Hello, I'm from the Philippines. I work here as a maid. My employer didn't process my visa. I overstayed here, and my visa expired on January 23, 2025. Today is May 6, 2025. I want to go home to the Philippines. What should I do?

Good day. For the last 3 years, the landlord's office has not responded to renew the contract, so I contacted RERA for renewal. The office doesn't respond to emails related to renewal, even though I started sending emails and reminders 2 to 3 months before expiry, and I have no choice but to contact RERA and send a notice. Once the renewal was processed by law, the landlord's office delayed in releasing the Ejari. Since it is a commercial property, my renewals are related to a staff visa, and I have to pay delay penalties. The landlord's office staff tried to take advantage of the Emirati owner, and no direct meeting was fruitful. What is the law that safeguards expats and sorts out issues without mutual compromise as they try to force their terms to be acceptable by law and not supported by any documentation?

Hello, My husband's salary is automatically debited by the Abu Dhabi court as per the bank statements. However, we do not know exactly what case has been filed against him, and we also do not know the total amount we need to pay; they are just debiting it. Could someone please advise us on what we should do?

Hello, Is it normal that the title deed issued by Sharjah is “Joint Property Ownership” whereas I’m the only owner of the flat? Is it related to the shared building itself, or what? And what are the consequences of that compared with normal property ownership?

Hello, I want to create a legal case against my mobile app developers who sabotaged my business and mobile apps, failed to deliver a good product, and, despite that, had the audacity to ask for a bonus. When I refused, they deleted my websites twice (two different projects and sites, with months between each incident). I want to pursue legal action with someone experienced in technology-related cases. The developers are freelancers hired via an online marketplace for freelancers (Upwork). Everything is legally documented, including WhatsApp messages clearly showing evidence of their sabotage, as well as some logs from GoDaddy related to the web and app development. Thank you!

Hello, Is it allowed for a company to terminate an employee because the employee refused to do work not stated in the contract?

Hello, I was driving my car when the police stopped me at one point on the road and told me that I was driving under the influence of alcohol. I tried hard to deny that because I had not actually consumed any alcoholic beverages that day or in the previous three days. However, a report was filed and a case was opened, but the alcohol test report came back negative. Will I be convicted despite that? Please answer me. It is urgent.

Hello, We have an agreement with a company to supply food for their buffet on a daily basis, with invoices to be issued monthly and payment to be made every three months. The relationship actually lasted for nine months, and payment was made for two periods. In the third period, due to disagreements between our company and the company to which the supply was made, they refused to pay, noting that the outstanding amount so far is fifty-four thousand dirhams. Can we claim the amount, noting that the agreement is not written, but there are emails exchanged between us and invoices?

Hello, I'm from the Philippines. I work here as a maid. My employer didn't process my visa. I overstayed here, and my visa expired on January 23, 2025. Today is May 6, 2025. I want to go home to the Philippines. What should I do?

I’m looking for legal advice regarding a hair salon incident that caused serious damage to my hair and scalp. I visited a salon for a colouring treatment, during which two rounds of bleach, which is not what I booked in for, were given to me without proper approvals, and were applied back-to-back without a strand test or proper consultation. As a result, I’ve been experiencing extreme hair breakage, daily hair loss, and ongoing scalp irritation. This has been especially distressing as I’m currently pregnant. It’s now been over 20 days since the incident, and despite multiple polite follow-ups, the salon has ignored all communication. I’m now exploring legal action to pursue compensation for the physical and emotional distress caused. I have full documentation, messages, and photos. Any guidance on the best next steps or legal routes I can take would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

Hello, I was driving my car when the police stopped me at one point on the road and told me that I was driving under the influence of alcohol. I tried hard to deny that because I had not actually consumed any alcoholic beverages that day or in the previous three days. However, a report was filed and a case was opened, but the alcohol test report came back negative. Will I be convicted despite that? Please answer me. It is urgent.

Hello, I already have a dispute order with MOHRE. Then my employer became willing to settle the case. What should I do in case they do not follow through with the promised amount to pay?

Hello, I am planning to change to another company and I am waiting for the offer. The visa from the current company is going to end in 2 months. Should I inform them about my leaving? I haven’t received any offer yet, so I didn’t inform them, and they’re asking about the renewal every day. Is it mandatory to inform them 2 months in advance?

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 rent cheque was bounced, and my landlord filed a case against me in Sharjah Court. I received a fine of 2,000 AED, which was later reduced to 1,000 AED upon appeal. Does this case count as a criminal conviction under UAE law, or was it handled as a civil matter? If I apply for a U.S. visa, will I need to submit court records under the requirement for applicants with past convictions?

Hello, Is it allowed for a company to terminate an employee because the employee refused to do work not stated in the contract?

Hello, I was driving my car when the police stopped me at one point on the road and told me that I was driving under the influence of alcohol. I tried hard to deny that because I had not actually consumed any alcoholic beverages that day or in the previous three days. However, a report was filed and a case was opened, but the alcohol test report came back negative. Will I be convicted despite that? Please answer me. It is urgent.

Hello, We have an agreement with a company to supply food for their buffet on a daily basis, with invoices to be issued monthly and payment to be made every three months. The relationship actually lasted for nine months, and payment was made for two periods. In the third period, due to disagreements between our company and the company to which the supply was made, they refused to pay, noting that the outstanding amount so far is fifty-four thousand dirhams. Can we claim the amount, noting that the agreement is not written, but there are emails exchanged between us and invoices?

Is it still applicable to file a complaint with the police for a bounced cheque?

Good day. For the last 3 years, the landlord's office has not responded to renew the contract, so I contacted RERA for renewal. The office doesn't respond to emails related to renewal, even though I started sending emails and reminders 2 to 3 months before expiry, and I have no choice but to contact RERA and send a notice. Once the renewal was processed by law, the landlord's office delayed in releasing the Ejari. Since it is a commercial property, my renewals are related to a staff visa, and I have to pay delay penalties. The landlord's office staff tried to take advantage of the Emirati owner, and no direct meeting was fruitful. What is the law that safeguards expats and sorts out issues without mutual compromise as they try to force their terms to be acceptable by law and not supported by any documentation?

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.

Hello, I was driving my car when the police stopped me at one point on the road and told me that I was driving under the influence of alcohol. I tried hard to deny that because I had not actually consumed any alcoholic beverages that day or in the previous three days. However, a report was filed and a case was opened, but the alcohol test report came back negative. Will I be convicted despite that? Please answer me. It is urgent.

Hello, We have an agreement with a company to supply food for their buffet on a daily basis, with invoices to be issued monthly and payment to be made every three months. The relationship actually lasted for nine months, and payment was made for two periods. In the third period, due to disagreements between our company and the company to which the supply was made, they refused to pay, noting that the outstanding amount so far is fifty-four thousand dirhams. Can we claim the amount, noting that the agreement is not written, but there are emails exchanged between us and invoices?

Hello, I had a case regarding fraud by technical means, and we did a tanazul. It was attested and submitted to the court, but the case still hasn’t been dropped and is now with the public prosecution. What do I do now, as I need to travel urgently?

Hello, Is it normal that the title deed issued by Sharjah is “Joint Property Ownership” whereas I’m the only owner of the flat? Is it related to the shared building itself, or what? And what are the consequences of that compared with normal property ownership?

Hello, I was driving my car when the police stopped me at one point on the road and told me that I was driving under the influence of alcohol. I tried hard to deny that because I had not actually consumed any alcoholic beverages that day or in the previous three days. However, a report was filed and a case was opened, but the alcohol test report came back negative. Will I be convicted despite that? Please answer me. It is urgent.

Hello, We have an agreement with a company to supply food for their buffet on a daily basis, with invoices to be issued monthly and payment to be made every three months. The relationship actually lasted for nine months, and payment was made for two periods. In the third period, due to disagreements between our company and the company to which the supply was made, they refused to pay, noting that the outstanding amount so far is fifty-four thousand dirhams. Can we claim the amount, noting that the agreement is not written, but there are emails exchanged between us and invoices?

I’m looking for legal advice regarding a hair salon incident that caused serious damage to my hair and scalp. I visited a salon for a colouring treatment, during which two rounds of bleach, which is not what I booked in for, were given to me without proper approvals, and were applied back-to-back without a strand test or proper consultation. As a result, I’ve been experiencing extreme hair breakage, daily hair loss, and ongoing scalp irritation. This has been especially distressing as I’m currently pregnant. It’s now been over 20 days since the incident, and despite multiple polite follow-ups, the salon has ignored all communication. I’m now exploring legal action to pursue compensation for the physical and emotional distress caused. I have full documentation, messages, and photos. Any guidance on the best next steps or legal routes I can take would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

Is it still applicable to file a complaint with the police for a bounced cheque?

Good day. For the last 3 years, the landlord's office has not responded to renew the contract, so I contacted RERA for renewal. The office doesn't respond to emails related to renewal, even though I started sending emails and reminders 2 to 3 months before expiry, and I have no choice but to contact RERA and send a notice. Once the renewal was processed by law, the landlord's office delayed in releasing the Ejari. Since it is a commercial property, my renewals are related to a staff visa, and I have to pay delay penalties. The landlord's office staff tried to take advantage of the Emirati owner, and no direct meeting was fruitful. What is the law that safeguards expats and sorts out issues without mutual compromise as they try to force their terms to be acceptable by law and not supported by any documentation?

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!

Hello, My ex-wife has custody of our 3-year-old daughter. She is a converted Muslim, but she has a Christian boyfriend, and I think they are living together. What actions can I take about it?

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.

The bank filed a case against me using security cheques and executed a travel ban from Dubai Courts.

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.

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?

Hello, My sister filed a criminal case against her employer (sexual harassment), and it is already with the Public Prosecutor. Her employer refuses to compensate her at all. Can we file a civil claim? When should we do it? Can we still file a civil claim after the judgment of the case?

Hello, I'm a Malaysian and have worked with a company registered in Dubai. I'm based in Malaysia and have been working with them since 2008. Recently, the company has been facing financial trouble and offered me a 60% pay cut, which I did not agree to. I offered them two options: to temporarily cut my salary by 20%, or to pay me retrenchment compensation based on my contract (which is based on Malaysian law). Please advise me on my next course of action if the company cuts my salary by 60% without my consent.

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!

السلام عليكم هل يمكن الزواج من إماراتي عسكري متقاعد عالمعاش بدون تقديم موافقه من جهه العمل؟ وإذا تم الزواج فعلاً، هل يتاثر الزوج أو يتعاقب؟ وفي حال لم يقل الزوج مكان عمله، هل المأذون له طريقه ليعرف جهه العمل؟ هل يمكن الزواج عن بعد إذا كان الولي (الأخ) خارج الإمارات ولا يحمل هويه إماراتيه؟ وهل يجب فقط الشهود من نفس جنسيه الزوجة؟ هل هذا شرط ؟ واذا لم يتوفر، لا أستطيع تقديم طلب نهائي من شهود جنسيات أخرى مع العلم أن الزواج خارج المحكمة مع مأذون في عجمان. مع العلم أن الزوج إماراتي متقاعد والزوجه أردنية (مطلقه مع شهادة طلاق صادرة من وزارة العدل بينونة كبرى) وشهادة وفاة ولي الأمر (والدي) من الإمارات، وفحص طبي من الإمارات.

هل تقسم الأملاك بعد الطلاق بين الزوجين وفق القانون الإماراتي؟

Dear Lawyers, Is there any legal option available in the UAE for two persons with a verbal agreement to formalize it in a legal document for assurance?

Dear Lawyers, My deceased father owned a business in the UAE. He has a will stating that all property and the ongoing business go to my mother after him. My brother is part of the business, and my mother stays with him. I want to know, as per UAE law: 1. Do married daughters have any rights to be informed about the business's health? 2. Can married daughters claim any share or role in decision-making for the business, given that the will states that after my mother, the inheritance will be equally shared among siblings?

Hello, I know a divorced couple where the mother holds custody of the child. They are both from Jordan. The father took the child and left to the UAE. Can the mother file a lawsuit against the ex-husband in the UAE since he is there?

Dear Lawyers, I bought a car from a dealer in Dubai for AED 64,000. After taking delivery, I learned that the car was flooded. At the time of purchase, the dealer assured me that the car was 100% free from flooding and major accidents. What should I do now? Is it possible to get my money back?

Dear Lawyers, When should the company cancel me if my contract and labor card have expired, but my ID is still valid?