Questions & Answers
Questions & Answers
10 available 10 • View allIs waiver of end of service gratuity legal in the UAE?
7
Q: Employee Waiver Agreement, is it legal?
Our employer did not pay our final salary and end of service gratuity. They demand that we sign this agreement, and if not, we were told we receive no money.
After signing the waiver, the employer has not paid. It appears they never planned to pay. They planned to show the document in the court.

Aug 3, 2017
5679
Can I claim my end of service benefits after signing the resignation settlement?
5
Q: Hi Sir,
I worked for a travel agency for 3years, as accounting manager; when wanted to come back to my home country I resigned from my job in July 2017. My employer didn’t pay my dues and didn't make any final settlement amount.
Being trusting the manager I signed the end of services form for visa cancellation. He promised me to make the payment once the visa is cancelled, but after cancellation, he started harassing me saying I have manipulated his accounts and stole his money and tortured me.
Finally, he made me sign a document that I have adjusted amount which was approx 50,000 Dhs, for my mistakes in white paper and gave my passport and I left Dubai in July. I have 1 loan of 30,000 and 10,000 credit with banks, who are after me to make the payment.
Is there anything I can do to get my money? Pls, help me I want to clear my dues in Dubai.
Thanks in advance.
Regards,
Sk

Oct 24, 2017
13737
What to do if your employer forces you to sign the agreement
11
Q: The employer says if you do not sign the Agreement you will not receive your entitlement. What law does this violate?
*This is used so the employer can force an employee to sign.

Aug 10, 2017
4286
Claiming dues from employer upon forging signature on cancellation
1
Q: Hi,
On the 29th of March 2017, my UAE (Abu Dhabi) visa has been cancelled by my employer and I never put my signature on papers to cancel the visa, due to my outstanding dues (AED 82000).
But they had put my signature to cancel my visa. Thereafter, they have transferred me to Qatar and said we will settle your outstanding dues soon, but still, they have not settled the said amount.
Now, I'm camping in Dubai with the help of a one-month visit visa to receive my outstanding dues. My employer is saying to go back to my hometown and they are promising that every month they will send AED 10000 to my account.
However, this statement is not acceptable to me. I need my whole outstanding dues in one payment.
Kindly advise me.
Thanks,
Ramaswamy Nadar.

Jul 28, 2018
2750
Signing the Arabic statement of police interrogations
2
Q: I've read that at the end of police interrogations in the UAE, they print a document written in Arabic and they want you to sign it. Is it true? Can you refuse to sign it?
If you don't understand Arabic, can you say that you won't sign because you don't know what is written in it?
I've read many cases of people signing that document and getting into real trouble afterwards because what was written in it wasn't exactly what they were expecting.

Sep 25, 2018
1617
Forcing visa cancellation before payment of entitlements
2
Q: Last April 19, 2018, the company that I am working with issued a demobilization letter terminating my services due to the projects being at their finality.
I accepted the letter and prepared everything for my departure after 30 days. They asked me to sign the cancellation of visa letter but I refused because I want my final settlement first.
I was supposed to leave on May 19, 2018, but still, the final payment was not yet given. So, I stayed until my visa expired last June 10, 2018.
I asked them several times about my final payment but they kept on saying there were no funds available.
On June 24, 2018, our HR head called me and asked me to sign my visa cancellation and told me that in 2 to 3 days they will give my final payment.
I signed the visa cancellation since my visa was already expired that time anyways.
To make the story short, up until now they have not paid my final payment and I am still here working in my company without a visa and medical insurance. I will stay until they pay me.

Sep 29, 2018
1690
The time limitation for unclaimed labour entitlements

13
Q: I was working for a free zone company in JLT Dubai, UAE and I resigned from the company around 12th Nov 2017.
Although I had a pending salary of 5 months, my ex-company assured me that they will pay my pending salary in instalments verbally and sent me a mail stating my pending amount.
So can I still file a case against my ex-company?


Oct 25, 2018
6723
التوقيع على أوراق التسوية دون الحصول على المستحقات
0
س: مرحبًا!
قامت الشركة التي عملت بها لمدة ثلاث سنوات بإنهاء خدماتي عبر إرسال إخطار لمدة شهر. عثرت على عمل آخر خلال هذه المدة، و بعد انتهاء فترة الإخطار، لم تقم الشركة بدفع مكافأة نهاية الخدمة ولا المرتبات المُعلَّقة وطُلب مني التوقيع على ورقة تسوية للبدء بإجراءات نقل الإقامة إلى الشركة الجديدة.
وقَّعت مُرغمًا على الورقة بدون الحصول على المستحقات خشية أن أخسر وظيفتي في الشركة الجديدة؛ لأنه لا يمكنني مباشرة العمل دون البدء بإجراءات نقل الإقامة.
مضى شهر على مباشرتي للعمل في الشركة الجديدة وإلى الآن لم أحصل على مستحقاتي من الشركة السابقة بحجة عدم توفُّر الأموال.
من ناحية أخرى، ما زلت أستخدم سكن الشركة السابقة لعدم قدرتي المادية على الانتقال إلى مسكن مستقل قبل الحصول على مستحقاتي.
أولاً: هل يحق للشركة السابقة اقتطاع أجرة المسكن من المستحقات التي ما زالت بحوزتهم عن الفترة التي تلت انتهاء مدة الإخطار؟ فأنا ما زلت إلى الآن أستخدم سكنها للسبب الذي ذكرته سابقًا.
ثانيًا: ماذا أفعل للحصول على مستحقاتي؟

Jan 28, 2020
271
Forcing an employee to sign a paper before receiving his dues
1
Q: Hello,
To anyone who has a good heart to provide me free legal advice for my concern. My company is forcing me to sign an Arabic suing letter and it is really against my will since when I asked my friends to translate it, it was different from what I said and explained.
Now they are threatening me that I will go to jail, They don't want to process my vacation leave, vacation pay, gratuity, and even my 2 months delayed salary unless I sign the paper.
This week is also my wife's delivery for which an original passport is required, but they don't want to release my passport.
I think they broke a lot of UAE law since these actions that I mentioned are really against UAE Law.

Jul 12, 2021
366
My company ended my services. Can they cancel my visa without signing the cancellation form?




1
Q: My company discontinued the services of several employees including myself. I have more than one year and 2 months with the company.
The question is, can they cancel my visa without signing the cancellation form?





+1
Feb 13, 2025
87
Legal blog
3 available 3 • View allIs a Barter Gratuity Possible in the UAE? 8
Issue: An employee resigned from the job after working for 5 years, and signs a letter addressed to the employer that he wants his gratuity to be paid only after his customer pays the employer. Therefore, has the employer defaulted for End of Service (EOS) payment under the UAE Labour Law?
Oct 5, 2017
9043
How to File an Employment Court Case in the UAE 35
An interview-format article covering the topic of filing an employment court case in the UAE. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of Lawgical with LYLAW.
May 10, 2021
11235
An Overview of the New UAE Labor Law and Recent Amendments of 2024 233
The UAE has adopted a major reform in its legislative system that brought about 40 new laws and amendments to the company law, criminal law, personal status, among others. The amendments aim to develop the legislative structure in various sectors, the labor law being one of these, was the most recent. We try in this article to shed light on the changes introduced with the new labor law and their significance on both, the employer and employee.
Sep 10, 2024
90237
Laws & Regulations
3 available 3 • View allFederal Law No. (8) of 1980 Concerning the Regulation of Labor Relations 53
The provisions of this Law, known as "UAE Labour Law", govern the relationship between employers and employees and other labour matters in the United Arab Emirates. There are special labour related regulations applicable in some of the free zones in the UAE.
Apr 20, 1980
103592
Ministerial Decree No. (765) of 2015 On Rules and Conditions for the Termination of Employment Relations 8
This Decree sets the rules and conditions for the termination of fixed-term (limited) or unlimited (not term-bound) employment contract between employer and worker in the United Arab Emirates.
Sep 27, 2015
12394
Federal Decree-Law No. (33) of 2021 On the Regulation of Labor Relations 34
The provisions of this Decree-Law, known as "New UAE Labor Law", govern labour relations in the private sector of the United Arab Emirates. The New Labor Law repeals the previous UAE Labor Law (Federal Law No. (8) of 1980).
Sep 20, 2021
26354

Other answers by
97 97 answers •
View allRecovery of outstanding payments for breach of contractual obligations 0
Good morning Sir.
I have export perishables to Al Aweer market, and this particular gentleman paid for the first few orders but for the last few he didn't pay. He said tomorrow and it has never come.
I have all the documents and I filed a complaint with Dubai police, and I have the complaint numbers as well. Now, my finances are very bad. If you could recover my money from this man, it will be a great help for my family.
I trust Dubai people and this is what happened to me. If you could get your professional fee and get me the balance, then we can reach an agreement.
Oct 17, 2017
733
How can I check the immigration status of my friend who absconded from Dubai? 0
Hi there,
My friend absconded from Dubai in 2008/2009 leaving behind a small amount of credit card debt in Dubai and also left her employment without resigning properly.
If my friend was to fly to Doha, Qatar would this cause a problem? My friend has never been chased by the UAE bank and has never heard from.
Is it possible to check my friend's immigration status?
Oct 31, 2017
811
How do I know whether I am able to enter Dubai for layover flights? 0
Hi,
I left Dubai halfway through my contract because of a family ailment. I didn't give notice, I had a leave and resigned when I got home. It's been 2 years since.
How do I know whether I am able to enter Dubai for layover flights?
Nov 5, 2017
417
Can your bank loan affect your end of service benefits? 0
If you are fired from your job of 10 years and you have a loan, what will happen with UAE law?
Can you lose your end of service benefits?
Aug 10, 2017
12346
Refund of a deposit paid by the underage buyer of real estate property 0
I put a deposit down on two "off-plan" properties. I paid a deposit on both and received a reservation document signed and stamped by the developer.
However, at the time of the deposit, I was under the age of 21 which is the minimum age to purchase property in Dubai. Lastly once the deposit was made I never received an SPA or NOC. Have now been sent a notice by Dubai Land Department on the request of the developers for Property Termination procedure. The request was canceled.
I am now trying to figure out how to get my deposit back as I believe since I was underage and no formal contract was presented or signed, the agreement is void.
Jul 31, 2017
692

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342 342 answers •
View allHow can I vacate my tenant if the rental agreement ends before the eviction notice deadline? 0
My Dubai tenant's rental agreement is ending by the end of September 2024 and the completion of 12 months of legally served Eviction Notice is the end of December 2024.
I have two questions:
(a) Can I send a rent increase notice 3 months before as the rent has increased as per the RERA rent calculator?
(b) The second question is, do I have to renew the rental agreement for 3 months (until December 2024) or not?
Thank you.
May 1, 2024
268
How can I reach a settlement with the bank for a mortgage of a jointly owned property? 0
I have a jointly owned property in Abu Dhabi. The mortgage was defaulted on as I had to leave the property with my children following an assault by my ex-husband. He left the country in 2018 and never paid the mortgage.
As I was in the country, the bank filed a criminal case against me, and I was sentenced to 3 years. I won the appeal against the bank and then filed another criminal case a few months later in Dubai. Again, I won and paid a fine.
In 2019, the bank started a civil case against me and my ex-husband to have the property repossessed. However, at the time of the purchase of the property, there were no Title Deeds, the bank requires this.
I cannot give them the Title Deeds to sell the property and pay back the amount owed to them as my ex-husband refuses to provide a POA. The bank has filed another criminal case against me only for our jointly owned property.
I wish to resolve this and pay off the bank and receive any money left from the sale. How can I resolve this issue of the Title Deeds?
Oct 4, 2022
282
The procedures for filing for divorce on mutual consent 0
Dear sir/madam,
I am separated from my wife due to compatibility reasons. We got married in the Indian consulate in Dubai on December, 23rd.
We would like to file a divorce on mutual consent as soon as possible. May I get some advice here on the procedures?
Sep 13, 2022
673
My previous employer failed to pay my gratuity. Can I file a case 6 months after resignation? 0
My previous employer failed to pay my gratuity six months past now since I resigned, Is it possible to file a case against him after a 6 months period?
May 31, 2022
1275
Can a real estate agency hold a percentage of a property sale until transfer is done? 0
A real estate agency has signed an MOU stating that a 10% security deposit from the buyer and the seller will be kept in the real estate agency and will be released upon transferring the property.
The transfer of the property was blocked due to the court order.
According to my colleagues, the real estate agency is not a trustee and they are not allowed to have taken my security check in the first place, is this correct?
Jun 28, 2021
1263
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