Good day! I just want to seek advice regarding my unpaid salary and gratuity. Actually, I already filed a case in MOHRE, and they released a final decision. However, until now, my previous company has refused to give me my last salary and gratuity, and they are not even replying to my messages and emails. What should I do? Thank you.

Hello, I have filed a cheating case in the Dubai Misdemeanor Court (initial complaint at Raffa Police Station). Hearings have not yet started. I now have credible information that the accused plans to dispose of his business to avoid repayment. I want to file, within the same criminal case: - A petition to freeze the transfer/sale of the business. - A petition for civil recoverability through the criminal proceedings. Please advise on the process and whether the court accepts such requests. Thank you.

Dear all, I’m seeking legal advice regarding a refundable deposit of AED 1,000 paid to a car trading company around a year ago while considering the purchase of a used car. The receipt clearly states the deposit was refundable at the time of purchase, but I ultimately did not proceed with buying a car from them. Despite numerous follow-ups over the past year, I have not received any refund or official response. Today, a representative informed me that the deposit is non-refundable if no car is purchased, which contradicts what is written on the receipt. I would appreciate guidance on: - Whether I have a legal claim based on the receipt wording - What steps can I take to recover the amount through legal or consumer protection channels Thank you for your assistance. Best regards, M.

Hello, I have bought a property and registered it under my daughters’ names. Their ages are 16, 17, and 20 years old. The property is on handover now, and we got approval to go for a mortgage. However, I have decided to sell it. What would be the easiest way to get approval to sell the property within 1 month and to have the revenue divided as follows: 70% from the selling price will go to a better investment, and 30% will go for their education? Please advise me. FYI: I was born in the UAE, and all my daughters were born in the UAE.

Hello, I received the final decision from the court regarding the cheque execution filed. What is the next step? How can I pay on an installment basis? How can I request the excess amount regarding the 6% of the loan amount filed, since the final verdict amount was reduced? I also made a deposit to the court of 10,000 AED. How can I request it back? I appreciate your advice, and many thanks.

Good morning, I am a landlord in a case against my tenant, who has been evicted due to non-payment of rent. The court has already issued the eviction order and provided me with a list of the tenant’s furniture. I also applied for a travel ban and license blocks against the tenant. However, I recently found out that the tenant is currently in Dubai. Since I already have a catch order from the court, could you please advise me on the following: 1. How is it possible for the tenant to re-enter the UAE despite the travel ban and catch order? 2. What is the procedure for me to follow up and activate the catch order now that the tenant is in Dubai? 3. What further steps can we take to ensure the payment settlement is enforced? I would appreciate your urgent guidance on this matter. Thanks!

I had some debts when I left the UAE, which I paid later while in the UK. This was in 2017 when I left the UAE. I want to check if there's a travel ban or any blacklist kind of status for me, as I want to travel to Dubai soon. I have lost the Emirates ID card, and I have a new passport number as I had to renew the passport. All I have is a scanned copy of my old passport and the visa page. What's the procedure and cost for finding this?

I opened my company in a free zone last year with a third-party agent (e-commerce). It was registered for corporate tax, and I got the visa and the Emirates ID, but the company hasn't been operational, and didn't get a bank account. Now I got a notification that my trade license is expiring soon. I contacted a third party, and they quoted me 8,500 USD (AED 31,000) for renewal. I said, since I'm not in the UAE and not going to do any business in the UAE, I want to close it. They quoted 9,000 USD (AED 33,000) for closing, with prices like "publications in newspaper" for 1,000 USD. I found their prices unreasonably high and wanted to proceed with another company that quoted the same process for AED 5,000. I also contacted IFZA Freezone to ask how much it will cost to work with them directly, but I'm constantly being pushed by the free zone to work with an agent. I asked the agent for an NOC certificate, and they quoted it for 3,000 USD. I want to know what my rights are in all this? Should I just pay whatever price they ask for?

I received a legal notice from my ex-company. They claim I breached a non-compete and confidentiality undertaking by joining another company and demand that I: • Terminate my new employment immediately, • Stop working for any competitor for 12 months, • Cease using or disclosing any confidential information, and • Cease soliciting clients, partners, or staff. I deny these allegations. I completed a full handover, have no company data, and resigned lawfully in July 2025. In fact, they never provided me with an employment visa, delayed my UAE contract by 12 months, and failed to pay me for overtime and holiday work despite repeated complaints to HR. The workplace was toxic and harmed my mental health. Now, all of a sudden, they have started threatening me to leave the current company by sending me a legal notice.

Hi, I have negotiated a multiyear rental through an agency. I was expecting the fee to be 5% of the first year’s cost, but I now see the draft contract showing 5% of the total rent for 3 years. This does not seem to be standard practice based on what I’ve read. I would appreciate your advice. Thanks!

Hi, I signed the offer letter from India, signed the labor contract, and sent it to the company. They asked me to take the medical test and go to the consulate for the process, which I did. The company then sent an entry permit, and the consulate stamped the entry visa on my passport. I then took a ticket to AUH and reached Abu Dhabi on 23rd September. On the 25th, I took the medical test; on the 26th, I signed the MOHRE contract again as per the company’s request, completed Taujeeh, and the company initiated labor insurance and applied for the labor card. I can see the MOHRE contract is still in process and not attested. The card application status shows: “Application Status: ILOE Insurance not purchased yet. Please buy ILOE Insurance in order to continue.” My questions are: - Why is the MOHRE contract not being approved? - Who needs to pay for the ILOE insurance? Thanks for your support!

I seek your advice on workplace issues in Dubai. I work full-time at a consultancy. After annual leave, I faced false allegations and harassment, and was forced to leave after refusing a salary cut linked to deployment (beyond my control). I am registered as a Person with Disabilities (outside the UAE) and was twice hospitalized. While on forced leave, I also received an email (with the contractor copied) implying misconduct/theft, harming my reputation. Could you clarify my legal rights under the UAE Labour Law (Decree 33/2021), MOHRE, and Federal Court procedures regarding: - Protection from discrimination/harassment, - Salary cuts and forced leave, - Sick leave entitlements, - Defamation and reputational harm, and - Arbitrary dismissal and compensation. What remedies can MOHRE grant, and if escalated to the Federal Court, what compensation (lost wages, damages, end-of-service, moral compensation) might I reasonably claim?

What is the minimum outstanding balance on a telecom provider’s postpaid plan required to file a case?

Hi, I have negotiated a multiyear rental through an agency. I was expecting the fee to be 5% of the first year’s cost, but I now see the draft contract showing 5% of the total rent for 3 years. This does not seem to be standard practice based on what I’ve read. I would appreciate your advice. Thanks!

How much will it cost for a power of attorney in Dubai for any bank transactions or financial case to handle? Both parties have a UAE residence visa.  

Hello, My landlord gave me 12 months’ notice for eviction because he was interested in selling the property. Now I found out he gifted the unit to his son and re-rented the property. Can I claim compensation?

What should we do if, after filing a complaint with MOHRE, the company has already paid all our salaries? Do we still need to report to work? Should we submit a resignation to avoid being tagged as absconded, or what would be the best solution? Because, for us as employees, we don’t want to go back to work after what happened.

Hello, I had filed a case at RDC against my landlord as they had not responded to my legal notice for cancellation, and they had not officially renewed the contract for 2 years as well. I won the case, and the verdict came for contract cancellation. I filed for enforcement after 15 days, and it has been a month since then. The contract is still showing as active on the Dubai REST app. I had disconnected my DEWA and given notice 3 months in advance of the contract expiry date. What can I do now to ensure that they cancel the contract?

I received a legal notice from my ex-company. They claim I breached a non-compete and confidentiality undertaking by joining another company and demand that I: • Terminate my new employment immediately, • Stop working for any competitor for 12 months, • Cease using or disclosing any confidential information, and • Cease soliciting clients, partners, or staff. I deny these allegations. I completed a full handover, have no company data, and resigned lawfully in July 2025. In fact, they never provided me with an employment visa, delayed my UAE contract by 12 months, and failed to pay me for overtime and holiday work despite repeated complaints to HR. The workplace was toxic and harmed my mental health. Now, all of a sudden, they have started threatening me to leave the current company by sending me a legal notice.

Hello, My wife, who is on my dependent visa in the UAE, has received a job offer. She plans to remain on her dependent visa, and the hiring company has included additional terms in her employment contract. These terms include: - A two-year non-compete clause, preventing her from working in a competing business in the UAE after leaving the company. - A requirement to repay AED 10,000 for training costs if she resigns within one year of starting the job. - A clause stating that resigned or terminated employees will not receive any bonuses or incentives after leaving. - A disclaimer that any clause violating the UAE Labour Law (Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021) will be considered invalid. Are these conditions legally enforceable under UAE law? Can I include a statement to ensure both parties are legally safe?

Hi, I have negotiated a multiyear rental through an agency. I was expecting the fee to be 5% of the first year’s cost, but I now see the draft contract showing 5% of the total rent for 3 years. This does not seem to be standard practice based on what I’ve read. I would appreciate your advice. Thanks!

Dear Legal Community, I am seeking advice regarding a residential tenancy contract renewal in Ras Al Khaimah. Situation: Property: Residential unit in Ras Al Khaimah. Current Annual Rent: AED 27,000. Contract Expiry: December 21st, 2025. Landlord's Proposal: Increase to AED 38,000 (approx. 41% increase). Notification Date: October 1st, 2025 (81 days before expiry). My Questions: Notice Period Validity: Is a notice of 81 days for a rent increase legally valid in Ras Al Khaimah, given the common requirement of 90 days' prior notice? Rent Increase Legality: Is a 41% rent increase permissible under RAK rental laws and the RAK Municipality Rental Index, or are there caps/guidelines? Tenant's Rights: What are my rights in this situation? Can I insist on renewing at the current rent (AED 27,000) due to the invalid notice? Dispute Resolution: What is the process for escalating this to the Ras Al Khaimah Rent?

Hello, I have bought a property and registered it under my daughters’ names. Their ages are 16, 17, and 20 years old. The property is on handover now, and we got approval to go for a mortgage. However, I have decided to sell it. What would be the easiest way to get approval to sell the property within 1 month and to have the revenue divided as follows: 70% from the selling price will go to a better investment, and 30% will go for their education? Please advise me. FYI: I was born in the UAE, and all my daughters were born in the UAE.

I received a legal notice from my ex-company. They claim I breached a non-compete and confidentiality undertaking by joining another company and demand that I: • Terminate my new employment immediately, • Stop working for any competitor for 12 months, • Cease using or disclosing any confidential information, and • Cease soliciting clients, partners, or staff. I deny these allegations. I completed a full handover, have no company data, and resigned lawfully in July 2025. In fact, they never provided me with an employment visa, delayed my UAE contract by 12 months, and failed to pay me for overtime and holiday work despite repeated complaints to HR. The workplace was toxic and harmed my mental health. Now, all of a sudden, they have started threatening me to leave the current company by sending me a legal notice.

Hello, My wife, who is on my dependent visa in the UAE, has received a job offer. She plans to remain on her dependent visa, and the hiring company has included additional terms in her employment contract. These terms include: - A two-year non-compete clause, preventing her from working in a competing business in the UAE after leaving the company. - A requirement to repay AED 10,000 for training costs if she resigns within one year of starting the job. - A clause stating that resigned or terminated employees will not receive any bonuses or incentives after leaving. - A disclaimer that any clause violating the UAE Labour Law (Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021) will be considered invalid. Are these conditions legally enforceable under UAE law? Can I include a statement to ensure both parties are legally safe?

Dear Legal Community, I am seeking advice regarding a residential tenancy contract renewal in Ras Al Khaimah. Situation: Property: Residential unit in Ras Al Khaimah. Current Annual Rent: AED 27,000. Contract Expiry: December 21st, 2025. Landlord's Proposal: Increase to AED 38,000 (approx. 41% increase). Notification Date: October 1st, 2025 (81 days before expiry). My Questions: Notice Period Validity: Is a notice of 81 days for a rent increase legally valid in Ras Al Khaimah, given the common requirement of 90 days' prior notice? Rent Increase Legality: Is a 41% rent increase permissible under RAK rental laws and the RAK Municipality Rental Index, or are there caps/guidelines? Tenant's Rights: What are my rights in this situation? Can I insist on renewing at the current rent (AED 27,000) due to the invalid notice? Dispute Resolution: What is the process for escalating this to the Ras Al Khaimah Rent?

I seek your advice on workplace issues in Dubai. I work full-time at a consultancy. After annual leave, I faced false allegations and harassment, and was forced to leave after refusing a salary cut linked to deployment (beyond my control). I am registered as a Person with Disabilities (outside the UAE) and was twice hospitalized. While on forced leave, I also received an email (with the contractor copied) implying misconduct/theft, harming my reputation. Could you clarify my legal rights under the UAE Labour Law (Decree 33/2021), MOHRE, and Federal Court procedures regarding: - Protection from discrimination/harassment, - Salary cuts and forced leave, - Sick leave entitlements, - Defamation and reputational harm, and - Arbitrary dismissal and compensation. What remedies can MOHRE grant, and if escalated to the Federal Court, what compensation (lost wages, damages, end-of-service, moral compensation) might I reasonably claim?

Hello, I have a company in the USA, but we are still a startup, and we have an offer from a company in the UAE. However, we can't create a contract because of different laws. What can we do, please?

The company did not provide me with a visa after 10 months of working with them. They always promise that it is in process. Then they terminated me verbally.

Hello, My wife, who is on my dependent visa in the UAE, has received a job offer. She plans to remain on her dependent visa, and the hiring company has included additional terms in her employment contract. These terms include: - A two-year non-compete clause, preventing her from working in a competing business in the UAE after leaving the company. - A requirement to repay AED 10,000 for training costs if she resigns within one year of starting the job. - A clause stating that resigned or terminated employees will not receive any bonuses or incentives after leaving. - A disclaimer that any clause violating the UAE Labour Law (Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021) will be considered invalid. Are these conditions legally enforceable under UAE law? Can I include a statement to ensure both parties are legally safe?

Hi, I have negotiated a multiyear rental through an agency. I was expecting the fee to be 5% of the first year’s cost, but I now see the draft contract showing 5% of the total rent for 3 years. This does not seem to be standard practice based on what I’ve read. I would appreciate your advice. Thanks!

Hi, I signed the offer letter from India, signed the labor contract, and sent it to the company. They asked me to take the medical test and go to the consulate for the process, which I did. The company then sent an entry permit, and the consulate stamped the entry visa on my passport. I then took a ticket to AUH and reached Abu Dhabi on 23rd September. On the 25th, I took the medical test; on the 26th, I signed the MOHRE contract again as per the company’s request, completed Taujeeh, and the company initiated labor insurance and applied for the labor card. I can see the MOHRE contract is still in process and not attested. The card application status shows: “Application Status: ILOE Insurance not purchased yet. Please buy ILOE Insurance in order to continue.” My questions are: - Why is the MOHRE contract not being approved? - Who needs to pay for the ILOE insurance? Thanks for your support!

Hello, I have a company in the USA, but we are still a startup, and we have an offer from a company in the UAE. However, we can't create a contract because of different laws. What can we do, please?

Hello, I have bought a property and registered it under my daughters’ names. Their ages are 16, 17, and 20 years old. The property is on handover now, and we got approval to go for a mortgage. However, I have decided to sell it. What would be the easiest way to get approval to sell the property within 1 month and to have the revenue divided as follows: 70% from the selling price will go to a better investment, and 30% will go for their education? Please advise me. FYI: I was born in the UAE, and all my daughters were born in the UAE.

Hello, I have filed a cheating case in the Dubai Misdemeanor Court (initial complaint at Raffa Police Station). Hearings have not yet started. I now have credible information that the accused plans to dispose of his business to avoid repayment. I want to file, within the same criminal case: - A petition to freeze the transfer/sale of the business. - A petition for civil recoverability through the criminal proceedings. Please advise on the process and whether the court accepts such requests. Thank you.

An "A" individual / Company by mistake transfers/deposits some funds to another "B" company. "B" company, despite certain follow-up efforts with "A" Company to recall or claim back the wrong payment, remained unresponsive, and “A" company could not track the depositor information. In such cases, what is the time frame within which "A" Company is liable to retain in suspense? Can "A" company deny the claims of "B" company in the future, as it was written off by "A" company after a few months of tracking.

Hello I have Form F for an apartment in [----], which caught a huge fire recently. There is no force majeure clause in the contract, but according to the law in the UAE, it shall be terminated without penalty. The seller doesn’t want to cancel the contract F, and the broker of seller is not refunding the deposit.

The lessor is asking me to vacate the house, citing the following clause, even though I have not sublet the property. What can be done in that case? Clause - "Article (20) paragraph (3) of Law No. (20) of 2006 on the rental of premises and the regulation of rental relations between lessors and tenants in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi."

The company did not provide me with a visa after 10 months of working with them. They always promise that it is in process. Then they terminated me verbally.

I received a legal notice from my ex-company. They claim I breached a non-compete and confidentiality undertaking by joining another company and demand that I: • Terminate my new employment immediately, • Stop working for any competitor for 12 months, • Cease using or disclosing any confidential information, and • Cease soliciting clients, partners, or staff. I deny these allegations. I completed a full handover, have no company data, and resigned lawfully in July 2025. In fact, they never provided me with an employment visa, delayed my UAE contract by 12 months, and failed to pay me for overtime and holiday work despite repeated complaints to HR. The workplace was toxic and harmed my mental health. Now, all of a sudden, they have started threatening me to leave the current company by sending me a legal notice.

I seek your advice on workplace issues in Dubai. I work full-time at a consultancy. After annual leave, I faced false allegations and harassment, and was forced to leave after refusing a salary cut linked to deployment (beyond my control). I am registered as a Person with Disabilities (outside the UAE) and was twice hospitalized. While on forced leave, I also received an email (with the contractor copied) implying misconduct/theft, harming my reputation. Could you clarify my legal rights under the UAE Labour Law (Decree 33/2021), MOHRE, and Federal Court procedures regarding: - Protection from discrimination/harassment, - Salary cuts and forced leave, - Sick leave entitlements, - Defamation and reputational harm, and - Arbitrary dismissal and compensation. What remedies can MOHRE grant, and if escalated to the Federal Court, what compensation (lost wages, damages, end-of-service, moral compensation) might I reasonably claim?

Hello, I have a company in the USA, but we are still a startup, and we have an offer from a company in the UAE. However, we can't create a contract because of different laws. What can we do, please?

Hello, I have bought a property and registered it under my daughters’ names. Their ages are 16, 17, and 20 years old. The property is on handover now, and we got approval to go for a mortgage. However, I have decided to sell it. What would be the easiest way to get approval to sell the property within 1 month and to have the revenue divided as follows: 70% from the selling price will go to a better investment, and 30% will go for their education? Please advise me. FYI: I was born in the UAE, and all my daughters were born in the UAE.