Questions & Answers - Legal Advice Middle East

My family is holding my passport and hitting me. Can I report domestic violence and get my passport back?

Q: My family has my passport with them and is not allowing me to have it. I’m a 24-year-old UAE citizen woman, but I can’t have my passport. It’s with my family. How can I take my passport? What are my rights? Also, if my family physically abuses me, what are my rights? Also, if my family hits me and physically abuses me, what are my rights? What can I do legally to have my passport back? And in case of physical violence towards me, what are my rights?

How can I correct a mistaken Commercial Registration (CR) number in the enforcement request?

Q: Hello, How can I correct the Commercial Registration (CR) number that was entered by mistake in the enforcement request? Please guide me to the proper procedure or authority.

What if someone borrows from loan apps and leaves before the first installment is due?

Q: Hello, What happens if a person takes a loan from applications such as instant loan apps and exits before the first installment is paid? Will the immigration team pull the customer from the airport? This exit from the country is an urgent requirement and an unavoidable situation. The first installment repayment date has not yet come.

Can a third apartment owner enforce an existing eviction notice?

Q: Hi Mr. Abdul, I’d like to consult about the validity of an eviction notice and my eligibility to use it to evict the tenant, as I am the third owner of the apartment during the 12 months of the eviction notice.

Can I renew my visa despite having a pending police case and a travel ban?

Q: I currently have a pending police case and a travel ban. My visa is about to expire and is due for renewal. I checked with the police, and the case is still under review because the complainant has not submitted the required medical report, despite being asked for it for almost a year. Is there a chance that my visa renewal will be rejected? Also, can I request the dismissal of the case since the complainant has failed to provide the necessary report?

Can I pursue both criminal and civil cases for a confirmed medical error and claim full compensation?

Q: Hello, I received a final report from the Higher Medical Authority stating that a medical error happened in my case and the responsibility lies with the doctor. So I wanted to know a couple of things: - Can I file both a criminal and a civil case (will it help or will it worsen my case)? - Can I include the surgery charges and medical charges paid by my insurance company to the hospital in the calculation of compensation?

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Can Dubai landlords cut off utilities for late rent, and what legal steps can tenants take?

Q: Hello, If a landlord cuts off essential services to a tenant (such as electricity, water, or central air conditioning) on the grounds that the tenant has delayed rent payment, is the landlord legally entitled to do so? What procedures can the tenant take under the tenancy law in the Emirate of Dubai?

I have loan and must leave the country due to an emergency. Will I face problems at the airport?

Q: I have taken a Cashnow loan recently and have to leave the country on exit due to some emergency back in my country. Will it be an issue, or will I face problems at the airport? I am willing to pay it from my home country if possible. The loan of AED 8000 is fresh & less than a month old.

Can my employer block me from joining a competitor without a non-compete clause?

Q: Hello, I don`t have a non-compete clause in my contract, and I am moving to a competitor. I have given 2 months’ notice, and my current employer asked me to take 3 weeks’ garden leave until the end of my notice period. However, today I received a letter from my current employer stating that I cannot work for a competitor for a period of 1 year, and they are also telling me not to contact any suppliers, clients, or colleagues. Is this correct and reasonable? I can`t be idle for a year. What can I do?

What should I do if someone forged my signature on a document claiming I owe him money?

Q: Hello, Someone misused my signature and made a document stating that I have to pay him money. What should I do?

Can I exit the UAE without canceling my company entry permit?

Q: Hello, I came to Dubai on a company`s entry permit. I have not completed any medical process yet, but I am not interested in that job. Can I leave the UAE without canceling the entry permit?

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Can an employee leave without notice during probation if the salary is delayed?

Q: Hello, I understand that if salary is pending for more than two months, an employee can leave the company without serving the notice period. Please correct me if I am wrong. If an employee resigns in such a scenario (due to two months of pending salary) during probation and joins another company, can the previous employer claim reimbursement of recruitment and visa expenses from the new employer?

I was misled during the purchase of my off-plan apartment in Dubai. Can I claim compensation?

Q: I believe I was misled during the purchase of my off-plan apartment in Dubai. The sales manager strongly emphasized that the unit had a lagoon view and Burj Khalifa from the side, which was a key factor in my decision. This lagoon view was even shown on their internal sales system, but it was never written into the official Sales and Purchase Agreement (SPA). After the handover, I discovered the apartment has no such view. I have supporting evidence, including WhatsApp messages, voice notes, and brochures that clearly mention the lagoon view. This misrepresentation caused me financial loss, since when I tried to resell, the value was much lower without the promised view. My questions are: based on these facts, do I have a strong legal case for misrepresentation? Can I realistically claim compensation or a partial refund? What steps and documents are required to evaluate the case properly? Also, would like to know an estimate of the cost and expected time for such proceedings.

I have a fine in a criminal case judgment that I cannot pay at once. How to apply for an installment plan?

Q: Hi to all the respected lawyers here. I have a criminal case, and I fought for a long time to remove the 1st and 2nd judgments, which were deportation and jail time. In my final judgement, my penalty is AED 10,000. Last year, during amnesty, since I couldn`t pay the 10,000 AED (I am a single mother with a 2-year-old baby), I decided to surrender at the police station. Because I have a court fine, they refused to take me and sent me to the Sharjah police. When I went there, I told the officer in charge that I couldn`t pay and that I wanted to serve jail time and be released once I completed the required days. The officer did not accept me and sent me to apply for an instalment plan. However, my instalment application was rejected; they said instalment payments are not being accepted at the moment and that the order came from the Abu Dhabi court. Now I am really hopeless and feel I cannot live here anymore.

Can I file a complaint against my company for discrimination between employees?

Q: I am working in the UAE and facing issues of workplace favoritism and possible discrimination. Despite being a consistent top performer with many years of experience, I was rejected for a promotion that was instead given to someone with less experience and weaker performance. When I asked for feedback, I was given contradictory and false reasons, including being told that HR rejected me based on “how I sat in the interview,” even though it was an audio-only call. I was also told that promotions are not based on performance but on whether I had the “manager’s blessings.” In addition, I have observed: - Promotions are repeatedly going to people from the same community or close to managers. - Most of the management team belongs to one community. - Shift schedules are being changed after release to favor certain individuals. This has created a toxic environment with no fair career growth opportunities. My question is, under UAE labor law, do I have grounds to challenge this type of favoritism?

What to do if you received judgment in absentia of fine and jail in a case after obtaining Tanazul?

Q: What does “Dispositioned” mean in a UAE - Abu Dhabi case? We have a Tanazul, but the case status is showing Judgment Done, with a 15,000 AED fine and 6 months` prison reserved. Does this mean he will go to prison? We missed one hearing on 28/08/2025. After that, we thought we had Tanazul, so we went to collect the passport, as I am the surety for my father. However, at the police station, they stopped him, saying he had a Tameem. Please help and advise what will happen. We have Tanazul, but the judgment is already done, and no appeal has been filed yet. The status shows Judgment Done on 28/08/2025. We missed the hearing that day, the prison sentence of 6 months is reserved, and a 15,000 AED fine has been issued. What should we do?