Questions & Answers
Questions & Answers
9 available 9 • View allDoes the non-compete clause restrict working with competitor under different designation?
3
Q: I have been working at a company for nearly 3 years under an unlimited labor contract as a Software Engineer, but the labor contract states that I am working in sales.
The contract states that I am not allowed to work for a competitor for a period of 2 years in the UAE. I have got a job offer from a competitor with almost double the salary.
The job offer is as a Software engineer. Will the non-compete clause be valid keeping in mind that the new job does not match my labor contract role?
If yes, can the old employer prevent me (ban) from moving to the new role and can they file a law case?

Oct 7, 2021
703
The validity of a non-compete clause

1
Q: Dear sir/madam,
I have been working in a gas company for about 6 years. It is our company's rule that one cannot switch to another gas company in any scenario within 2 years of resignation from the company.
They think that it may cause leaking secrets about customers and suppliers, procedures, and policies to the competitors.
Is there any legal value of such imposition?
Can a company hold an experience/character certificate or any other valued document or payment in such a case?
Thanks!


Nov 17, 2022
297
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
322
Golden Visa holder with non-compete clause: Can I work for a competitor?



1
Q: Dear Sir/Madam,
Before I left the company, I signed a non-competition clause stating that I could not join any company that is a competitor for two years.
My question is, can I work in the same industry (as a competitor) of my previous company now that I have a Golden Visa under my wife?




Oct 26, 2023
182
New job, similar industry: Can my former employer sue for breach of non-compete?



3
Q: Dear Sir/Madam,
I had a contract with my former employer that had a 3-year non-compete clause. This was an internal company contract.
I later signed another contract with the Dubai Media City Authority, which only mentions that my non-compete is limited to the territory of Dubai.
Which contract am I bound by?
Additionally, the line of business is different between my former employer and my new employer. However, my former employer is saying that they will take legal action and file a case against me.
My new employer has a business within their group umbrella that is similar to one of the products of my former employer.
Can I be held legally liable?




Nov 2, 2023
196
Non-compete clause in offer letter, absent in contract. Is it applicable?




2
Q: Hi.
I have recently joined an organisation in the UAE. They have shared with me an offer letter on their company letterhead which prohibits me from joining the competitors for six months after leaving.
Later, they shared the MOHRE Job Offer Letter which does not have a non-compete clause. Both the letters I had signed.
I was told they would share the labour contract but they didn't; instead, they copied my signature from the Job Offer Letter to the Labour Contract without my knowledge.
The labour contract also does not have a non-compete clause.
Now I need to know whether the clause applies to me or not if I join another organisation.





Dec 26, 2023
651
Is an NOC required when joining a new employer, as per the offer letter?


2
Q: Dear Sir/Madam,
I have signed an offer letter which contains the following: "The employee is not allowed to work with the company's client or direct competitor on the end of the employment without prior permission of the company".
But my labour contract with MOHRE doesn't contain any such provision. Labour contract only contains the following provision:
The Second Party shall be committed not to work in the same competing business of the First Party in UAE for the period of Two Years if the employee has terminated the employment contract or if their employment contract had expired without prejudice to the First Party’s legal or contractual obligations.
So if I want to join a client after cancelling my existing job & labour contract, is the provision for getting the "prior permission to join the client" mentioned in the offer letter still valid?
Does the offer letter have any validity after my resignation & cancellation of the existing labour contract?
Do I have to obtain an NOC?



Jan 29, 2024
265
Does a non-compete agreement outside the MOHRE contract still apply?




1
Q: Dear Sir/Madam,
What is the case scenario for those employees who sign a non-compete agreement in a different document?
It is not mentioned in my labor contract from MOHRE.
Does it still apply?





Jun 4, 2024
261
What notice to follow while resigning if there is contradiction, the company contract or MOHRE contract?




0
Q: I'm trying to resign from my company and found out there's incorrect information between my employment contract, my government contract, and the employee handbook.
I was under the impression of having a week's notice period but I'm being told it's 3 months and I'm losing a month's worth of salary.
On top of that, it's showing a non-compete clause for the same industry. I'm trying to change companies in the same industry, how much of an issue is that?





+4
Mar 18, 2025
74
Legal blog
1 available 1 • 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
92430
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
103753
Ministerial Decree No. (765) of 2015 On Rules and Conditions for the Termination of Employment Relations 8
This Decree sets the rules and conditions for the termination of fixed-term (limited) or unlimited (not term-bound) employment contract between employer and worker in the United Arab Emirates.
Sep 27, 2015
12460
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
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Can the employer force the housmaid to work for unlimited hours without rest? 0
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My work starts at 7:30 am and then finishes at 10 pm or less. It depends on whether the baby is asleep or what time they will take on me if not yet asleep. Is this right?
Also, at the time of eating, I'm still working because the baby is with me, so I just let her sit in her chair. That's how I eat.
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My previous organization has not yet released EOSB because I contacted a client. Is this legal? 0
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.
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Can I renew my trade license and visa if I have multiple cheque execution cases filed against me? 0
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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.
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How to file a case against my former company for unpaid salary I was not on their visa? 0
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.
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My husband sold the house we bought jointlyand took a cheque plus 1-year instalments from me. What can I do? 0
Hi,
I am a non-Muslim indian expatriate, residing in Dubai since 2015. The first 5 years, I was on a working visa, and after the delivery of my first baby, I left my job and became dependent on my husband.
In 2018, we bought a house together where I invested AED 2 hundred thousand from my income (I have proof in the form of a cheque). I also paid AED 3300 monthly installment for 1 year, for a personal loan taken out for the house.
But in spite of my resistance, my husband tactfully put the house in his name, so the title deed was in his name. In 2024, when my kids and I were in India for vacation, he cancelled our visas and residency. He also filed for a divorce in India.
The divorce is not yet finalised, and we are still married. Since August 2024, he hasn't let me access my house in Dubai, so I filed a case, which eventually went in my favor in January 2025.
Since I used to travel on a visit visa, I left for India and returned in March, to find out that my husband had already sold the house. The new owner is residing there.
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Help!
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Can the employer force the housmaid to work for unlimited hours without rest? 0
Hi
I'm a nanny, and at the same time, I work as a housemaid (khadama) here in the house. I work, but as I know, the nannies and housemaids have different rights, and my employer doesn't give me rest.
My work starts at 7:30 am and then finishes at 10 pm or less. It depends on whether the baby is asleep or what time they will take on me if not yet asleep. Is this right?
Also, at the time of eating, I'm still working because the baby is with me, so I just let her sit in her chair. That's how I eat.
Please answer me. I want to know my rights.
Because if I can leave during the 6-month probation, I want to take it if the employer is this kind. I don't know.
They are also expats, but they don't follow the rules of the UAE regarding a housemaid.
May 1, 2025
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My previous organization has not yet released EOSB because I contacted a client. Is this legal? 0
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?
Apr 30, 2025
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Can I renew my trade license and visa if I have multiple cheque execution cases filed against me? 0
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.
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Can I return to Dubai after 12 years away on a new employment visa? 0
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