Questions & Answers
Questions & Answers
3 available 3 • View allThe company policy is to keep employees' passports, what to do?
6
Q: Hi,
Relating to my passport, I know it is illegal to withhold employees' passports.
Mine is with my employer, and when I requested it a couple of months ago, they said that it is the company policy to keep it.
I am about to file a complaint to the Department of Labour, but I just want to get your advice first. They also said to retrieve it, we should apply for an application and state the length of retrieval.
Is this common practice here in Dubai?
Thank you very much!

Jan 23, 2020
653
The employer has no right to hold the passport of an employee
57
Q: I'm working with an LLC company in Abu Dhabi. for the past 13 days, the visa is already stamped on my passport but he is not giving it back to me.
Is there any law in UAE that says "the employer can hold the employee passport"?
Please clear my doubt.

Apr 20, 2019
10833
How to retrieve your passport from the employer if you are in labour dispute
32
Q: I need some help.
I was working in a salon since January 2016 (Sharjah visa and a limited contract). I've been working there for 1 year and 10 months. This October 9, 2017, my employer cancelled me without giving my all dues: gratuity, annual leave and even my salary for this month.
In May of this year my passport expired, I talked to my employer since April that I want to renew my passport but she said 'No'. On October 19, I filed a case against my employer for retrieving my passport and getting my salary.
Last Wednesday we meet in Labour Department and my employer said she will give the passport on November 8, which is the same date when my visa expired. I'm just scared of what will happen if I overstay here.

Nov 4, 2017
21322
Legal blog
1 available 1 • View allCan My Employer Hold My Passport? 10
An interview-format article covering the topic of an employer demanding to hold an employees passport. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of LAWGICAL with LYLAW.
Jan 15, 2020
8434

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1556 1556 answers •
View allMy cousin has multiple penal judgments of fine and jail. How will this be calculated? 0
My cousin is in the central jail of Al Awir since October 2024 till date 20/03/25. She has 6 different penal cases all judgements are done, last one was done yesterday.
In total, she has a fine of about 135000, 1 month in jail, and deportation in 1 case.
How will this be calculated moving forward?
Also she has spent time in different police station detentions from 23rd May 2024 till October including 48 days or so in Ras al Khaima.
Mar 21, 2025
56
Can I file for mutual divorce from Dubai as an Indian resident and my husband works in Saudi? 0
Needed to know if I am eligible to file for mutual divorce as an Indian expat living in Dubai and holding an Indian passport and also have Canadian PR.
My husband is a Canadian citizen working in Saudi on a work visa.
What are my rights?
Can I ask for alimony?
Can I file for divorce from Dubai?
I have no children from the marriage.
Mar 21, 2025
91
How can I cancel my visa and POA for financial matters if I have a travel ban for company bounced cheque? 0
I am seeking urgent guidance regarding my current visa status in the UAE. I was previously employed by a company that has now shut down, but my visa is still under that company.
During my tenure, I held Power of Attorney (POA) for all financial matters. However, after a cheque issued by the company bounced, the owner revoked my POA without my knowledge.
The company officially closed last year, and the owner (a lady) has been missing since the case emerged.
No one from the company is responding, and I am currently stuck in Dubai due to a travel ban imposed on me related to this case.
I need clarification on the following points:
How can I cancel my existing visa under this closed company?
Will I be able to obtain a new visa under another company despite the travel ban?
Are there any legal blocks or restrictions affecting my visa or employment options?
What legal steps can I take to resolve this situation?
I would appreciate your guidance on the next steps and any possible solutions.
Mar 20, 2025
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What are my options after my rental renewal offer and deposit was rejected by the owner? 0
Hello,
I submitted an offer and deposit through the trustee office, but the owner rejected it. What is the next step?
They sent an email notification stating that if not renewed within the contract's end time, 500 AED will be deducted for each additional day of stay.
Mar 20, 2025
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How can I lift my ex-wife’s travel ban on my son and secure full custody? 0
Hello,
My ex-wife has already obtained a travel ban for my 7-year-old son, who has been living with me for more than two years without any support from her.
What should I do to get the travel ban lifted permanently? Should I file a custody case, and will it help?
How can I get full custody of my son, as his mother cannot properly take care of him?
Mar 20, 2025
64

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163 163 answers •
View allHow can I be exempted from paying the 5% court fee, and where should I go to apply? 0
Hello,
How can I be exempted from paying the 5% court fee, and where should I go to apply?
Mar 18, 2025
59
Can we claim and sell a liquidated customer’s goods to recover debts through Dubai Courts? 0
Hello,
Our customer has gone into liquidation, and we are shipping goods to Saudi Arabia. We have stopped the shipment and requested payment of their outstanding balance.
How can we request to take ownership of their goods to sell in order to recover our outstanding invoices? Is this possible in Dubai Courts?
Feb 6, 2025
75
I purchased an apartment, but the previous landlord refuses to vacate. What to do? 0
Hello,
I bought an apartment, but the previous landlord is refusing to vacate it. The contract clearly states that the landlord should hand over the apartment on the day of the transfer.
Out of courtesy, I gave him three days to vacate so he could find a new place to stay, but the time has passed, and he is still refusing to vacate and hand it over.
What should I do in this case?
Feb 4, 2025
74
What happens if a person does not show up at the first instance of a divorce hearing? 0
Hello,
What happens if a person does not show up at the first instance of a divorce hearing?
Feb 1, 2025
86
My hair was damaged by a very known and professional salon. Can I seek refund and compensation? 0
Hello.
I went to a very well-known and professional salon (or so I thought) for a normal hair dye. The guy who did my hair left the dye on my hair for over an hour when it was supposed to be on for a maximum of 30 minutes.
He wasn’t paying attention to me walking around the store talking to everyone and also doing another customer's extensions.
Now my hair is potentially damaged, my skull burns, and is flaky (meaning the dye wasn’t ammonia-free which is extremely unprofessional for such an expensive salon).
I didn’t even get the outcome that I wanted and the dye color doesn’t even show. I talked to him about it but he shut it down so fast and gaslit me the whole time and made me feel like I was the wrong one and I was ‘complaining about something so light’.
Please let me know what I can do legally about this.
Thank you.
Jan 31, 2025
59

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3207 3207 answers •
View allCan I file for mutual divorce from Dubai as an Indian resident and my husband works in Saudi? 0
Needed to know if I am eligible to file for mutual divorce as an Indian expat living in Dubai and holding an Indian passport and also have Canadian PR.
My husband is a Canadian citizen working in Saudi on a work visa.
What are my rights?
Can I ask for alimony?
Can I file for divorce from Dubai?
I have no children from the marriage.
Mar 21, 2025
91
My cousin has multiple penal judgments of fine and jail. How will this be calculated? 0
My cousin is in the central jail of Al Awir since October 2024 till date 20/03/25. She has 6 different penal cases all judgements are done, last one was done yesterday.
In total, she has a fine of about 135000, 1 month in jail, and deportation in 1 case.
How will this be calculated moving forward?
Also she has spent time in different police station detentions from 23rd May 2024 till October including 48 days or so in Ras al Khaima.
Mar 21, 2025
56
Does a cheque bounce effect my AECB score ? Is there a policy for this? 0
Does a cheque bounce affect my AECB score?
Is there a policy for this?
Mar 20, 2025
89
What are my options after my rental renewal offer and deposit was rejected by the owner? 0
Hello,
I submitted an offer and deposit through the trustee office, but the owner rejected it. What is the next step?
They sent an email notification stating that if not renewed within the contract's end time, 500 AED will be deducted for each additional day of stay.
Mar 20, 2025
63
How can I cancel my visa and POA for financial matters if I have a travel ban for company bounced cheque? 0
I am seeking urgent guidance regarding my current visa status in the UAE. I was previously employed by a company that has now shut down, but my visa is still under that company.
During my tenure, I held Power of Attorney (POA) for all financial matters. However, after a cheque issued by the company bounced, the owner revoked my POA without my knowledge.
The company officially closed last year, and the owner (a lady) has been missing since the case emerged.
No one from the company is responding, and I am currently stuck in Dubai due to a travel ban imposed on me related to this case.
I need clarification on the following points:
How can I cancel my existing visa under this closed company?
Will I be able to obtain a new visa under another company despite the travel ban?
Are there any legal blocks or restrictions affecting my visa or employment options?
What legal steps can I take to resolve this situation?
I would appreciate your guidance on the next steps and any possible solutions.
Mar 20, 2025
76
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