Q: In 2013, I was working in the UAE on an employment visa. I had to return back to India in short time with the intention of joining back in a week's time but the situation didn't permit. Hence, my visa was not cancelled. I also had a horrible employer and they used to deduct money from my salary for mistakes that happened or losses that occurred to the company because of my negligence. That way I had AED 600 due to them. I don't know whether they have put any ban on me or whether they reported me as absconding or if any other charges have been framed against me. Just when I informed them that I am not joining back, they sent an email asking me to send my passport for cancellation and pay AED 600. However, I couldn't trust sending the passport by courier for visa cancellation. Now, I would like to travel on a visit visa to Dubai with my family. It's been more than 4 years now but I am afraid if there is any kind of case filed against me then I will be detained at the airport or will be asked to pay a heavy fine.

Q: Hi I have been working with Emirates Airlines for almost 9 years, and due to some emergency reason, I left Dubai going back home. After that, I sent my resignation by email. My employer said that they need my passport to cancel my residence visa otherwise I will be blacklisted by the UAE immigration. This case has been almost seven months ago. If I decided to come back to Dubai, how to issue tourist visa with no issue or being refused? Do I have to pay a penalty? How to remove the ban or blacklist? Will they arrest me at the airport? Warm regards, Tony

Q: I left the UAE in 2013. My visa expired in 2014, but I did not cancel it specifically. The visa was issued by the Hamriyah Free Zone, Sharjah. I've not been back to the UAE, but I need to go back and I've heard there may be complications because I did not cancel my visa properly. To cancel the visa properly (three years late!), is it likely that I will be charged a fine and if so, how much?

Q: Hello, I left the UAE 3 months back due to health emergency of my wife and I informed my employer also. My employer wants me to send the passport by courier so that he can cancel the visa and send the passport back to me. However, I have requested if I can come back now, get the visa cancelled, collect my luggage and close all bank accounts. Is coming back an issue? (my visa is still valid till Aug 2019). What are the points I need to check for a smooth airport entry?

Q: Hi, I was working in a private clinic and I submitted my resignation through email and even informed the owner on WhatsApp and worked till the end of my notice period. I have asked my company to cancel my visa since the beginning of my last working week and have sent them repeated calls and even emailed them to cancel my visa. I told them that I will be leaving Dubai on 22/10/2020 so they should cancel my visa before that but they did not cancel my visa and they kept on delaying it. Now, I've left UAE and I still want to cancel my visa so the owner asked me to pay for visa cancellation on WhatsApp, my friend did and they have cancelled my labour contract however my visa is still not cancelled at GDRFA. I have repeatedly sent them messages on WhatsApp, phone calls and email asking them to cancel my visa before I leave UAE on 22/10/2020 but they ignored and did not cancel my visa. My question is what should I do as the next step and how can I cancel my visa as I'm outside the UAE? Please guide me!

Q: I have a residence-husband visa which will expire on October 2021. But I overstayed in my country Philippines for 6 1/2 months. I want to go back now to Abu Dhabi. Is my visa already canceled or not valid anymore? Can I apply for a tourist visa instead? I and my husband are not in good terms for many months and he doesn't want to communicate with me anymore. What should I do? Thanks for your help!

Q: Hi there, Recently, I was granted a golden residence visa. For that, I need to cancel my current residence visa and change it to a golden visa. What are the issues I have to take care of in terms of working during this process until the new visa and labor card are processed? Please advise!

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I am currently on a job visa in the UAE and planning to take a new job in Qatar. Do I need to cancel my UAE visa to get a new job visa in Qatar? I am staying in Sharjah, UAE with my family, and my children are studying in Sharjah. I would appreciate your advice.

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.

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.

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.

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).