Q: Hi, I'm Sanu from Abu Dhabi, my job is medical coding. I need a clarification regarding joining the client of my employer. I have completed 3 years with my current employer (Billing Services DMCC, Dubai). My 3-year contract was expired and cancelled. Now one of my previous employer clients (a government hospital) is approaching me to join with them. I have already signed a non-competition agreement which has a clause - I cannot join my employer own client for 2 years. Please note, currently, the contract between my previous employer and this government hospital has been cancelled. Please advise is there any exception that I can join with own client as it is government sector? Is there a chance my previous employer can make a case against me? If they raise a case then how to survive?

Q: Hello there, I was working for a company in Jebel Ali Free Zone since 2011 as a senior sales manager. I was asked to resign due to the company not performing well. I resigned. Now, after 3 months I have a job offer in another Jebel Ali free zone company. I had signed a standard JAFZA non compete agreement in 2011. I have told my former employer through emails where I am joining and I have received no objection from them verbally and a firm no objection through SMS from the signatory authority of the company. They are dodging giving the letter. Will it be a problem for me in the future?

Q: Hello, I would like to know if a non-competition clause also applies when starting a similar business in a niche industry. My non-competition clause is very vague and does not specify the area, industry and it's for 2 years. Does this hold up? And if it doesn't, could they file a civil case? Thank you!

Q: I was working for a company for more than 20 years and last January 2022 was my last working day. After leaving the company for more than a year, can my old company publish a notice in the newspaper now saying that I don't work for them? There was no financial fraud or any issues while leaving the company.

Q: Hello Everyone, I have been working with a client for the past year through a service company. The client has decided not to continue the contract with the service company, and instead, they have offered me a position through their consulting company, which I have accepted. I have also resigned from the service company, but on my last day, they pressured me to send an email stating that I would not be working for the client, either directly or indirectly. I have not signed any NDA or contract apart from the MOHRE contract. Now, the service company is threatening to take legal action and blacklist my visa if I join the client. Do they have the legal right to do this?

Q: Dear Lawyers, I need your advice regarding a non-compete clause in my contract. I left my former employer last September, and they were a free zone company. I have since started a similar business online with a Tajer license. However, my ex-employer is sending me emails daily, threatening to take legal action if I don’t close my business. Can you advise on my rights and the best course of action? Best regards,

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.

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.

The provisions of this law, promulgating UAE Civil Code, govern the civil transactions in the United Arab Emirates. The commercial transactions remain subject to the laws and regulations applicable in their regard.

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).