I recently joined a new organization in the Hamriyah Free Zone, and my previous organization has not released my end-of-service benefits. The HR has instructed the finance team not to do so because I had contacted one of their clients. In my DMCC contract, there is no Non-Compete clause, but the offer letter has one, and now they are not releasing the end-of-service. Is this legal? What are my rights?

Hello, I have multiple cheque execution cases filed against me due to financial strains last year. My trade license and visa will expire next month, along with my Emirates ID. Is it possible for me to renew my license and visa along with EID prior to settling the execution cases? The trade license and visa were issued by the free zone authority. I look forward to your response. Thanks.

Dear Legal Advice Middle East, I hope you are well. I am seeking legal advice regarding an unpaid salary issue with my former employer, [-----]2 LLC. I was employed with them from December 4, 2024, to January 7, 2025, on a monthly salary of 5,000 AED. However, I only received a partial payment of 2,473 AED on February 24, 2025. The remaining 2,527 AED is still unpaid. I submitted a complaint to MOHRE on March 2, 2025, but I am unable to proceed further through their official channels. This is because I was working under the visa of my previous employer, [---] LLC, and not under [----]’s sponsorship. As a result, I do not meet the criteria to file a labor complaint via the MOHRE app or hotline. Given this situation, I would appreciate your guidance on how I can legally pursue the recovery of my remaining salary, considering the complications related to my visa status during the employment.

Hello, Does the initiation of an online rental dispute case by a landlord in Dubai automatically lead to the imposition of a travel ban on the tenant? This is not related to bounced cheques; the dispute concerns wear and tear versus damage claims by the landlord.

We received a cheque which has now bounced. We have tried for over a month and a half now to get a new cheque from the person, and every day he says the next day. We need the money now. We have been to the police station, and they said they can not do anything as the reason the cheque bounced is "Insufficient funds." We have been to Al Barsha - Dubai Courts, and they said there is nothing they can do about it. We are not sure what we can do. We need the money asap to pay our kids' school fees, let alone all the interest we have lost.

السلام عليكم أنا وزوجي أردنيين مقيمين في الإمارات. قدمت لطلاق الضرر وحضرنا جلستين مع التوجيه الأسري ولم تتنتهِ القضية. هل يستطيع زوجي نقل القضية لإكمالها في الأردن مع رفضي؟ أريد إكمالها في الإمارات. وشكراً

السلام عليكم، أنا مواطنة وتزوجت من مصري في مصر وتم إثبات الزواج في مصر بختم الخارجية الإماراتية وختم السفارة المصرية في مصر وختم الخارجية المصرية. لدي ٣ أطفال وتقدمت بإثبات الزواج في الشارقة وتم الرفض. كيف أثبت الزواج في الإمارات؟

Hi, I am working as an Engineer in a free zone company in Studio City, Dubai, since 2019 till date. My visa is issued in Abu Dhabi. From March 2020, they cut down my salary & issued a letter stating that my salary has been cut down from April-20 to Aug-20 by 25%. But even after August 20, they did not only pay me my initial salary but my salary was cut down a lot more and irregular. The total pending is about AED 95,000+ to be received to date. Also, the company did not pay for insurance renewal and I was forced to take my own medical insurance for myself & to sponsor my wife's visa & insurance. I have decided to resign and cancel my visa immediately due to a new job offer. Is it better to raise the case while on their visa or after changing their visa? Within how many days should I raise a case after changing my visa and cancelling my work permit? Kindly provide your opinion on how to proceed. What are the chances that I get my pending salaries in full and gratuity?

السلام عليكم، في حال تقدمت للخلع بسبب الإيذاء النفسي والهجر داخل المنزل واستمرار الصراع، هل أحصل على حضانة الأطفال؟ وما الذي أحصل عليه فيما يتعلق بمصاريف الأطفال؟ علمًا بأن لدي أربعة أطفال. وكم يستغرق حكم الخلع؟

Is it legal that my employer terminates me after resigning? While I have a signed copy of my resignation from HR and my direct manager dated almost 20 days prior to the termination letter disclosing that I breached the contract according to Article 120.

Dear Lawyers, I signed a Form F with a buyer for the sale of my house as we were planning to leave the country. The contract was signed about a month ago, but the handover is not until August. Due to personal circumstances changing, we are no longer leaving Dubai and would like to cancel Form F. The Form F contract stipulates that we have to pay the buyer 10% of the purchase value. The real estate agent is now claiming that we also have to pay the buyer's real estate commission and the conveyancing fee. Our understanding is that the 10% penalty is the only penalty. Which is correct, and what are the next steps to dispute this? Also, is there any way to dispute the 10% itself under the law due to personal circumstances changing?

I got an offer letter from Al-Haldin Gulf Construction & Petroleum LLC. Can you please advise about the company?

Hello, I have a tenant who is always late with their payment. Their renewal was supposed to be last December 2023. Currently, they have not signed any new contract, provided any new cheques, and have stayed for three months from December until now without paying rent. Additionally, I just discovered that they have sublet the apartment with partitions, which is clearly stated as not allowed in the old contract. Please let me know what should I do legally!

Dear Concern, How long will it take to receive the cancellation paper from my previous employer? My last working day at my current company will be on April 7, 2024.

Hi, We sent a renewal notice to our Dubai-based tenant 84 days before his contract renewal, with a 10% increase in rent. The tenant neither agreed nor disagreed with the proposed rent and replied on the day of renewal that he wouldn't be paying the proposed rent. Due to the argument, the landlord decided to reduce the rent, but the tenant has not yet renewed his contract. It has been 12 days since his contract expired. Kindly suggest what could be done in this matter.