Hello, I'm currently looking for legal advice regarding an online defamation case. I am a Filipino citizen currently residing in the Philippines. The person I want to file a complaint against is also a Filipino citizen and is currently based in Dubai. I have already sought legal consultation, but it cost me a lot for just a simple session. Unfortunately, I don’t think I can afford to proceed with the fees required for sending a warning or demand letter to the person I’m complaining about. I would really appreciate any help, guidance, or information about possible free or low-cost legal services. Thank you for your time!

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?

I got a work permit and moved to the UAE. I had a work permit for 2 months, which was supposed to be changed to residency. But I got medically unfit, and the company off-boarded me the same day. They gave me a grace period of 15 days before cancelling the visa. In these 15 days, I have managed to get my test redone and am in the process now. Can I ask my agency to let me stay till I get my reports updated, and not to cancel the visa as it's already in the legal limits? I entered on 2 March, so my visa expired on 2 May. I have taken 1 test and the results are due by the next two weeks (between 14 April and 21 April). Can I ask them to hold the cancellation because I am pretty sure my reports will be revised?

I have a bank loan in Dubai of AED 20000 and two credit cards from different banks (5000+5000), and the total is AED 30000. The liability is in Dubai. I left Dubai 10 years ago. Now I have a job offer from Kuwait. Can I go there?

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؟

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?

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?

Hello, Can I stay home if my boss doesn’t pay my salary on time?

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؟

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.

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?

Dear Questioner, In the UAE, is there a maximum amount an employer can deduct from an employee's severance pay due to damage/negligence?

Hi, I wanted to purchase a 2-bedroom apartment in JVC Dubai. I gave a 10% security deposit cheque to the seller. The price mentioned in the MoU is very high compared to other similar apartments in the same building. The bank’s valuation also came in very low. Since the valuation is much lower, how can I terminate the MoU and get my cheque back? The MoU ends on 1st October 2024. One of the articles in the MoU states: In the event that the Buyer fails to make the payments as agreed or fails to complete the transfer on the agreed date due to his own acts or omissions, the Seller has the right to terminate this agreement and retain the deposit, provided that the termination is due to a violation of the agreed terms, unless both parties agree amicably to different dates. I need help urgently.

صباح الخير، ما الطُرق المتاحة للإنذار بأمر الأداء قبل إقامة الدعوى في حال كون المدَّعِي (فرد) والمدَّعَى عليه (شركة) في الإمارات؟ شكرًا!

السلام عليكم، اتفقت الشركة مع مكتب محاماة على عقد سنوي بمبلغ مقطوع بالإضافة إلى نسبة من المبلغ الذي يتم تحصيله من القضايا. هل يستحق المحامي نسبة من الفائدة القانونية المقضي بها حكمًا؟

السلام عليكم، أعمل في شركة في العين مند ثلاث سنوات ونصف "منها سنة وعشرة أشهر إقامة تابعة للشركة" وما تبقى كنت أعمل بالإعارة من شركة أخرى. راتبي في عقد العمل 500 درهم ولكن راتبي الفعلي 2500 درهم. هل يحق لي المطالبة قانونًا على حسب الراتب الفعلي؟ وهل فترة العمل بالإعارة تدخل ضمن أيام المستحقات؟ علمًا بأنني أستلم راتبي بشكل مباشر بإيصال قبض من الشركة، وراتب العقد (500) أستلمه بنكيًا أو عبر فروع الأنصاري.

Hi everyone, I rent an apartment. After two days in the apartment, water started leaking from the ceiling. It turned out to be a fault in the building's construction, which caused condensation in the false ceilings. When the panels were demolished, it was found that they were all full of mold. The building manager has started work, but the apartment is no longer habitable. Should the landlord compensate me for the lack of peaceful enjoyment of the property?

Dear Sir/Madam, I recently purchased a studio flat in Dubai that was previously tenanted under a Tenancy Contract from November 2022 to November 2023. However, there is no registered Ejari to establish a tenant-landlord relationship in the Dubai Government record. The previous landlord had given the tenant a year's notice to vacate the flat, which was given six months ago. Now that I have purchased the flat, I have asked the tenant to replace the cheques, but she has refused to cooperate. Can you please advise me on whether I am obligated to continue the Tenancy Agreement signed by the previous owner, given the absence of an Ejari? Alternatively, when can I tell her to vacate the flat, or do I have to wait until November 2023? Secondly, I would like to know if I need to serve the tenant with an eviction notice again to vacate the flat. If so, for how long is the remaining period valid, or do I need to issue a new eviction notice of one year? I would appreciate your prompt response. Many thanks! Kind Regards,

My company is asking us to do 9 hrs. duty this Ramadan starting last 8th of April 2023 without overtime pay. And no one from my colleagues wants to complain as they are scared of what might happen. Just today, my showroom manager is asking me to extend until 12 pm when I started my duty from 10 am and I am fasting. What can I do?

Hello, We would like to issue and send a notice/legal notice to one of our clients for none payment of dues and false accusations. How can this be done?