Questions & Answers
Questions & Answers
7 available 7 • View allWorking with a competitor after signing a non-competition agreement
2
Q: I have a non-competition agreement signed with my previous company. Based on that, I cannot work in the same field or anything related.
I was an office assistant but I was given a title as sales so the agreement can be effective on me.
I want to know, will that agreement get me into trouble if I work with a competitor?

Oct 11, 2017
4574
Non-competition clause and its applicability to hospital doctors
0
Q: Does the non-competition clause apply to expatriate specialist doctors (surgeon) working in a private hospital?

Aug 20, 2018
1010
The significance of non-competition clause in employment contracts
3
Q: Employment non-competition evaluation.
Employment contract section 11.

Apr 23, 2018
489
Forcing an employee to sign an undertaking letter of non compete
1
Q: Hi,
I have an employment contract with a clause: non compete for 2 years in case of resignation.
But, this clause was not mentioned in my offer letter when they hired me. My question is: do I have to sign now an undertaking letter of non compete clause while leaving the company by resigning because HR is forcing me to sign the undertaking letter now?

Oct 7, 2020
2998
Signing a non-compete clause upon termination of a labor contract


1
Q: Dear sir/madam,
I had signed a labor contract with the Ministry of Labour which had no "non-compete" clause.
Now, I want to leave the company, but my employer wants me to sign the "non-compete" clause in the termination contract.
In this case, is the non-compete clause applicable or not?



Oct 19, 2022
281
If a DIFC employer requires a non-compete agreement, should they compensate the employee?




1
Q: Dear Lawyers,
If my employer in DIFC requires a non-compete agreement that prohibits me from working in my specialty at another company, should they compensate me for this downtime?
What else can I do if I have spent my entire life developing in my field?
Which law regulates this issue in the DIFC zone?





Jul 9, 2024
128
Employer says I can't work in the same emirate at a competitor after resigning. Is this correct?




1
Q: Hello,
In my current job contract, I have a 30-day notice period. I have already submitted my resignation, but I want to resign early; it’s 5 days before the end of my notice period.
I requested early resignation and am willing to pay any liabilities in this matter.
However, my company is saying I can't work in the same emirate within two years at any competing similar facility, as per Labour Contract Law No. 33 of 2021.





+2
Mar 7, 2025
53
Legal blog
2 available 2 • View allAn 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
90166
Case Summary in DIFC Courts, Small Claims Tribunal 3
Introduction: In the case of [A] v [B] [2024] DIFC SCT, the Dubai International Financial Centre Courts’ Small Claims Tribunal addressed a dispute concerning the non-payment of invoices. Natalie, the claimant, alleged that Nola, the defendant, had failed to fulfill payment obligations outlined in an Engagement Agreement dated November 23, 2023.
May 2, 2024
273
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
103581
Federal Law No. (5) of 1985 On the Civil Transactions Law of the United Arab Emirates 96
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.
Dec 15, 1985
148335
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
26338

Premium
Other answers by
1543 1543 answers •
View allHow much time do I have to start paying after the verdict in the appeal court? 0
Hello,
How much time do I have to start paying after the verdict in the appeal court?
And what's the probability of freezing my account or traffic file if I’m paying?
Apr 11, 2025
61
What does Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022 mean with exempting supervisory roles from the provisions of the Labour Law? 0
Dear colleagues,
According to Article 15 of Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022 (“Executive Regulations”), employees occupying supervisory roles are exempt from the provisions of the Labour Law and the Executive Regulations in relation to maximum working hours only if they possess powers equivalent to those of the employer.
Could you please clarify what is meant by "if they possess powers equivalent to those of the employer"?
Currently, we have heads of departments who report to the directors. Will they be eligible for overtime?
Also, those who have a POA to sign contracts will they be eligible?
Or, those who temporarily replace the CEO while he is out, will they be eligible?
Apr 10, 2025
53
Can I stay home if my boss doesn’t pay my salary on time? 0
Hello,
Can I stay home if my boss doesn’t pay my salary on time?
Apr 10, 2025
51
نزاع بين شركاء مفوضين بالتوقيع على المعاملات البنكية للشركة بشأن شيك وتحويل أموال 0
زوج وزوجة، الزوجة مالكة لشركة بنسبة 50% ولديها شريك أجنبي يملك بنسبة 50%. الشريك مخول بالتوقيع في كافة المعاملات البنكية للشركة والزوجة كذلك لها ذات الصلاحية.
بعدها، غاب الشريك الأجنبي عن الشركة وسافر. ومازالت الشركة نشطة والعمال لايستلمون رواتبهم والشريك قام بتحويل جميع أموال الشركة إلى حسابه الخاص دون علم الشريك الآخر.
ثم تحصلت الزوجة الشريكة على شيك، فقام الشريك الأجنبي بفتح بلاغ خيانة أمانة واستلم زوجها الشيك.
فما هو الحل القانوني من ناحية جزائية وتجارية؟
Mar 27, 2025
62
What are the penalties for employing workers without a visa? 0
Hello,
Kindly let me know the statutory provisions relating to the penalty for letting employees work without a visa and the amount of penalty to be paid by the employer.
Apr 9, 2025
51

Other answers by
34 34 answers •
View allHow long should the work visa take to be issued by authourities? 0
My visa is not yet approved by immigration but I have already signed my offer letter from my new company.
It has been 2 months already without any information on my new visa.
What could be the reason for the delay in my visa? My visa status is active until 9/04/2023.
Feb 16, 2023
149
Is it possible to resign after one year to go back to home country? 0
Hi,
Good day!
I have been working in my company for about 1 year and 1 month and I want to resign to go back home to my country.
Are there any consequences for that?
Any advice, please?
Sep 19, 2022
219
Reducing the salary of an employee before termination 0
Hello Nicole,
Greetings!
I have been working in a private company in Dubai for the last 13 years under an unlimited contract. Recently, they have made my position redundant.
I am now serving 3 months notice period as per the labour contract (2 months already served, I am now in 3rd and last month).
My employer has put me on forced paid leave to adjust my notice period against leave days balance. I need some clarification per below, please.
1. The employer is paying me a full salary for a notice period of 3 months. However based on the recent announcement from the Ministry of Labor (for Private Co. employees), can my employer reduce my salary temporarily/permanently in this last month of notice period?
2. If the answer to question 1 is YES, how will it impact the calculation of my end of service benefits like gratuity or leave balance encashment? Will it be recalculated based on the revised (reduced) salary?
3. Am I eligible to claim any other Termination/redundancy pay apart from gratuity and leave balance encashment?
Apr 6, 2020
1076
Charging an employee for employment expenses 0
Hi,
I am a first timer here in Dubai. My employer wants to charge me all her expenses incurred during my application; like medical examination, visa, work permit and the money she gave to my agency.
What should I do?
Mar 13, 2020
602
Getting the amount of a bounced cheque after car buying fraud 0
I sold my car and the buyer gave me a cheque. The cheque bounced because the account is closed. He is doing this as a regular business.
I have already filed a complaint to the police station and I'm waiting for the judgment from the court. Maybe he will get the fine only.
How can I get my money?
Which case should I file: a civil case or a car buying fraud case?
He may not have anything under his name. If a civil case is filed against him, he knows how to avoid this case .This person has more than 14 cases. Recently, he got out of jail. The issuer of the cheque is a local Emirati guy.
Feb 28, 2020
618
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