Questions & Answers - Legal Advice Middle East

Does showing a world war I film with borderline sexual content violate UAE laws?

Q: Greetings, I am a university professor who teaches a course on World War I films. One of the films shown to the students contains some sexual scenes, which are borderline, but not nearly as explicit as much of what is found on Netflix AE. I seem to be facing a disciplinary committee as there have been some student and parent complaints for the first time in seven years. The question is, does this film violate any UAE laws? Article 362 is difficult to interpret. Thanks!

A company demands half of the visa cost without contract mention – What Now?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, My visa is on a fixed-term contract, and I have completed 15 months. I have worked the 30-day notice period. My company`s offer letter mentions that if I resign early, the company will require me to cover half of the visa cost. However, my labor contract does not mention the visa cost. Now, my company is asking me to pay half of the visa cost. What should I do?

Will unpaid phone bill prevent me from leaving UAE?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I owe DU 5,000 dirhams. I just returned from vacation two months ago, but now I want to travel from the UAE to Canada. I will be carrying a cancellation letter. Will I be held at the airport on departure because I don`t have the money to pay DU now? I hope to pay in the future, but I cannot do so at this time. Even though I may have a cancellation letter, they may still see my bills?

Falsely reported absconding by employer: Will I automatically get a labor ban?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, My employer falsely reported me as absconding, so I requested the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) to withdraw the absconding case. I have submitted all relevant proofs. Can I automatically receive a labor ban for this?

Company asks for half of visa expenses after completing 15 months. What should I do?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I have a limited-term contract. I completed 15 months and worked my notice period. My company is asking me to pay half of my visa expenses, which they say is mentioned in my offer letter. What should I do?

Immigration needs a POA from me to the sponsor to cancel my partner's visa. Why?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, Why is Immigration asking for a Power of Attorney from me to the sponsor to cancel my partner visa? I was supposed to fly out yesterday, having been informed on January 3, 2022, that my visa was canceled. At 8:40 a.m., I was informed that I couldn`t travel because my visa was not canceled. I went to Al Awir Immigration, and after missing my flight, I was instructed to go to the typing office and apply for legal assistance for the cancellation of my partner visa. This is exactly what I did on December 28, 2022. Later, I received a call asking me to obtain a Power of Attorney and take it to Jafiliya Immigration on Monday. Why is a Power of Attorney from me to the sponsor required?

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Terminated from free zone company without notice. What are your rights?

Q: Hello Sir/Madam, I was terminated from a free zone company before my contract ended without any legitimate reason. What can I do?

My EID linked to cousin's bounced checks, travel ban issued. What to do?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, My cousin sister asked me to use my EID to set up water and electricity for her apartment in Sharjah in 2018 for two months while her ID was being renewed. She called me in 2019 to cancel the water and electricity. The apartment management assured me that the checks and everything would be under my cousin`s name, and that`s how it was for the past 5 years. My cousin had bounced checks, and since the apartment management knew about the agreement, nothing was done on my behalf. New management took over this year and placed a travel ban on me for failing to pay my rent, even though I have never lived in that apartment in Sharjah. For the past few years, I have been living in company accommodation. How can I get justice since I have a travel ban?

Can I go to GCC countries if I was deported for the possession and facilitation of drugs in the UAE?

Q: A friend got a judgment of deportation and a fine in a case of drug possession and facilitation of psychotropic substance abuse for others. If he is deported from the UAE, can he go to other GCC countries to look for a job? Will he be banned in other GCC countries too?

I've been given a termination letter. What will happen until the date written in that letter comes?

Q: I`ve been given a termination letter but I`m not signing it. What will happen until the date written in that letter comes?

Can we incorporate a mainland company in Dubai under English laws?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, Can we incorporate a mainland company in Dubai under English laws?

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I came to the UAE and found out I have a lifetime ban by my previous employer. What to do?

Q: Recently, I traveled to the UAE on a visit visa and came to know I have a lifetime ban. I had an issue with a previous employer and had an accident. I was treated for my fractures and mental health as I encountered a traumatic situation. To my knowledge, the company agreed to pay my bills for the hospital and sponsored my return ticket. I thought everything was smooth but I came to know a lifetime ban was imposed on me. What would be the reason for the ban? How to find the reason and how to resolve the issue? Please advise on the solution.

How can I retrieve my passport from my previous employer after visa canellation?

Q: Good evening Sir, I resigned from my company and they cancelled my visa also. Still, they have not released my passport. I complained in MOHRE (80084) 10 days ago. Still, they did not take any action. Then I went to the police station and they told me I needed to go to Dubai court. There they told me I needed to go to Alaweer immigration. Now, what will I do? Please tell me. They did not give me the September month salary either. Now I am stuck.

I bought a property and the seller sent an eviction notice to the tenant. How to ensure eviction?

Q: Hi I bought a residential property on 31-Oct-2023. It has already been on lease to tenants by the seller. The seller has already served a 1-year legal eviction notice from Dubai Courts on 25 August 2023. The tenancy contract expiry will be the 30th of June 2024, and the new owner/buyer wants to stay in the said apartment after the expiry of the contract and ensure that the property is vacated on time and does not get extended beyond 24 August 2024. (Q1) Kindly confirm if it is required by law that a new 1-year legal notice has to be issued by the buyer or if the old legal notice issued by the seller is still valid. (Q2) The tenant company has kept 6 bachelor boys from their company in the flat, which I heard was illegal for the JLT area to have bachelors and even more than 4 boys. Please confirm if anything can be done about that. (Q3) Due to 6 bachelor boys, the 5-year-old flat is not being well maintained and the condition worsening. Kindly advise on the action to take. Thanks

New job, similar industry: Can my former employer sue for breach of non-compete?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I had a contract with my former employer that had a 3-year non-compete clause. This was an internal company contract. I later signed another contract with the Dubai Media City Authority, which only mentions that my non-compete is limited to the territory of Dubai. Which contract am I bound by? Additionally, the line of business is different between my former employer and my new employer. However, my former employer is saying that they will take legal action and file a case against me. My new employer has a business within their group umbrella that is similar to one of the products of my former employer. Can I be held legally liable?

صاحب العمل يطالب بدفع تكاليف التدريب. هل هذا قانوني؟

س: السلام عليكم، أعمل في القطاع الخاص بعقد عمل سنوي محدد المدة (عقد داخلي ودوام جزئي). قدمت استقالتي قبل انتهاء العقد بشهر وذكرت في رسالة الاستقالة أنني سأدفع بدل فترة الإخطار. صاحب العمل أخبرني أنه يجب عليّ دفع مبلغ 5 آلاف درهم كلفة تدريب وقد وقعت على ذلك في العقد وأنا أظن ذلك، لكنني في الواقع لم أتلقَّ أيَّ تدريب من جهة ثالثة، فقد علمني الشخص السابق في مكاني بشأن العمل فقط. لذلك هل يحق له فعل ذلك؟ وإن لم أدفع المبلغ له، فماذا يمكنه أن يفعل؟ شكرًا لك!