Dear Legal Advice ME I own a company in DIFC which is struggling due to the current crisis and employees were given three months notice because the company will probably be forced to close. One employee is asking if he can take his gratuity early as his wife has lost her job due to COVID-19. Can I legally give him a loan against a percentage of his gratuity? He has worked for me for 16 years.

I want to early terminate my tenancy contract of one of my nurseries in JLT (retail unit) as the business is completely shut since March. I am unable to contact my landlord who is a Chinese national; he does not reply to email or call and may not be in Dubai. The final cheque is due 01 May 2020, what should I do?

دفعت مبلغ حجز لمطوِّر قبل توقيع أي عقود رسمية لشقة، عند معاينة شقة العرض للمشروع قام البائع بإبلاغنا بأن رسوم الخدمات ١٤ درهم وبأن الشقة سيتم تسليمها بنفس تفاصيل تشطيبات شقة العرض وأن العقد غير جاهز حاليًا وسيتم تجهيزه بعد يومين. تم هذا كله أمام أحد الوسطاء العقاريين الرسميين، وعند طباعة العقود تبين أن رسوم الخدمات ١٧.٥ إلى ١٨ درهم والتفاصيل التي ذكرها البائع بشأن بعض التشطيبات كما بشقة العرض غير مذكورة بالعقد، وعند العودة الى البائع تردد وأنكر وبعد مخاطبة شركته، لم يتعاونوا معي أبدًا ولم يُعيدوا مبلغ الحجز. كيف يمكنني استرجاع المبلغ علمًا بأنه يوجد لدي فقط وصل مختوم بالمبلغ المدفوع وشهادة شركة الوساطة العقارية؟

I purchased 2 off-plan hotel apartments in 2016; both ACD Q2, 2018. One is 100% paid, the other is 30% as per the SPA. According to SPA: "Without prejudice to the Seller's rights under Clause 21 in respect of a Force Majeure Event and/or Foreign Delay Events, the ACD may be extended by the Seller, in its absolute discretion without cause, by written notice to the Purchaser for a period or periods of up to a total of twelve (12) months." No written notice was received, despite requesting it on 21/09/2018 by email (no reply). After several misleading communications and changing completion dates, they are now saying that because I did not exercise my entitlement to send written notice requiring completion of building works within 1 year from ACD ("Remedy Period"), I am not entitled to terminate. I didn't send this notice as I was waiting for them to send theirs as per SPA obligations. Current RERA status is 61.59% (due 30/06/2020)and 84.54% (due 31/05/2020). Is this a good cause for termination?

sir, I am residing in Kuwait. One of my wife's friends cheated me with a cheque of RAK Bank, Sharjah of a sum of 120,000 Dirhams which he owed me in 2018. He was running a general trading company. There is also another cheque of commercial bank of Dubai with a sum of 150,000 dirhams. He closed down the company by the end of 2016. When I ask him regarding the money, he tells me that he doesn't have the money now and whenever he has, he will give me. Both cheques are without specified dates. As I am staying in Kuwait, I don't have an account in Dubai. I did not present these cheques to banks as I don't have an account and also if I present them, I won't be having any evidence if the banks keep them. Which way can I proceed as this guy cheated me? Kindly advise! Thanks! M.T.

السلام عليكم، ما العقوبة عندما تتحول الجناية إلى جنحة في قضية المخدرات؟

My brother is in jail for the last 2 months in Abu Dhabi, UAE. On 10/2/2022, the judge gave judgment for three months in jail and evict from the country. My question is do they count the days since they arrest my brother or from the day of judgment? Please let me know

I am the defendant in a penal case, and the hearing session was scheduled for 16/12/2019 but I was unable to appear at the court because I had health issues. Please advise me on what to do now.

Hi I need your advice, please. I resigned and completed my notice period upon transferring my visa from DMCC to TECOM. My employer sent the end of service settlement along with my last salary and leave benefit. Now, to complete the process, they need me to sign that I have received the amount which I didn't. My previous employer is saying they don't have money right now and to sign then they will pay once available. My question here is that if I sign, do I lose my right to claim the money if they didn't pay? If yes, what kind of legal document or cheque can I ask them to provide prior signing? I'm hugely affected as I can't transfer the visa. I have asked DMCC and they said I can file a complaint for them to try to settle but I'm sure my previous employer will come and say no money without solid commitment to pay. Then DMCC will advise going to court which might take a long time. I don't like to make problems but I need advice on what I can ask them to provide to secure my money and to transfer my visa.

Hello, I'm in a situation when my employer didn't pay me a salary for over 4 months. I filed a complaint against him in MOHRE and the case has already been moved to the court. While I was working unpaid. I had to use a credit line from my home country to cover my living expenses. It would be right to say that the quality of life was deeply decreased, plus now I owe money to a bank in my home country. Is there any way I can claim compensation for that, together with compensation for the moral damage caused by working unpaid? Guide me, please. Thank you!

حصلت على قرض شخصي وكريدت كارد من مؤسسة للتمويل بإجمالي ٥٠ ألف وتعثرت لفترة والآن يطالبونني بدفع مبلغ ٢٠٠ ألف درهم بالفوائد وكنت أعطيتهم شيك بقيمة ٤٢ ألف وقتها. سؤالي: هل يوجد سند لأمر داخل عقد القرض (الأبليكيشن) الخاص بالشركة التي وقعت معها في البداية؟ أم لا يملكون ضمانًا آخر يُمكِّنهم من مقاضاتي به سوى الشيك الذي أعطيته لهم فقط؟ مع جزيل الشكر!

هناك مشكلة مع مقاول إذ اتفقنا على بناء ملحق داخل منزل خاص ووقعنا العقد واستلم أول دفعة. اشتغل حسب العقد واستلم الدفعة الثانية وأوقف العمل ويرفض المواصلة. تبين لي بعدما حاولت أن أقدم شكوى ضده أنه يستخدم ختم وعقد لشركة منتهية في سنة 2013 ولا يوجد لديه أي ترخيص. كيف أستطيع أن أشكوه وبنفس الوقت أواصل البناء؟

My wife and I are non-Muslims. Divorce was settled in our home country court which decided that I am the custodian of the children and no alimony has to be paid to her. Children are living with me here in the UAE. However, she still resides here in the UAE using a tourist visa. She is planning to file a Maintenance Case against me in the UAE Family Court. Can she do that? Am I obliged to pay her alimony?

فصلتني الشركة فصلاً تعسفيًا وقمت بمقاضاة الشركة والحمد لله حصلت على حكم بمستحقاتي المالية من رواتب متأخرة ومكافأة نهاية الخدمة. تقدمت بطلب تنفيذ ولم تدفع الشركة لي أي مبالغ حتى الآن! ما الخطوة الواجب فعلها في هذه الحالة؟

Hello I bought an off-plan apartment with a developer, paid half and the other half was supposed to be paid on receiving the apartment which was supposed to be received end of 2019. But they postponed it till March 2020, and now the project is way behind and no improvement at all as I'm in phase 2 and they are still building phase one. What can I do to get my money back?