Can I ask the execution court to request MOHRE to seize the labour card of a debtor?

Dear Questioner,

Thank you for reaching out!

As the execution requester, you do have the right to request various enforcement actions if the execution debtor has failed to comply with the court judgment, even after a long period, such as 12 years.

Regarding your specific query about requesting the seizure of the MOHRE (Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation) labour card, this is a relatively recent measure being used by the Execution Courts in Dubai as part of the extended enforcement powers granted under the UAE Civil Procedure Law and its Executive Regulations.

Key Points:

1. Yes, the Execution Court may issue a letter to MOHRE requesting the suspension or seizure of the debtor’s labour card if it helps in compelling compliance with a court judgment. This can potentially prevent the debtor from continuing employment or renewing work permits.

2. This enforcement mechanism falls under Articles 69 and 70 of Cabinet Decision No. 57 of 2018 (Executive Regulations of Federal Law No. 11 of 1992), which authorizes the court to take any action necessary to enforce a judgment, including administrative coordination with authorities such as MOHRE, immigration, and licensing bodies.

3. This practice has been increasingly applied in the last few years, particularly since 2021, when local courts began strengthening collaboration with federal and local authorities like MOHRE, to enforce judgments through employment restrictions.

Process to Follow:

- File an official request (petition) with the Dubai Execution Court referencing your execution file number.

- Request the court to issue a directive to MOHRE to suspend or seize the debtor’s labour card on the grounds of non-compliance with a long-standing execution judgment.

- The court will review the request and may issue a judicial order or official letter to MOHRE as part of enforcement action.

We would be pleased to assist you with preparing and submitting this petition through our legal team.

Please let us know if you would like to proceed, and we can arrange the next steps.

Best regards,

Mohammad Salah

Legal Consultant

Assalamualaikum,

Yes, you can request the Dubai Execution Court to issue a letter to MOHRE (Ministry of Labour) to seize or suspend the labour card of the execution debtor as part of enforcement measures.

This procedure is allowed under the UAE Civil Procedure Law and has been in practical use since around 2019–2020, especially after the Cabinet Resolutions that expanded enforcement options.

To proceed, you need to file a written request with the Execution Court asking them to instruct MOHRE to block or suspend the debtor’s labour card due to non-payment despite a judgment.

If you need help drafting this application or following up with the court, let me know. I can assist further.

Thanks and regards,

Abdul Wahied

Hello,

Under the current UAE execution procedures, a direct request to the Execution Court to seize a debtor's labor card for enforcement purposes is not a standard or legally recognized enforcement mechanism.

The primary enforcement methods available to an execution court in the UAE for civil debts are bank account freeze, asset seizure, travel ban, and imprisonment (in specific circumstances).

For certain types of debts or repeated failure to pay after a judgment, a court might order imprisonment, Payment Orders.

If you need further clarification, you may ask.

Greetings,

Yes, under UAE law, the Execution Court has the authority to take various enforcement measures against debtors, including requesting MOHRE to suspend or seize the debtor’s labour card or block new work permits.

However, such actions are subject to judicial discretion and depend on the specifics of the case and the debtor's current employment status.

This type of enforcement has become more structured in recent years, especially with the increased digital integration between courts and government entities like MOHRE.

To evaluate your case and formally request such a measure through the court, we recommend booking a consultation or issuing a power of attorney to our firm.

Contact us today to proceed.

Dear Inquirer,

We are pleased to serve you and address your inquiries.

Seizure and execution are carried out with the aim of forcing the debtor to pay, and not everything the debtor owns is subject to seizure.

Kindly contact us via phone or email.

Good morning,

Yes, it is possible for you to request the Dubai Execution Court to issue a letter to the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) to seize the debtor's labor card as part of enforcing the judgment for the unpaid debt.

This procedure is allowed under UAE law, particularly within the framework of the UAE Civil Procedure Code and labor laws, which empower courts to take various enforcement actions, including the seizure of labor cards.

This enforcement tool has been available for several years and is further clarified by recent reforms such as Federal Law No. 10 of 2017 and Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021.

However, the court must be convinced that the debtor has failed to fulfill their financial obligations before proceeding with such an action.

For your case, we would need to ensure that all necessary documentation and court orders are in place, and I recommend proceeding with a formal request for this enforcement action to be initiated.

Should you need further assistance in navigating this process, I would be happy to guide you through the necessary steps.

Best regards,

Dear questioner,

There are several measures that can be taken for the recovery of the amount, like account seizure, trade license cancellation, and travel ban, etc.

If you need our assistance in imposing the same, kindly share your WhatsApp number.

Thank you for your question regarding the Execution Court’s authority to involve MOHRE in seizing a debtor’s labour card.

1. Authority to Request MOHRE’s Assistance

Under Federal Law No. 9 of 2016 Concerning Enforcement of Judgments (“Execution Law”), the Execution Court may invoke various coercive measures against a debtor to secure satisfaction of its judgment (see Articles 85–90).

One of the available measures is requesting the Ministry of Human Resources & Emiratisation (MOHRE) to suspend or seize the debtor’s work permit (labour card) until payment is effected.

2. Scope and Effect

Once the Court issues its letter to MOHRE, the Ministry is obliged to freeze the debtor’s labour card, preventing renewal or transfer. This exerts significant pressure on the debtor, as without a valid labour card, they cannot lawfully continue employment in the UAE.

3. Effective Date of the Procedure

Although the courts have long had broad powers to coordinate with governmental bodies, the formal mechanism for involving MOHRE was codified with the coming into force of the Execution Law on 2 October 2016.

Since that date, Execution Courts have routinely written to MOHRE to effect labour card seizures as part of debt enforcement proceedings.

If you wish to pursue this step, or explore any alternative enforcement strategies, please don’t hesitate to reach out so we can discuss the particulars of your file and prepare the necessary application to the Court.

You can contact me directly on WhatsApp or by phone at [-------------] to arrange a consultation.

Best regards,

Suhail Rana