Questions & Answers - Legal Advice Middle East

How can I clear penalties after visa violation and closing the company?

Q: I worked in Abu Dhabi for 2 years. My visa expired on 25/11/2016 and the company applied for visa renewal. For an emergency situation, I exit from Abu Dhabi on 08/01/2017, and the company said that they canceled my visa and paid 45 days payment also. Then I moved from the UAE. After a long time, I got a job in Abu Dhabi and applied for a new visa, but it showed a violation. They put a big fine on me. My old company was closed also. In this condition, what do I have to do to clear this violation? I am having all documents related to my exit and settlement paper. Please guide me on this issue.

Is it true if I want to purchase a rented property that I need to send a new eviction notice?

Q: Hi, I would like to purchase a property but there is a tenant inside. She was given an eviction notice in Feb 2023, but her tenancy contract is expiring in October 2023. The transaction goes well, by that time I should be owning the property and my intention is to move in and live there. However, I called Dubai Land Department and they told me that in case I make the purchase, I will need to serve a new eviction notice, which would push the tenant for another 12 months. In that case, I will not buy this property and look for a vacant one. The tenant seems ready to move out, but there can always be some unexpected situations, in which case she may extend. Therefore, I am happy to risk her staying until February next year, but not for another 12 months from the moment I buy the property. Please can you tell me what my options with this flat are, and how I can minimize the risk of the tenant staying longer? Thank you!

Do I have to pay overstay if the company delayed the cancelation of my visa?

Q: My visa expires on 31/08/2023 and my labor card expires on 31/07/2023. Should I go to the relevant institution and cancel it? If my labor card is not canceled, will I have to pay a fine for it? I intend to go to my mother country after my visa expires. But my company was ready to charge me money for canceling my labor card. Please give me an answer. Thank you

How to check if any financial cases are registered in the Emirate of Sharjah?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, How to check if any financial cases are registered in the Emirate of Sharjah?

How can I settle a small loan that has grown a lot through the years?

Q: Hello Dear All, I need legal advice please here. I don`t have money to pay for a private lawyer as I`m currently not working. My situation is really bad. When COVID-19 started, the company I worked for haven`t paid me my salary and I have to take an evacuation flight to fly home. I took a loan from a bank of AED 2750 and through the years it has grown to a crazy amount I will never be able to settle. I offered the bank to settle AED 2750 amount if it`s a few payments monthly, but not a straight one-time payment because I have no job. But they only want a one-time payment and are not willing on negotiating with complete ignorance of my messages. I was in touch with the bank and agency messaging me from time to time to settle the liability, and they currently messaged me that the bank is placing a travel ban against me. They didn`t explain what is the travel ban and which country it affects or how is it going to work. Could anyone explain, please? I`m lost and I don`t know what to do.

What are my rights as an employee terminated without prior notice?

Q: Hello, I received a termination letter from my company three weeks ago stating that the reason for my termination was company restructuring. This was done without prior notice, and my last working day is August 10th. I believe this falls under arbitrary termination. However, I do not want to file a case with the labor court and would like to discuss my compensation with HR directly. I have been working here for 10 months (so I will not receive gratuity), and I have not used any of my annual leaves since September 2022 (the month I joined). Could you please let me know what compensation I could demand from HR in this case? Thank you!

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I resigned from my job after serving 8 months. Can the employer deduct visa charges?

Q: Hi I am working in a Dubai free zone (Jebel Ali) and I joined on December 2022. After I completed 8 months, I resigned from my job and I am in the notice period. My employer did not give me my July month salary and he asked for visa charges. Is it mentioned in the law? Could you please advise?

Filing a case against an absconding employee who took a loan from the company

Q: Good morning, I would like to know if there is any process to file a case against my employee who has absconded after his vacation and taken a big loan from the company. Thank you!

Is it possible to leave the UAE and keep paying credit card installments from outside?

Q: Dear Seniors, I hope everyone is doing well. I have a question regarding the credit card. I am currently employed at a company and I have an overdue credit card balance that I am paying off in installments. I got a new job in my country and I want to pay the rest of installments from home. Now my visa is about to be canceled. Do I need to pay all the amount at once otherwise I can`t out from the UAE? Or can I go and pay from outside the country? Could you please help me with this inquiry? Thank you in advance for your assistance.

What can I do if the travel agency fails to rebook my ticket due to an emergency?

Q: I would like to seek advice. I bought a ticket from an agency but due to emergency surgery (bypass surgery) of my husband, I am unable to fly back home. Two days before the flight, I called the agent and advised her of my situation and was advised that the ticket can be rebooked. I promptly said to rebook the flight and a medical certificate has been provided. The flight was on 22 June 2023 and to this date, the issue has not been resolved between the agency and the airline. And now they are requesting a marriage contract copy which I provided. Appreciate it if you can please advise me on the best way forward.

How to pick up the passport from employer without requesting a vacation?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, How can I pick up my passport from my employer without requesting a vacation?

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The tenant is not cooperating with the sale of the property. What to do?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, As landlords, we gave the tenant 12 months` notice to vacate the villa, which will be completed in another 2 months. The regulations allow viewing with 24 hours notice, and we have documented this in our contract. However, the tenant is unwilling to cooperate on this matter. We have agreed to sell the property to a buyer, and the valuation needs to be done in another 2 weeks so that the bank can approve the loan within the agreed period. What should we do in this scenario? The tenant could damage the property and leave without allowing us to view it until the last day. How can we recover the money from him in this situation, given that the deposit amount is very low? If the sale does not go through, is it permissible for us to rent the property to another tenant, as the sale contract failed due to the existing tenant`s non-cooperation? Appreciate your advice!

Do I need a marriage certificate to file for divorce?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, We did not have a marriage certificate at the time of our marriage. I am filing for divorce now, but my wife is demanding a marriage certificate. Do I need to get one?

Should my company pay the end-of-service gratuity if I resign after one year?

Q: Please, I want to know if I cancel my company after 1 year of service, do they have to pay for my flight ticket and give me my gratuity?

Someone scammed me. How can I catch him if he disappeared in Dubai?

Q: Someone scammed me. How can I catch him if he disappeared in Dubai? I have his passport info, WhatsApp numbers, national ID card, visit visa page, and some WhatsApp chat. Can I find him with the help of the police?

Forcing an employee to vacate company accommodation without paying the dues

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I worked at a hotel and resigned with a 30-day notice period. My last day of work was July 18th. They were holding my passport, and I requested it back. Initially, they refused, but they gave it to me today along with my cancellation letter. However, they still haven`t paid my pending salary and gratuity. Since I asked for my passport, they are now forcing me to vacate the company accommodation. I have nowhere to go because they haven`t paid my pending settlement and I don`t have the money to rent a new place. Can you please help me? How long, at maximum, can I use the company accommodation? Can they force me to leave without settling my last pay?