Questions & Answers - Legal Advice Middle East

The agent promised me cashback, but he’s left the company and they won’t pay. What can I do?

Q: Hello, An agent from a company in the housing space promised me a percentage cashback from the brokerage if I booked the house through him. He sent this understanding via both his company and personal email. After regular follow-ups, he paid a certain percentage but claims the company is not willing to release the remaining amount. The agent has since left the organization and started his own business, and I am left hanging to deal with the company on my own. I have never visited or had any contact within the company. Please help or guide me in the right direction, as the amount is my hard-earned lifetime savings and is considerably large.

I’ve paid half of my hospital bill in installments. Can they sue me for the rest if I cannot pay?

Q: Hello, I have already paid half of my hospital bill of 12,990 AED in installments. Now the hospital wants me to pay the entire remaining amount, but I don`t have much money. Can they sue me for that?

My husband has a mental disorder and cannot support us. What are our options?

Q: Hello, If my husband has a mental disorder and cannot provide financially for me and my son, what can we do in this situation? Although his family is financially capable of helping, they are not supporting him. He cannot afford housing either. They are not contributing to his medical care or any of his expenses. I can manage my own and my son`s expenses, but it`s difficult to cover my husband`s as well. Is there any law that can make his family responsible for paying his expenses and medical care?

Can my employer charge me training fees even if I didn’t receive any certification?

Q: Hello, The Second Party shall be obliged to pay back the value of the training (which is estimated at AED 10,000) if they terminate the employment contract of their own free will within one year from the date of commencement, without prejudice to the First Party`s legal or contractual obligations. (The amount agreed upon for the value of the training period must be commensurate with the employee’s period of employment.) I have that clause in my labour contract regarding the training fees, but despite completing 359 days of service with the company, I have not received any such certification from them. Now, the company is refusing to cancel my employment and is demanding that I pay AED 10,000. In response, I filed a complaint with the Labour Department requesting the cancellation of my labour card. However, the process is being delayed, and meanwhile, the company has filed a counter-complaint against me, demanding the full AED 10,000. What can I do?

Can somebody hire me and then fire me before I finish my probation period?

Q: I`m a chef living in Dubai, UAE. I got a visa and work permit from another company, but I started working as a private chef for a UHNW individual at his home. I have worked there for 2 months and 21 days, and I got paid for that, but after that time, they fired me without any notice or reason. What does the labor law say? Am I entitled to 3 months` pay or not? They didn`t even give me a termination letter; they just told me that verbally, and I don`t have a visa or work permit with them.

I purchased a unit and the seller did not tell me about the tenant security deposit. How to make the seller pay it back?

Q: I purchased a unit that had a tenancy contract. During the transfer, the agent calculated the remaining rent and got that from the previous owner and transferred the money to me. However, no one mentioned anything about the security deposit. Around 10 days after the transfer, I asked the agent about the deposit, then she started to contact the previous owner, but no answer. Now, the tenant is asking me for the deposit, and no one is able to contact the previous owner. What can I do?

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What are my options if my family is abusive and I’m an 18-year-old female with no support?

Q: Hello, Abusive family members, parents and brother, with nowhere to go. Female, 18 years old. I need help. My parents physically abused me, and my mother almost killed me two years ago during a psychotic episode that was their fault. I didn’t have mental issues growing up, but my mother spiritually abused me and brainwashed me with her ideas, while my father enabled her. I couldn`t choose what to eat, what to wear, or where to go, etc. My brother moved in later, and now they all gang up on me and verbally abuse me. He has so much more freedom than I do, as they favor him. I can’t stay here. I`m at my breaking point.

How can I take legal action if my husband is cheating on me in the UAE?

Q: Hello, We’re married under the Hindu Marriage Act in India. My husband has been cheating on me for, as far as I know, four years. After repeated reconciliation attempts from my end and therapy sessions for us both, he just fooled me into believing he was trying. After a physical fight between us around two weeks ago, he decided not to come back, and despite repeated attempts from my side to request a meeting to talk, he has refused. His parents know about this and are supporting him. While he is away, he continues to bring women back to his room while we’re still legally married. What are my rights here in the UAE? Can this be reported? If yes, how?

I had pending bank loans and credit card dues. If I apply for a visit visa from outside, will it get approved?

Q: I had pending bank loans and credit card dues, and I am outside the UAE. Surely there will be a police case and also a travel ban. Under these circumstances, if I apply for a visit visa from outside, will it get approved?

What legal action can the bank take in the UAE in case of loan default due to job loss?

Q: My friend has a loan of AED 300,000 with a security cheque of 500k and lost his job 12 months ago. He managed to pay for the first 6 months but has missed payments for the last 5 months, amounting to 50k++, except for AED 1,000 paid last month. Today, the bank gave him a 13-day notice to pay at least one installment or face legal action and possible detention. He is still unemployed and unable to continue regular payments, even if he pays this month. We need legal advice on: 1) What legal action can the bank take in the UAE in case of loan default due to job loss? 2) Whether detention is possible, especially if a security cheque was involved; 3) Available legal protections, such as restructuring, mediation, or bankruptcy; 4) How to avoid legal escalation while he is unemployed. Please advise urgently on possible options and next steps to avoid arrest or further consequences. Thank you.

Is it possible to cancel the visa application if I have not signed the labor contract?

Q: Dear Sir, I am on a visit visa, searching for a job. I signed an offer letter, but fortunately, I received another offer from a different company, which is better than the previous one. Now, the first company has applied for my labor contract and visa without me signing any documents. However, I do not want to join that company. Please advise what I should do.

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Can a Muslim revert woman in the UAE obtain a Sharia divorce and remarry?

Q: Dear Legal Advisor, Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh, I recently reverted to Islam, and my marriage was solemnized in a civil court in the Philippines. There is no divorce law in the Philippines, and even if there were, it would take a significant amount of time and money. Could you please advise if I can file for divorce in the UAE through the Family Court or Sharia Court? What are the chances that my divorce will be granted? If the divorce is approved, am I permitted to remarry in the Sharia Court? Thank you for your kind attention to this matter!

I bought a villa in Dubai and the tenant did not pay all his bills and rent before leaving. Hot to claim that?

Q: I seek advice on a Dubai property case. I bought a villa in Sept. 2024, which had a tenant with an expired lease in Aug. The sales contract mentioned that the house was tenanted and mentioned August as the lease expiry. I proceeded to RDC for the case of the tenant not paying the rent. The tenant lost the case. He paid rent and got a retrospective letter signed by the seller saying he vacated Sept 22, 2024, after filing for an appeal. The RDC ruled in his favor and said the rent owed was only till Sept 22, despite DEWA running till Oct 1. I want to know if 1. I can appeal to the Cassation 2. Options for action against the seller for selling the villa without disclosing the information about the tenant`s eviction 3. The tenant had stayed in the villa beyond Sept 22, as he had maintained his DEWA and domestic helpers confirmed his vacancy to me 4. What is the legal recourse? 5. How much would it cost, including fees to open the case and lawyer fees? 6. How much compensation can be expected?

Can I evict a tenant and refuse renewal if rent has not been paid in full?

Q: Hello, I am a landlord. The tenant failed to pay the rent in one full payment as per the contract. So far, 3 months remain until the expiry date of the contract, and the payment is still pending. Do I have the right to evict the tenant from the apartment and refuse to renew the tenancy contract?

Are employers required to pay redundancy compensation for terminations due to restructuring?

Q: Hello, A company with entities and employees in the UAE (specifically in Dubai Mainland and JAFZA) terminates employees due to company restructuring initiated for business convenience, and not due to insolvency, financial distress, or bankruptcy. I understand that, under UAE labour law, the following payments are typically due: - End-of-service gratuity (in accordance with UAE Labour Law and/or JAFZA regulations); - Payment for any accrued but unused leave; - Compensation for the notice period, if waived; and - Any outstanding contractual entitlements or dues. The main question is as follows: In the context of restructuring-based terminations, is there any legal obligation, or prevailing legal or customary practice, to pay a separate “redundancy payment” or severance beyond the items listed above? I would appreciate it if you could clarify this with reference to applicable UAE Labour Law, Executive Regulations, Ministerial Resolutions, and JAFZA-specific employment regulations, where relevant.

I posted a review for a piercing shop, and they threatened me to file a defamation case against me. What to do?

Q: I recently posted a review for a piercing shop, and they threatened to file a defamation case against me. I didn`t get it first. Their customer service was rude, and when I posted a review about it, they said they would file a complaint. I basically said I gave them one star, and I said whenever I have gone to their Instagram page to ask questions, they have been rude to me. Probably they don`t want to answer or they are irritated by my questions for improving their customer service, especially for their clients who paid you for piercings! This is my review. I want to ask, is this illegal and considered defamation? Don`t I have a right to post reviews?