Questions & Answers - Legal Advice Middle East

Is it possible to postpone bank installments due to salary cut?

Q: Hi, I took a personal loan and have a current outstanding 18 months to pay amounting to AED 63,975. In 2018, I lost my job but still managed to pay my dues until April 2019. My salary on the new company is lower compare to when I took the loan, and due to current COVID-19, my current salary has been cut further down of 40% and will not be able to pay my monthly dues. What with be my legal case if I will not be able to settle this outstanding amount? Your response is highly appreciated.

Right of the wife to seek custody and maintenance upon divorce

Q: I am a UAE national. My husband and I are divorced and were building a house on our government land. We divorced and I applied for a house at Iskan because my parents are dead and it may be likely that I will take custody of my children. I went to Iskan to tell them my situation, they told me I should come back in three years, I have a steady income and it`s possible that I will remarry. However, my income is not enough since I will be barely surviving and will not be able to put away savings for my retirement. At this point, the way I would live is no different than an expatriate. I don`t have a problem waiting for three years, however, where am I meant to live for 3 years? Not to mention, I`m old enough to receive a pension. Remarrying is out of the picture. I was also told by Iskan that I am not eligible to receive land or a government house since my name was included under the government land that my ex-husband and I were building. There should be loans for women in my situation. Any advice?

مكافأة نهاية الخدمة عند الاستقالة بعد أكثر من سنة في عقد غير محدد المدة

س: السلام عليكم، أنا قدمت استقالتي من الشركة واشتغلت معاهم سنة و9 أشهر، وعقدي غير محدد المدة. أنا خليجي، تقول الشركة أنه لا يوجد لك مكافأة نهاية خدمة؛ فقط راتب آخر شهر. هل هذا صحيح؟ مع العلم أني اشتغلت سنة و9 أشهر. مقر الشركه دبي. أرجو التوضيح. شكرًا!

Early termination of tenancy without penalty due to COVID-19

Q: Hi, I have a 1-year rental agreement with 4 payments in a year in the form of PDC. I went on a normal 1-month vacation with a return ticket, but unfortunately, all flights were suspended and travel restriction applied due to Coronavirus. Now for the last 2-3 months, I am in my country and unable to join work but my landlord said I have to pay money from my country. How can I pay with no salary and I am stuck outside with no guarantee what will happen next? Out of 4 cheques, 3 easily cashed with no problem but he said pay half cheque amount in May and the remaining in next month.

Filing criminal and civil cases against a company for cheque bounce

Q: Hello, I hope you`re all doing well during this tough time. I have a question in regards to bounced cheques, specifically corporate cheques. I have a cheque for AED 800,000, and it has bounced. The owner of the corporate has asked for a month to pay back. However, I am worried he will leave the country and not honour his obligation. My questions are fairly simple: 1) Am I to put a case on the individual who signed it or the corporate? 1) If I put a criminal and civil case on the corporate right now and he`s unable to settle amicably, can I put a travel ban on the owner (who signed) as it is a corporate case? 2) Does the new insolvency law as of late 2019 also apply to corporates? 3) Is the owner personally liable if the company doesn`t have assets or cash?

The new COVID-19 regulations regarding redundancy in the UAE

Q: What are the new COVID-19 regulations in the UAE regarding redundancy?

Hire a lawyer online

Save time and money. Buy fixed-fee legal services or submit your request and get multiple competitive offers from qualified lawyers.

Buy services Get quotes

النفقات المستحقة للزوجة والأبناء نتيجة الطلاق

س: السلام عليكم، أرجو الإفادة. أنا متزوج من حوالي 8 سنوات ولدي طفلان من زوجتي وأقيم في ابوظبي. راتبي الشهري 15750 درهم. زوجتي مصممة على دفع راتب شهري تقريبًا ثلث راتبي أو أن أطلقها مع العلم أنني لا أستطيع دفع ذلك نظرًا لأن الراتب لا يبقى منه شيئًا. سابقًا ولعدة سنوات كنت أعطيها ما تريد نظرًا لأنني كنت أحصل في نهاية العام على بعض الحوافز ولكن هذا الأمر توقَّف منذ 3 سنوات تقريبًا وليس لي دخل إلا راتبي الشهري. في حال رغبت في الطلاق نظرًا لكثرة المشاكل بيننا وتطاول زوجتي عليّ بالسب والشتم، أرجو من حضراتكم الإفادة عن نفقة المتعة والعدة مع العلم أن الزوجة لا تعمل. هل هذه النفقة تشمل مصاريف المدرسة مع العلم أنني مَن يتحمل مصاريف التعليم في مدرسة خاصة في أبوظبي وليس لدي مصدر دخل إضافي وأُرسل مبلغًا بسيطًا 1200 درهم تقريبًا شهريًا للنفقة على والدتي. للعلم حدث طلاق مرة قبل أكثر من عام أثناء مشكلة بيننا ثم رددتها، وحاليًا أرغب في الطلاق نظرًا لصعوبة التعامل معها مما يُشكِّل عبئًا نفسيًا على الأطفال. جزاكم الله خيرًا!

Obtaining a work permit for a new offer during a pending labour case

Q: Respected Sir, I have a court case in Al ain court against my employer. Now I have received another offer from another employer. Can I get any letter from the court for my labour card cancellation without the NOC from the current employer? If yes, I kindly request your expert guidance.

Reducing the rent for a few months due to COVID-19 salary reduction

Q: Good Morning, Due to the global pandemic, Hotels and Tourism business is majorly effected and that resulted in my 50% salary reduction for the month of March, April 2020. I am not sure if I might get paid these coming months as well. My wife is a Cabin Crew and is effected with the same salary reduction scenario and due to no flights assigned is getting paid only 20% of the actual she was earning before the Covid-19 outbreak. I politely requested my landlord to either decrease rent for the month my salary will be effected or extend the tenancy contract free of charge for a few months, that will ease my financial burden for the Year 2020. Please guide me through this financial crisis & rental relief situation. Thank you

حجز جواز المتخلِّف عن الانضمام للخدمة الوطنية ومنعه من تجديده

س: السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته، سؤال: فيما يتعلق بقانون الخدمة الوطنية وتعديلاته في دولة الإمارات، هل يحق للجهة المختصة أن تحجز جواز الشخص المتخلف عن الانضمام للخدمة الوطنية، وتمنعه من تجديد جواز السفر وتجديد الهوية الإماراتية إذا انتهت صلاحيتها، حتى لو كان التجديد عن طريق التطبيقات الذكية؟ وما المادة القانونية التي تفيد بأن يحق للجهة المختصة أن تمنع الشخص الذي لم ينضم للخدمة الوطنية أن يجدد الوثائق والمستندات الثبوتية؟ وبذلك لا يستطيع أن يتعالج طبيًا؟ يُرجى التكرُّم بإفادتنا قانونيًا!

The process of labour execution until the payment of dues

Q: Dear Nikhat, Warm Greetings to you. I am a jobless with a sick wife for the last 6 months and stressed. I have opened an execution file 3 days back and have the below questions: 1. Will the court send a notice to my employer? 2. What happens during the 15 days waiting period after opening the execution file? Please advise. Thank you so much

Looking for something else?

Ask for advice from a lawyer

It’s free and anonymous

No registration needed

Ask a lawyer

Responsibility of the employer for expenses of employees in pandemic

Q: I am working in a company which is registered in Creative City Fujairah Freezone. Last month, our employer sends us on unpaid leave from April to September. He said he will provide tickets to return back to my country but suddenly the lockdown was imposed. I didn`t sign any extra document and this discussion happened on Whatsapp. On May, I asked for the accommodation cost but he said he won`t pay anything, not even for the food and for the rent which I have to pay. I am now helpless, I don`t have money to survive here. Isn`t he responsible for the rent and food cost until I leave the UAE? Please guide.

Cancelling the visa of an employee who filed a false complaint

Q: I needed some information in regards to visa cancellation. One of our employees filed a false complaint with DDA (Dubai Development Authority) to stall the visa cancellation. He is not on our payroll since July 2019 and we are not able to cancel his visa because of his dependents. We have filed for absconding with MoL and is still pending as there is this an ongoing dispute. Can we file a case against the employee for defamation? He is trying to mislead the authorities and extort us.

زواج السيدة الإماراتية المطلقة بدون ولي

س: هل يمكن للفتاة الإماراتية المطلقة أن تتزوج من غير ولي؟

Action against posting fake and defamatory content on social media

Q: A Facebook page has posted fake content against me. Personal details (employment, name, picture) have been posted online along with derogatory comments. The post is being shared under false pretences wherein it appears that I have posted comments against other religions. I would like to confirm that I haven`t posted this content and you may check the same in your records. I would also like to bring to your notice that the admin of the page is also encouraging the general public to report my profile to relevant authorities. The post has been posted on twitter, shared over 700 times on Facebook and I am continuously receiving abusive messages. A police complaint has been made. Please advise on how to proceed.

Acting against the employer for unjustified COVID-19 salary cut

Q: My company is in the business of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and we do sell protective garments for COVID-19. Due to COVID-19 opportunity, our company is doing fantastic business. We not only finished our Year 2020 budget but exceeded by 40%. We have 7 more months to go. However, my company came up with this lame excuse of "Corona Situation" and forcing to accept a 25% reduction in salary and other compensations/ commissions. As you see we are not at all affected by Corona but doing fantastic with this COVID-19 situation. Please guide how I can protect my rights and which authority can help me/ I should approach. Thanks, KK