A bank has filed an execution cheques case through the Dubai Courts due to nonpayment of a personal loan and credit card. Is a travel ban automatically applied? I looked on the Dubai Courts website, and it says the judge has issued a “reserved” order for my case. Furthermore, when the bank emails, they threaten me with a travel ban. So I am assuming there is no travel ban issued (but I don’t know). I haven’t received any notice of a travel ban. If there is a travel ban, how do I find out? I have checked the Dubai police app, and there are no financial crimes against me. Please advise if you know.

Hello, What is the minimum duration an employee must work for the employer who brought them into the country before they can terminate the contract in the UAE?

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

Hello, I am currently working with my company and have one month remaining to complete my first contract. However, my new visa is set to be processed in a month. Can I resign during this process? What will happen if I resign at the end of my first contract before receiving the new visa while it is still in process?

My husband has a girlfriend/fiancée. He is Muslim now, but when we got married, we were both Christians. So I know that he will not have another wife because it's not allowed in our country and religion. Do I have the right to tell him that it's illegal? Also, we have loans here and in our country, and he wants to get a loan just to marry his girlfriend and find a flat for her. While my daughter and I only live in a room with shared tenants. What are my rights? Thank you so much!

Salam, My company has filed a complaint against me in MOHRE related to training fees. This is the clause mentioned in my contract: "The Second Party shall be obliged to pay back the value of the training (which is estimated at an amount of 10000 AED) when they terminate the employment contract based on their own free will (within One Year) from the date of commencement of their contract, without prejudice to the First Party's legal or contractual obligations. (the amount agreed on for the value of the training period must be commensurate with the employment period of the employee)" My question is: 1. I served 11 months in the company. Can they demand the full 10,000 or it should be less due to 11 months (as per the last line of the clause)? 2. I didn't even get training from the company. I learned normally by working on projects with seniors. No training session was conducted for me. Should I still have to pay? My case is in MOHRE. Thanks

Hi, Amnesty 2024 has just started, and I really want to apply for it, but I have a company bounced cheque and personal credit card debt. Is there any solution to avail of the amnesty and legalize my status? If yes, what is the step-by-step procedure? Thank you to those who can enlighten me on this question, and God bless us all!

Hello, I have a civil case for a bounced check and a travel ban. My passport has expired and can only be renewed in my home country. Due to the travel ban, it is not possible to exit and renew the passport. With an expired passport, I can't work. What are the options in this situation? Can my wife take this case and start paying in installments so that I can go to renew his passport and come back? Thank you!

I have an unpaid credit card of approximately AED 45000 in the UAE. I will be traveling to Qatar due to work. Will I be arrested in Qatar?

Good day, I requested the lessor to divide my upcoming cheque into two payments instead of the full amount on the 1st of December. I paid 50% on 1st December, and the second payment was scheduled for 30th December. However, they considered it as a cheque postponement and asked for an additional fee. Upon reviewing the contract, I found point number 8 states that a cheque postponement request will be subject to management approval, and it doesn't mention any extra fees—just approval. Is this normal, and should I pay for it, or not? Please help!

Hi. Hope you are doing well. We need to find out the details of the directors of a company based out of Sharjha Airport International Free Zone. We have a procedural order from SIAC for the same as well. Can this be done? We will physically be present in the UAE from tomorrow. Happy to meet physically and discuss this as well.

Good evening, I have received the judgment for my civil financial case. I intend to appeal this judgment, but I'm considering changing my lawyer as I am not entirely satisfied with their work. I would like to know if this is possible and what steps need to be taken. Thank You!

Hi, If I buy a building, do I have the right to file a case against a tenant who has outstanding rent due from the old owner?

Dear Sir/Madam, We are a company located in Ras Al Khaimah. We have been working with a company in Dubai that is not paying us on time. The current balance due is 142K and we have all the necessary documents (invoices, balance sheet) with their stamp. Can we file a case against them? Note: We also have two pending cheques from their company, but it looks like they will bounce.

Dear Sir/Madam, My tenant has been unreachable by phone and email for the past three months. The second rent payment is due on January 1, and I am not currently in Dubai to look into the matter. I would like to know what my approach should be to evict her once the due date comes, or even if I can start the process now. She has not handed over the second check, even though the contract requires her to do so.

My company changed the boss, but the company name is still the same. Is there any way I can't get all my benefits for 6 years?

Hello, I got an offer letter from another company. I want the immediate cancellation paper before 20th April. I don't have time to submit my notice period registration. What should I do? Please give me the best advice!

Hello, During the notice period, is an employee allowed to take sick leave? If not, can the employer deduct the sick leave from the employee’s end-of-service benefits? Additionally, what is the legal basis for this? Specifically, which law or ministerial decision governs this matter?

Lawyers misunderstood my question. Please read carefully and then guide me. Case Type: Civil Case Claim amount: 400,000 Paid: 65,000 Reason: Commercial agreement of supply Emirate: Ajman This case was registered in 2022. The judgment was in my absence, as notices were sent to the wrong address. I was sent to jail. I made a down payment, bailed, and paid some more amount as installments. The total paid amount is AED 65000. Now, again, an arrest warrant is issued as I did not pay the remaining 335,000 of the claim. According to me, I had to pay only this amount because the executioner made a wrong claim, not as per the genuine claim. So I want to reopen the case file. I want the court to reinvestigate and start the case from scratch. 1) How can I make that request? 2) What documents are required? 3) Chances of reopening of case? 4) Cancellation of arrest warrant Please guide me in detail, as I will do everything myself, as I cannot afford a lawyer right now.

I booked a hotel stay for Eid through a travel agency two weeks before Eid. The travel agency confirmed the booking on payment. One day before Eid, the agency reached out, saying they had an issue with the supplier/hotel and the booking would be cancelled. They offered alternative hotels that didn’t match the original property. I suggested some properties, and they couldn’t arrange them, or they asked for further payment, so I didn’t book anything through them. What are my rights to a refund and compensation, as I had to book other arrangements separately at a significantly higher cost due to the last-minute prices? It also caused significant emotional distress, less than 24 hours before the holiday. To which authority can a complaint be made in case of an unsatisfactory outcome? Both the agency and the hotel are in Dubai.

Good morning, My landlord notified me 90 days before my contract’s end of a 15% rent increase, raising it from AED 55,000 to AED 63,250. However, according to the RERA index, the maximum increase should be 5%. I tried to negotiate, but they refused. On October 15, I made an offer and deposit of AED 57,250 (including the RERA-approved increase). The judge accepted it, but the landlord rejected it, claiming their other 1-bedroom units rent for AED 75,000. My contract expired on October 31, 2024. Recently, the landlord emailed saying I’m now staying illegally and will be charged AED 100 per day for not signing a new contract. Last week, I requested a new contract based on the RERA index, but they responded by refusing my offer and deposit, demanding full payment. My question: Should I be concerned, or should I let them pursue a case? Or just wait and see? Thank you for your assistance.

Hi everyone, I’m facing an issue with my rental situation and would appreciate any advice. I purchased a company in July that’s renting a shop space, and the tenancy contract (under the company’s name) is ending on November 22. The landlord is insisting on a 40% rent increase, even though the RERA Index clearly indicates a 0% increase for this area. I’ve informed the landlord that this increase isn’t in line with RERA regulations, requested a new contract, and asked him to come by to collect the cheques—but he’s been unresponsive. To protect our position, I filed an offer and deposit with the rental dispute center, but it was automatically closed because the landlord didn’t respond. My question is: what should I do next? Filing a case for renewal will cost 5% of the rent, which is a significant amount right now. Are there any alternatives to proceed without incurring that cost, or any other steps to ensure the landlord adheres to the regulated rental terms?

Dear Lawyers, Is it mandatory for a memorandum of defense to be signed by an applicant representing themselves without an attorney in a civil dispute in Dubai? If not, what are the potential consequences of submitting a memorandum of defense without a signature? Thank you!

Hello Experts! Kindly assist with the below: In a penal case that is still at the investigation stage, if your statement was taken and they realized you are truly innocent, with your name included only by association, is there a chance that your name can be dropped before being referred to court? Or does the fact that they took your statement mean you must appear in court?

Dear Lawyers, How can a wife file for khula when she is financially dependent on her husband and has no funds to support it?

Hi, For the private sector, if an employee got terminated due to warning letters for poor performance issued to him, is he eligible for a 1-month compensation salary?

Hello, I want to know the UAE rules regarding second marriage for expats. I am a Pakistani national and already have a wife back in my home country. Now, I want to do a second marriage in the UAE with a Moroccan girl. Can you please let me know the procedure involved? Can I get my marriage registered in the UAE? Is it mandatory to disclose the first marriage? I am on an employment visa in Dubai.

Hello, I am a manager of an LLC company with 25% share. In February 2003, a partner joined the company with a 25% share. After two months, he didn’t like the company and left. After two years, we did not know where he was. We just heard that he left to Tunisia before his visa expired. What to do with his 25% share, please?

I got a work permit and entry from a Dubai employer for work. During the travel to Dubai, do I need to show any accommodation proof, return ticket, or anything? What documents do I need to carry?

Hello. My company has filed a case against a client for failure to pay and a bounced cheque. The client's company is registered as a virtual office in the Creative City Free Zone in Fujairah, so our case is filed there. The client basically purchased some equipment from us, and his payment via bank transfer did not go through and was rejected. Then, when we deposited his security cheque after multiple attempts to contact and no answer, the cheque bounced. The company is under his wife's name, and we have filed a case on the same. The court has accepted our application, however, they have instructed the execution bureau to get the Emirates ID of this authorised signatory. The bureau is asking us to get it, and we have no way to do so, unfortunately. Without the Emirates ID, the court cannot freeze the bank accounts or put a travel ban, etc. What are our options here?

Hello, If a person has a criminal case in the UAE, can he or she travel to any other GCC country on a work visa?

Hello, I am a manager of an LLC company with 25% share. In February 2003, a partner joined the company with a 25% share. After two months, he didn’t like the company and left. After two years, we did not know where he was. We just heard that he left to Tunisia before his visa expired. What to do with his 25% share, please?

Hello, I want to know the UAE rules regarding second marriage for expats. I am a Pakistani national and already have a wife back in my home country. Now, I want to do a second marriage in the UAE with a Moroccan girl. Can you please let me know the procedure involved? Can I get my marriage registered in the UAE? Is it mandatory to disclose the first marriage? I am on an employment visa in Dubai.

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?

Hello, Can an employer post an employee's photo on social media, LinkedIn or Instagram, without the employee's consent? Secondly, the employer is forcing the employee to update the company details in the employee's profile. I believe LinkedIn and Instagram are personal profiles and one cannot be forced to update the details. This photo was taken in the office.

Hello, Is it legal to reduce the salary after signing an employment contract?

I raised a cheque execution case against a company and its owner and won. There is a travel ban on him. I was receiving installments for three months and now he stopped paying. The court after request summoned him. In total, he paid only 30% of the owed money. I found that his company license is expired and also in the month his visa will expire. Does he have any option to avoid payment? Please note he was deceived by showing no money in his bank account and no assets in his name but he is running multiple businesses. Also a month ago, he tried to convince me to lift the travel ban but I refused to do so. But he submitted a guarantee and left UAE. Now the status shows he is back in the UAE and the travel ban imposed again. But after that, he stopped payment. Is there a 1% chance of him not paying me the remaining money? Is there a way he can leave the country through the Amnesty program or any of this sort?

Hello, In EMARATAX (The Federal Tax Authority), if someone has two licenses in different emirates for the same activity, does he need to register two taxable persons, or how should he proceed?

Hello, I purchased a one-bedroom off-plan unit in Dubai from a well-known developer under an SPA specifying an area of 801 sq. ft. I completed all payments as per the developer’s payment plan, and the unit was handed over to me without a Title Deed. After taking possession, furnishing the unit, signing a tenancy contract, and making repeated follow-ups to obtain my Title Deed, the developer informed me, 45 days after handover, that the actual area was 1,041.41 sq. ft., a 30% increase from the original SPA terms. To receive my Title Deed, they are now demanding payment for the increased size. Key issues: - Failure to notify me before handover about the 30% increase in area. - The SPA allows for price adjustments for area variations but specifies that such adjustments must be reflected in the final installment, which I had already fully paid before handover. - The developer has now filed a legal case through Dubai Courts, demanding payment. I require legal advice based on RERA/DLD laws and the SPA.

Hello, A client of mine used our consulting services online and is refusing to pay. Despite multiple reminders, she still has not made the payment. What legal action can I take against her?

Dear Sir/Madam, Is it possible to send a legal notice to someone even though I don't have a copy of his Emirates ID or passport, but I only know his full name and office address?

Dear Sir/Madam, My tenant is not ready to move out on the last day of the 12-month notarized eviction notice. I need the place for myself to move in as my lease ends next week. What should I do?

I need help in getting a police clearance from Dubai. I left the UAE in 2018 and left my bank debts unsettled. Can someone please help me understand how I can negotiate my situation in the most reasonable way? Thank you

Hi Sir/Madam, I need to obtain a police clearance certificate. I left Dubai in 2018 and was advised that I must clear a police case at Naif Police Station for bank credit (less than 10,000 AED) before I can apply for the PCC. Since I am outside the UAE, how do I get representation and clear my issue to obtain my police clearance certificate? Thanks!

Dear Sir/Madam, I need to check if there is any absconding/travel/labor ban on me. I was in Dubai in 2015 and left the job in 2 months due to a family emergency.

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, What is the statute of limitations for filing a civil lawsuit in the UAE?

Dear Sir/Madam, My company terminated me with no written warning last April 5, and they said I need to work up until April 30 to receive my pay, but until now, they're holding it. Can someone help me with what I can do, please? And is it right to terminate me with no warning? I'm under probation with the company; I've been working with them for four months.

First instance divorce judgment has been provided based on Article 7 of Federal Law 41 of 2022 and based on Article 133 of the Civil Procedures Code - the defendant was requested to pay expenses and fees. Later, I received a notification to apply for implementation of the ruling and execution proceedings! What action is required from the plaintiff? Under Article 133 of the civil procedure code, can compensation for damage be claimed? And what type of evidence must be submitted? Within how many days must the implementation of the ruling and execution proceedings be raised by the plaintiff to the court? What are the rights, roles, and responsibilities of husband and wife regarding child custody and child support based on the above judgment?

Hello, I would like to know if the bank can claim recovery after 6 years of not paying credit card dues in the UAE.

Hello, A client of mine used our consulting services online and is refusing to pay. Despite multiple reminders, she still has not made the payment. What legal action can I take against her?

Hello, A tenant damaged the property I recently purchased upon their eviction, and the security deposit does not cover all of the damages. I would like to know how I can take action against the tenant. Does any proof need to be submitted? If yes, what proofs are required since I bought an already tenanted property? What is the timeframe and process to seek compensation for the damages?

Hello, I was supposed to renew my rental contract in early February, but due to harassment and threats, we agreed in rental court that we would settle and move out. Now, while awaiting the verdict, the landlord has gone ahead and canceled DEWA. What can I do? Isn’t that illegal?

Hello, If I have a deportation due to a criminal case, and while serving time inside, a civil case is opened against me, does that stop my deportation?

Hi, I have leased out a shop in Dubai, but due to huge financial losses and my husband's job loss, I can't afford to pay the rent. Meanwhile, my landlord has filed a case for eviction and payment of rent. Right now, my condition is getting better as my husband has got a job and is ready to pay the rent in installments. Can I pay in installments and hold the shop even if the judgment goes against me?