Questions & Answers - Legal Advice Middle East

Rental dispute over early termination penalty clause

Q: My tenancy contract was made until September 2018, but I`m losing my job now. Therefore, I have to terminate my contract with a one month notice. But the landlord is asking for two extra months rent after my eviction period also. Please advise me about this.

Setting up a branch of the foreign company in the UAE

Q: Hi, We are a building contractor from South East Asia, looking to set up a 100% self-owned branch office in Dubai. Our activities will require us to have a contracting licence and import building materials into the UAE. What are the business structures that allow us to apply for a contracting licence and import building materials?

Conditions for applying a vague non-competition clause

Q: Hello, I would like to know if a non-competition clause also applies when starting a similar business in a niche industry. My non-competition clause is very vague and does not specify the area, industry and it`s for 2 years. Does this hold up? And if it doesn`t, could they file a civil case? Thank you!

Leaving the UAE without proper employment visa cancellation

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.

Clearance of a bounced cheque case after payment

Q: Hi. I had a bounced cheque case with my ex-landlord which I recently settled. He filed a case against me. My brother paid the amount and their Local UAE National will be doing some paperwork in ON TIME government service office. Then later, he was advised to go to Court to take the NOC and pay the fine. Once the NOC is taken and fine paid, do we need to take this paper to the Police Station or Immigration to clear my name so they won`t stop me at the Airport when I enter Dubai again, or it will be done automatically? If it will be done automatically, then how much time it takes?

Employer's maneuvering to escape paying the end of service benefits

Q: I am the only employee in the company and my job included sales, marketing, accounting, administration and delivery. I worked using my own personal desktop, phone, internet connection and car since the company has not provided any. I started work in this Free Zone company on Dec 1, 2014, under unlimited contract and on my husband`s visa. I have resigned last Dec 11, 2017, and served my 30 days’ notice period last Jan 11, 2018. My employer was supposed to pay the final settlement on my last day but then she re-scheduled to meet on Jan 14, then on January 16 and lastly on Jan 18. Just before the day of agreed final settlement, she accused me that all my previous work emails have been allegedly deleted. She filed a complaint of Breach of Contract on Jan 18 and I also filed a complaint about her delay in paying my end of service benefits. She has continuously intimidated me with her plans to file it in court. These false allegations have caused me and my family emotional distress. Please advise.

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Is the Good Conduct Certificate compulsory for getting a UAE work permit?

Q: My employer has already applied for my entry permit last month. Do I require a good conduct certificate, as from 4th Feb it has been made compulsory as per the UAE new law? As with a short notice, it will be hard for me to arrange the same and also attestation is a lengthy process which will take time

Recovering a personal debt without written agreement

Q: Hi. I would like to inquire how much do you charge for a consultation because I need some legal assistance regarding loaned money. Someone owes me a big amount of money, AED 51,000 to be exact. I lent them an amount of AED 60,000 which they would pay on a monthly basis for 24 months. However, after 3 months of paying, they haven’t paid until now. I would like to get a quote on how much would it cost to have a legal assistance in such case like this. Thank you.

Legal consequences for non-payment of Etisalat bills

Q: I have a flatmate who applied for internet in Etisalat, but when he went on vacation he did not come back. Then our flat owner continued it but the internet account was not transferred to his name. When I got back from my vacation, there was already a new flat owner. She removed the existing internet in our home because she applied for a new account. That was almost 2 years ago. Now, I don`t know why Etisalat is texting and calling me that I have to pay the amount due and they initiated a legal action and travel ban on me. Tahseel messaged me about this. Please, can anyone help me on what I can do?

Changing the local sponsor of a sole establishment

Q: Hello Mrs Nikhat, I have a Sole Establishment Licence for real estate brokerage company which is in name of a local sponsor. But I have the full POA with me. I wanted to change my sponsor. My current visa is employment visa, General Manager, but I can add my name to the license also. Can I change my local sponsor without the signature of my current local sponsor? Kind regards

What if I reject the job offer where the salary is less than initially offered by email?

Q: Greetings. My name is John. An employer offered me a job by email for AED 3000 and he asked me to send my passport copy, pictures and visit visa. But he prepared an offer letter from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) carrying only AED 1000 and gave me to sign it. I have rejected his offer, told him that I can`t work for him anymore and haven`t signed anything else with him.

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Acting against a case of robbery and ban of entry to the UAE

Q: I`m on my husband`s permanent visa. Due to my delivery, I came to India in September 2017, and now I`m finding myself on the blacklist because of some minor robbery case. It is a case in which I`m not involved, as it is of my very close relative. My question is, how can I enter the UAE because it`s a matter of my self-respect and family. I want to fight against it. Through which procedure can I enter Dubai in this case, as my husband is already there in Dubai? As the case is our family matter, my question is how to come and fight back?

Travel ban for unpaid mobile bills

Q: Good morning Sir, I want to know if someone would get a travel ban because of an unpaid mobile bill like du, without a court case or police case.

Illegal termination of employees after the company takeover

Q: My company was taken over by another company. The management of the new company assured us, old employees, that we won`t be terminated. My visa got expired on the first week of November 2017. So I asked my boss about the renewal and he assured me that it`s a long process and might take time for the renewal. On the 1st week of December, I was called along with some other staff to the head office, got informed that they are not going to renew our contracts and we have to stop going to work. I have an unlimited contract. The company did not give us any notice in advance nor did they make us sign on any papers and we did not receive any termination letter. In this situation, I would like to know our rights as per the labour law. I am still searching for a job and I have a loan with the bank. Appreciate your advice in advance.

Breach of the lease contract obligations by the landlord

Q: We moved into a villa in August 2017 and we paid one cash cheque payment to the owner who is local, as he gave us a copy of his Emirates ID and contract. In December, our water was cut and was told by ADDC that the water has not been paid since August, which we all donated and paid for as we are about 7 tenants in the villa (Studio). On the 10th of this month, a legal notice came from the court showing First Gulf Properties that the landlord should appear in the court. He didn`t show up to which. Yesterday, another same one was sent to him to appear today of which I doubt he did go because all his numbers are off. I need to know what`s my right in this. NB: This property is in Abu Dhabi and I have a copy of the landlord`s Emirates ID. I even took a picture of him and my husband with the agent, and a copy of the cheque I gave to him the day we signed the contract. Please advise me. Thank you very much as I wait for your swift advice.

Labour ban for termination during the probation period

Q: Dear Ma`am, I want to ask. My employer terminated my contract within the probation period, but before that, I completed 10 years on a different employment visa in Dubai. Is there any labour ban on me? Thanks