Good morning. My tenant was supposed to vacate the property on 15th April 2025 as per the contract. Now he is not answering the phone, and the property is still in use. Please guide the way forward. I have already rented the property to a new tenant.

Dear Lawyers, The case needs to be filed during official working hours, on a subsequent working day (if the last day falls on an official holiday), in Dubai. With Smart Police Stations operating 24/7, how are these situations considered? Should the case be filed during working hours, say before 3 PM, etc.?

As the HR manager of a company, I have issued a salary advance to the employee. Upon joining, he failed to go to duty and used alcohol daily in the camp. I have a signed thumb-impression cash receipt. What options do I have to recover the AED 7000 advance paid to the employee? Please help. Regards, B.

Hello, Am I allowed to wear a burka during the divorce hearing at the family court?

Hello, I have my husband's case number. Can I get information about his exit date using the case number? Fujairah Jail.

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?

Hello, If I take unpaid leave and a weekend falls in between, will the weekend also be counted as unpaid leave, meaning I will not receive a salary for those weekend days? Thank you!

I recently purchased a rented apartment in Abu Dhabi and agreed to honor the existing lease. After the transfer, I discovered that the lease is not a Tawtheeq contract, meaning it is not officially registered. Since I am not receiving rent (as it was a non-refundable arrangement with the seller), I prefer not to issue a new Tawtheeq. I also want to avoid a formal notice to vacate to prevent disputes, as I plan to move in. However, I have already informed the tenant that I will not be renewing the lease. I need legal advice on the implications of proceeding without a Tawtheeq contract. What are my risks, especially if the tenant refuses to move out? What legal actions, if any, can the tenant take in this situation?

Hello, My landlord issued an eviction notice stating an intention to sell. He has since sold the property before the eviction date, and now the new owner intends to use the old notice to evict me and re-rent the apartment at a higher rate. Is this allowed?

Hello, I have a criminal case for fighting, and it is now in prosecution. The decision shows “a temporary matter” as both parties are accused. What does it mean? I have not received a call from the prosecution yet.

A local company in Dubai intends to acquire a 50% ownership stake in an auto repair business currently owned by an individual (100%). We are seeking professional legal advisory services to guide us through the acquisition process.

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?

My new employer is not changing my visa status and refuses to provide cancellation papers, especially when I don’t recall signing any cancellation documents and haven’t received my gratuity yet. How can I register a complaint against my employer for holding my passport after visa cancellation? I had completed my one-month notice period and followed all procedures properly when I resigned. I'm currently working in a free zone company.

I, as a UAE-based Seller, entered a sales agreement with a KSA-based Buyer. The Buyer defaulted on the LC payment, breaching the contract. The goods are stuck at the port as they need original documents, which I am holding to recover the outstanding balance. They later made a partial payment but now threaten to cash the PBG (UAE bank) I provided if don't release the document. The contract mandates DIAC arbitration but lacks a governing law clause. I need advice on: 1. Which law applies to this dispute? 2. Where can I seek an injunction to prevent PBG encashment, given the Buyer’s bad faith and breach? Or should I send a letter to their bank with the brief above? Kindly advise.

Hello, My landlord issued an eviction notice stating an intention to sell. He has since sold the property before the eviction date, and now the new owner intends to use the old notice to evict me and re-rent the apartment at a higher rate. Is this allowed?

Dear Sir/Madam, I work as a stockbroker at a company, but I want to quit because it is not a good job. I have been working there for over four months. If I ask to leave, the company demands 5000 AED and insists that I complete six months before they agree to my resignation, otherwise, they will ask for the money. What should I do?

My landlord was asking for an unjustified rent increase of 9K, while the RERA calculator showed 3K. He was threatening to go through the Rent Valuation process, however, he only gave me a notice period of 83 days. According to Dubai Decree No 43 of 2013 and Law No 33 of 2008, landlords are required to provide a 90-day notice period before making any changes to the rental contract, including increasing the rent amount. Failure to comply with this notice period entitles the tenant to refuse the rent increase. As the current contract is coming to an end by the end of next week, I have made several attempts to reach out to my landlord and his real estate agent to reiterate my interest in extending the contract and collecting the rental cheques at the old prices. Also, I kindly requested that they provide me with the contract as soon as possible. Unfortunately, I have not received any response thus far, and considering that this week is a holiday week, I do not know what to do. Sincerely,

Dear Sir/Madam, If an employee is still on probation period, can the employer terminate the contract with 14 days' notice even if the employment contract states 30 days' notice? The company is under MOHRE.

Dear Sir/Madam, I reside in a Dubai community, and my tenancy renewal is approximately 95 days away. The landlord is proposing a 15% rent increase, primarily based on rents listed on propertyfinder.ae, claiming that my current rent is 25% below market rates. However, the RERA Rental Index indicates "no increase in the rental value" as my rent is at the top of the quoted range, prompting me to reject the proposed increase. The real estate broker he hired at the time of my move-in recently contacted me, serving as an intermediary, mentioning that he would conduct a DLD valuation, likely resulting in a higher value. However, he is attempting to negotiate first, considering the cost of around 2500 AED. If we were to dispute, is the RERA Index Calculator the sole authoritative source for determining rent increases? Additionally, if the DLD valuation is accepted, what is the potential maximum increase?

Hello, I have a commercial execution case for the recovery of payments. I sent a notification to the local owner (100% ownership of the LLC), but I see that the company has closed its office and its license has expired. How can the courts get the money ordered in the judgment? Thank you!