will expire next month, along with my Emirates ID. Is it possible for me to renew my license and visa along with EID prior to settling the execution cases? The trade license and visa were issued by the free zone authority. I look forward to your response. Thanks.

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?

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

We won the case with the RDC that the tenant has to evict the property. We are told there is a cooling period before they say the date he has to leave. How long is the cooling period he can appeal and then what happens next if he appeals and if he doesn't? He was served the one-year notice and then refused to leave, hence the case we raised with RDC and won. Thank you

Hello, Is it legally permissible for an employee holding a Fujairah free zone visa with a job role in sales and marketing to primarily work remotely from various locations, including Dubai, while visiting the Fujairah-based company once a week? The employee would meet clients and conduct business activities on the UAE mainland. Does this arrangement comply with UAE labor laws?

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?

I own a property in Dubai and we issued a 90-day notice to the tenant to advise of the rent increase. The tenant accepted and confirmed they would be renewing the tenancy agreement. Before they signed the new tenancy agreement they moved out without giving any notice. What are my rights in this scenario?

Dear Lawyers, If I want to close a cheque execution case that I opened against someone, will my fees be refunded to me?

Dear Sir/Madam, I want to withdraw a case against someone who harassed me. She has now been arrested and held at the police station for 4 days. How can I withdraw the case so she can be released?

Dear Lawyers, I was caught drinking and driving (no accident). They held me in prison for one day, then I signed some papers and they released me. They also gave me a vehicle impound paper and asked me to come on Monday with my car registration and license. Do you have any information on what will happen next?

Dear Sir/Madam, My husband legally resides in the UAE and owns a company here. He is in France now for summer vacation, and I want to file for divorce in the UAE. Can he force me to move back to France to avoid the divorce? We have two children in school here, and he is now acting as if he doesn't approve of their continuing school in the UAE. I can prove that he is a UAE resident and owns a company and several cars in the UAE. Can he force me to move with the children to France? I'm not French and do not have French nationality or residency.