Questions & Answers - Legal Advice Middle East

Can I travel and return to the UAE during an ongoing labor case against my employer?

Q: Hello, I have filed a case against my employer, and the session is still ongoing in the Dubai court. Can I travel outside the UAE and then come back?

Can I get my deposit back if the seller didn’t inform me about the fee before payment?

Q: Hello, If I paid a 5% deposit for an off-plan apartment but the seller did not inform me about the fee and asked me to pay the deposit beforehand, can I get my deposit back because of being deceived by the seller?

I’m on overstay since a couple of months. Is it possible for me to get a visa with ongoing cases?

Q: I’ve been on overstay for a couple of months. Is it possible for me to get a visa with an ongoing criminal case, travel ban, and civil cases (judgments issued)? If so, what would be the process?

I purchased a tour voucher from a holiday agency in Dubai and could not use due to a visa issue. Can I still claim it?

Q: I purchased a tour voucher from a holiday agency in Dubai in 2023 worth AED 4239.00, but was not able to use it due to a visa problem. I have constant email and communication through phone with them, and they informed me back then that my voucher will be available and has no expiration date that I can use anytime I want. Now I wanted to use it, so I called them last Saturday, 31st May 2025, and they told me it has already expired due to the new policy. Can I still claim and ask for my money back?

Can a client deposit a security cheque due to site delays, despite 50% of the work being done?

Q: Hello, I am currently employed as a subcontractor to work on a project in Dubai. As a general practice, I have provided a security cheque against the advance payment, and the client is now threatening to deposit the cheque even after completing more than 50% of the works due to various delays on site. Is this legal? What steps can I take to protect myself?

Cargo from Dubai to India arrived late and damaged. What should I do?

Q: Hello, I had sent a cargo from Dubai to India. I received the cargo late and with 35% damage. My TV, for which I had paid AED 1500 separately as cargo fees, was received after nearly 2 months in a completely damaged condition. The cooking range was received after nearly 6 months and had superficial damage. They are not replying to my emails but are only responding through WhatsApp. Could anyone please guide me?

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How to waive or reduce the penalty for my expired company license and cancel it?

Q: Dear Lawyer I hope this message finds you well. I set up a business license in a free zone in 2023. Unfortunately, the license expired in September 2024, and due to being occupied with other matters, I was not aware of the penalties associated with the expiration. I recently attempted to cancel the license but was informed that a significant penalty has accrued. When I inquired about cancelling my visa first, I was told that it’s not possible to proceed without addressing the license issue. Could you please advise if there is any legal way to waive or reduce this penalty? I would greatly appreciate your guidance on how to resolve this situation with minimal cost.

Request for legal guidance regarding employer harassment and premature asset retrieval demand (3)

Q: (COnt-2) Given the above, I kindly request your professional guidance on how to proceed legally to protect my friend`s rights and ensure a safe and documented handover of company property. (The laptop the lady sponsor is referring to is authorized by her to my friend when she joined the company on 15 December 2023) Thank you for your support. (Already our friend [----] has posted the same concern, but her complete message hasn`t been delivered to this platform ) Therefore, I am resubmitting our concern; we just need the correct direction, please. Thank you so much for your help!

Request for legal guidance regarding employer harassment and premature asset retrieval demand (2)

Q: Cont-1) as outlined in the termination notice. Following a recent threatening message from her sponsor, in which she mentioned filing a police complaint, she proactively contacted Dubai Police for guidance. They advised her to visit Jebel Ali Police Station to report the matter and seek assistance regarding the harassment. Our concern is that if she returns the laptop prematurely, her work may be deleted or altered, and this could negatively impact my End of Service Benefits (EOSB) and her professional record, as her sponsor has a pattern of making unfounded accusations. Here is the most recent message my friend received from her: “Good morning. Hi, I urgently need my laptop and keys from the cabinet. Send me the location, I will send CAREEM. I need my laptop and keys from the cabinets immediately. If you do not send the location to pick up my stuff, I’m gonna go to the police. Sorry, but you must return my stuff. My business cannot operate properly without my computer.” (COnt-2)

Request for legal guidance regarding employer harassment and premature asset retrieval demand (1)

Q: Respected Law Team Members, I am writing to seek genuine legal advice and guidance for our friend regarding an ongoing issue with her employer. On 23rd May 2025, she received a termination notice via WhatsApp from her sponsor, which clearly states that she is required to complete her handover by 20th June 2025. Since receiving the notice, however, her sponsor has been repeatedly contacting her via WhatsApp and phone calls, pressuring her to immediately return the company laptop and office cabinet keys, despite the agreed-upon handover date. In addition, she has been verbally accusing my friend and making threatening remarks, creating a hostile environment, and causing her emotional distress. To clarify her legal position, she contacted MOHRE, who advised her to reshare the termination notice to the lady employer about the handover date (20th June 2025) as she outlined in the (Cont-1)

Deported after being acquitted in a drug case. Can I apply to have the deportation lifted?

Q: Hi, I am an Indian and have been working in Dubai for the last 8 years. I had a criminal case (drug case). I proved my innocence in court and was released from jail after 10 months, but the federal authority deported me from the country. Can I remove my deportation?

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How can I remove a travel ban or avoid arrest if I left the UAE with an unpaid rent case?

Q: In 2018, I was involved in a dispute concerning unpaid rent related to a property managed by [-----] under the jurisdiction of the Land Department. [----] proceeded with legal action, resulting in a civil case and the imposition of a travel ban. A civil case had been reported in an Arabic-language newspaper. Not being fluent in Arabic, I missed the Land Department hearing, and the obvious outcome included an order for payment and a travel ban, but I had already left the country by that time. questions: Statute of Limitations: After how many years does such a civil case expire under UAE law, thereby allowing me to legally return to Dubai without facing arrest or enforcement actions? International Travel: Am I currently at risk of arrest or extradition if I travel to non-GCC countries like India or Pakistan? Forgive my brevity and rudeness due to 1000-character limits

Can I request maintenance from my husband even if he cancels our visas and sends us home?

Q: Good day, lawyers! My husband is cheating on me. He also flirts a lot with other girls on his other social media account. Then I found out that I was pregnant. We already have one daughter, and I just want a peaceful home for me and my children. Can I ask for a separate house and maintenance for us? I don`t have work because I was focused on our daughter and our house. Also, what if he finds out that I am planning to get maintenance from him and he cancels our visa? Can I still get maintenance while in our country? I also learned that he is planning to send me and my children back to our country before I give birth so that he can live like a single man. I don`t have money to pay for a lawyer because he`s not giving me an allowance. What should I do? Thank you so much, and I hope someone can help me!

My friend was caught by CID inside a massage centre. What will be the next step they will take?

Q: Hi My friend was caught by CID inside a massage centre in the waiting area while he was waiting for a massage. Now his Emirates ID is with the Ajman police. What will be the next step they will take?

Can I get a new job and employment visa while under a false embezzlement case and travel ban?

Q: Hello, My previous employer filed a case against me for embezzlement and imposed a travel ban. I know for myself it was all a lie, but since the case is already filed and the police investigation is still ongoing, I need to find a job. However, first, I am worried that my new employer will come to know I have an active case. Second, I am worried that I cannot get an employment visa. Can someone help me?

What to do if our landlord keeps ignoring maintenance requests despite a clear contract?

Q: Dear All, We have a question related to private rental law in Dubai. We have been living in the same house (rented) for the last four years. During those years, we have had to battle our landlord for maintenance at large. Our contract states that ALL maintenance is on his account (no deductible). We have a lot of small maintenance issues, such as kitchen cabinets that are coming loose, a sewage smell in the house, and a toilet upstairs that still doesn`t work after four years (despite attempted maintenance). How can we deal with him and get him to honor the contract and resolve all of our issues so we can use the house properly? What legal steps can we take? We have informed him plenty of times over the four years about the problems, but he seems to "ghost" us and does not reply very often. We have issued him a warning to get things fixed by the end of this month (via WhatsApp), but he doesn`t seem to mind. Hope you can help with advice and maybe RERA down the line.