Dear Respected Lawyers, Subject: Request for Legal Advice Regarding Unlawful Practices by a Debt Collection Agency I would greatly appreciate your advice and guidance regarding a troubling issue my colleague is facing with a collection agency. The company has been contacting the employer, urging them to ask my colleague to get in touch with them regarding a supposed liability. This claim is related to a 15-year-old closed dispute with a bank credit card, and the issue seems to stem from outdated and inaccurate information on the AECB report. Our main concerns are as follows: Unauthorized Access: The company is accessing her AECB report without her consent. She has never given permission for them to retrieve or view her personal financial information. How is it possible for a third-party agency to openly access and track AECB reports, especially for a dispute that was resolved 15 years ago?

I was evicted from my apartment after living there for five years. My landlord informed me a year in advance that the lease would not be renewed because he intended to sell the property. Prior to this, he attempted to impose a rent increase that was not compliant with RERA regulations, which I refused to accept. He then served me with an official Dubai Court eviction notice, citing the need to take back the property for sale. Five months after I moved out, I discovered the property was rented out at a much higher price. Upon further investigation, I found that the ownership was transferred as a "Gift" rather than a sale. This makes it seem like the eviction was only to raise the rent rather than a genuine need to sell. Do I have a valid case for wrongful eviction against my landlord? Also, under Dubai law, does transferring ownership as a "Gift" hold the same legal grounds as selling in justifying eviction?

Hello, My ex-wife has abused me in chat and called me the following: illiterate, beggar, and said that I don’t have [------]. She called me a bad parent and a bad son. Can I file a cyberbullying, defamation, or abuse case against her? What are my options?

Hi I'm an Irish citizen and a resident of the United Kingdom. I got investment fraud in Dubai. I invested money into a business with a Pakistani national guy in March 2024 via bank transfer into his business account. Now he's giving back the money which I invested in business after 9 months. He's preparing a letter from a local lawyer to kick me out of the business. I do not have any other option than to take out at least my money. But it's unfair to me that he used my money in business and took all the advantage. Some people say to me that if you claim money or take legal action against him, it will take too much time and I need to travel to Dubai to appear in court because it is a civil matter. But I'm not a resident. How can I follow the civil case there? That's why my partner knows that I can not do anything and this case keeps running long time and in the end nothing happens. But I'm thinking that I will submit a complaint through my embassy and I also have a solicitor in the United Kingdom.

Dear Lawyers, My relative lost his wife during childbirth due to clear medical negligence, as stated in the report from the DHA medical committee. He had to relocate to India due to the situation and is currently working there. Please guide us on the steps to take for justice and compensation.

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?

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. Thanks.

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.

Hello, I already have a dispute order with MOHRE. Then my employer became willing to settle the case. What should I do in case they do not follow through with the promised amount to pay?

Hello, My wife's company renewed their insurance and registered my wife as single, so the maternity benefits are not covered, even though we were already married before she joined the company. She is now 35 weeks pregnant. What should we do?

I want to do crypto P2P trading on Binance. But I want to do it safely, so I want to open a company and do it. My monthly turnover will be around 4 million AED. I heard a lot that banks are freezing or closing business bank accounts because of this kind of activity. I want to know whether that is true or not.

I need legal advice regarding the cancellation of my work permit to join a new company. Here’s a brief overview: I have worked for a contracting company in Dubai since 2018, with my visa later transferred to Sharjah. After receiving a job offer in Dubai, I resigned, but my old employer’s attempt to cancel my work permit failed due to an OTP issue. ICP granted permission to cancel my change-of-status visa, but when my new employer applied for my permit, they found the old one still active. I raised a labor complaint with MOHRE on 21 March 2025, but it's still under process. My family’s grace period expired on 27 Mar 2025, so I sent them back to India. I’m now facing a daily fine of AED 50 for overstaying since my change of status was canceled on 13 Mar 2025. Once this is resolved, I plan to bring my family back as my son’s school reopens on 07 April 2025. I would appreciate your advice on resolving the permit cancellation and overstay fines.

Currently working at Company X in Dubai. I recently got a stronger offer from Company Y, a much larger firm in the same industry but in a different free zone. When I asked if Company X could match the offer, they proposed a bonus, not a salary adjustment. I resigned. While I didn’t disclose where I was going, they seem to know, and their legal team has started sending letters. My contract has restrictive clauses, including: “For 12 months post-termination, the employee shall not, without prior written consent, (a) be employed or engaged in any capacity by any business in competition in the UAE with any Restricted Business; (b) have business dealings with any Client or Prospective Client in such competition.” Friends in law say it’s too broad to enforce. I held a manager role, AED 30k/month, not C-level, though considered a key member. Despite the pressure, I believe they’re overreaching legally. Please advise if these non-compete clauses are enforceable.

What can I do in case of odometer tampering, false ownership information, and a flood-damaged vehicle? What is the procedure for filing a fraud complaint about these issues?

Hello, We live in a development in Ras Al Khaimah, and under our apartment block, there is a loud swimming pool heater/chiller unit that runs 24/7, producing a rattling and humming noise that disturbs our peace. We can hardly use our balcony due to this noise. Other apartments face the same issue, but the community management refuses to take action. What legal recourse do we have? Can we serve the community management office with a legal notice?

Hello, My ex-wife has custody of our 3-year-old daughter. She is a converted Muslim, but she has a Christian boyfriend, and I think they are living together. What actions can I take about it?

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.

The bank filed a case against me using security cheques and executed a travel ban from Dubai Courts.

Hello, We are a building materials trading company based in the UAE. We supplied materials worth AED 50,000 to a customer around 8 months ago, but despite repeated follow-ups and reminders, no payment has been made to date. We would appreciate guidance on the following: 1. What legal action can we take to recover the amount? 2. What documents should we have ready (e.g., delivery notes, invoice, emails)? 3. How long does the legal process typically take in the UAE for such cases? 4. Is there a recommended timeline or deadline after which legal steps should be initiated? Thank you in advance for your advice!

Dear lawyer I seek help on whether I can return to the UAE or not. I exited the UAE on an outpass due to overstaying. I have been patient for more than 7 months. I was advised that I am able to return to the UAE. The process was successful, and I traveled to the UAE, but I was denied entry to the UAE at immigration. Why? I was only overstaying, I hadn't been a criminal, just my boss refused to do a visa for me. After overstaying, my employers traveled to their country. I had no idea how to resolve the issue other than to get an outpass and go back home.

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?

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. Thanks.

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.

Hello, An investor has a residence visa valid until February 2027; however, he wishes to close the company before the current license expires in December 2025. Can the investor still legally reside in the UAE until the residence visa expires?

Hello, How many days do I need to wait for company cancellation following resignation and one-month notice?

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.

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, My sister filed a criminal case against her employer (sexual harassment), and it is already with the Public Prosecutor. Her employer refuses to compensate her at all. Can we file a civil claim? When should we do it? Can we still file a civil claim after the judgment of the case?

هل تقسم الأملاك بعد الطلاق بين الزوجين وفق القانون الإماراتي؟

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

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?

My brother has been working for a company for 11 years. In the last 3 weeks, he had an incident/accident and scratched a plane since he only had 1 person to assist him as the company was not hiring enough people. Senior staff like him are working more to train inexperienced new hires which adds to their workload working almost 12 hours/day including travel to DWC. The pilot said it was aesthetic and could be painted over but a police investigation ensued. Last week 3 managers and HR talked him down as the investigation concluded. He was terminated immediately with only this month's pay and his 11-year gratuity will not be given by the company. It was not gross negligence or malicious intent, he just didn’t have enough people to help him. He owned up to the mistake and reported the incident within 24 hours. Can he fight for the gratuity?

A person currently under a deportation order wishes to appoint a trusted person with Power of Attorney (POA) to manage their financial and legal matters, including access to their bank account and other obligations. What is the process for obtaining and registering a POA in this situation? Can it be done while they are still in custody, and what steps should they follow to ensure? Please help.

Dear Sir/Madam, The Dubai Court has frozen my bank account because I was late on an alimony payment. The money was automatically deducted from my salary this month. Will the court automatically unfreeze the account once this is done, or will I need to petition the court to issue an order to unfreeze it?

What is the process of renewing the visa while a criminal case is still ongoing? I got first instance court judgment in my favor and was declared innocent, however, the prosecution filed the appeal. My residence visa is due for renewal next week. Can I process my renewal or it is blocked till the time this case is over?

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?

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. Thanks.

Hello, I already have a dispute order with MOHRE. Then my employer became willing to settle the case. What should I do in case they do not follow through with the promised amount to pay?

Hello, My wife's company renewed their insurance and registered my wife as single, so the maternity benefits are not covered, even though we were already married before she joined the company. She is now 35 weeks pregnant. What should we do?

Hello, My employee provided a resignation. Our company offered a salary raise and made a deal with him where he agreed to continue with us, but it’s not on paper. He suddenly stopped coming to work, stating he doesn’t want to work anymore. What rights do we have as a company, and what can we do about it?

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?

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. Thanks.

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.

Hello, How many days do I need to wait for company cancellation following resignation and one-month notice?

Hello, I already have a dispute order with MOHRE. Then my employer became willing to settle the case. What should I do in case they do not follow through with the promised amount to pay?

Hello, My landlord vacated the property with 12 months' notice, stating he would live there himself. However, he started renting the property through the holiday homes system. Is a permit issued by the DTC for a holiday home valid proof to prove that he is renting and to claim compensation?

I have a video recording of my husband beating me in our garden. Can I show this in the child custody hearing? It was filmed with my phone camera

We won the case with the RDC that the tenant has to evict the property. We are told there is a cooling period before they say the date he has to leave. How long is the cooling period he can appeal and then what happens next if he appeals and if he doesn't? He was served the one-year notice and then refused to leave, hence the case we raised with RDC and won. Thank you

Hello, Is it legally permissible for an employee holding a Fujairah free zone visa with a job role in sales and marketing to primarily work remotely from various locations, including Dubai, while visiting the Fujairah-based company once a week? The employee would meet clients and conduct business activities on the UAE mainland. Does this arrangement comply with UAE labor laws?

Hello lawyers, Could you please clarify the regulations regarding working hours for nursing/breastfeeding mothers in the UAE during Ramadan? How many hours are they entitled to?