I signed an NDA not to join a competitor company. Is this agreement enforceable according to UAE law?

In the UAE, non-compete clauses are enforceable only if they are reasonable in scope, duration (maximum 2 years), and geographical coverage, and directly relate to protecting the employer’s legitimate business interests.

After your visa is cancelled, you are generally free to join another company, including in the IT field, unless the new employer is a direct competitor and the non-compete clause is specific, justified, and enforceable.

Thank You

Dear Inquirer,

Thank you for your message.

In the UAE, non-compete clauses—such as the one you signed—are enforceable only under specific conditions, including the scope, duration, and geographical area of restriction.

However, after visa cancellation, whether you can join another IT company depends on how the clause is worded and whether the previous employer chooses to enforce it.

To assess whether your case qualifies as a legal restriction or not, we recommend booking a consultation or authorizing our office to review your agreement and provide legal advice.

Contact Future Vision for Advocacy and Legal Consultancy to protect your career move with full legal clarity.

We are happy at Future Vision Law Advocates and Legal Consultancy to assist you and provide the best legal services that meet your needs.

To contact us, you can call or WhatsApp us.

Under UAE law, non-compete agreements are enforceable only if they are reasonable in terms of duration, geographic scope, and type of work.

After your visa cancellation, you may still be able to join another IT company if the non-compete clause is found to be excessive or unjustified.

Our center specializes in such cases, and you can contact us on WhatsApp for more details and legal support.

We are honored to provide you with specialized legal support for your case.

If you have any further inquiries regarding your matter, we would be happy to assist you.

Dear questioner

You mentioned signing an NDA.

While an NDA focuses on protecting confidential information indefinitely, a non-compete clause specifically restricts you from joining competitors for a limited period.

It's possible the document you signed contained both elements. Carefully examine the exact wording of the NDI and any non-compete clause it contains.

If you need further clarification, kindly share your WhatsApp number.

Non-compete clauses are permissible under UAE law, but they are subject to specific conditions to be considered valid and enforceable.

If the clause is overly broad (e.g., restricts you from working for any IT company in the UAE for an extended period), lacks a clear geographical limitation, or is deemed unnecessary to protect legitimate business interests, a UAE court might find it unenforceable.

Even if the non-compete clause is potentially valid, your former employer needs to take action to enforce it.

They would need to file a legal case and prove that you're joining a specific IT company would cause them actual harm.

If you need further clarification, kindly share your WhatsApp number.

Dear Questioner,

Thank you for your inquiry.

Under UAE law, particularly the UAE Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021), a non-compete clause (NDA) is only enforceable if it meets specific conditions, including:

It must be reasonable in scope, duration, and geographic limitation.

It should be necessary to protect legitimate business interests, such as confidential information or client relationships.

The maximum enforceable period is two years from the date of contract termination.

However, in practice, non-compete clauses are not automatically enforceable unless your previous employer files a civil case and proves actual harm due to your new employment.

Therefore, you can join another IT company, unless your previous employer legally challenges it and a court enforces the clause. It's also worth noting that non-compete clauses are not valid if the employer terminates you without cause.

If you’d like, we can review your specific NDI and employment terms to advise further.

Best regards,

Mohammed Salah

Legal Consultant