Questions & Answers - Legal Advice Middle East

Rights of the employee repatriation after submitting resignation

Q: Dear Mr Ibrahim, I hope you are doing well. I resigned on a 30 days notice period & worked from 31.10.2017 to 03.11.2020, now it`s the time of settlement. I have some enquires such as the company deducting visa renewal cost & not giving return ticket also. So is this legally valid or not? I need your guidance, please.

Client exit letter by the bank and forcing to convert currency

Q: I received an exit letter from the bank for my corporate bank account after 3years of clean and smooth relationship with the bank. We are Dubai based and in a free zone. I have 7 days to dispose of the funds which is alright but I am being told verbally that the bank would not accept to transfer the foreign currency as it is but we would need to convert them into AED. The concern is that if I do so the company will incur a huge loss. Is the bank allowed to impose the conversion of all foreign currency? What is the way out, please? Appreciate your legal advice.

The implications of reporting about domestic violence to the police

Q: We are a Muslim couple from India, married for 12 years, and have an 11-year-old daughter. We moved to the UAE in 2014. We used to have arguments that led to physical violence. There was also too much interference from my in-laws as well. I was under counseling from the Dubai foundation for women and children as I reported a domestic violence incident in 2018. I had made a medical report and Sharjah police had warned him as well. Further to all this, my husband had to go through a kidney transplant and I was taking care of him and this brought the relationship back again from the verge of divorce. We came back to Dubai after the transplant in Jan 2020. But slowly, he started changing back in the same way. He has now hit me again and my daughter called up the Helpline number for Dubai foundation. I made a medical report as per their advice again. I need to know whether I should report this to a nearby police station and what are the implications?

توضيح بشأن أسباب تأجيل الجلسات

س: السلام عليكم، أريد الاستفسار وتوضيح المقصود والمطلوب لهذه الأسباب في تأجيل الجلسات: 1. تأجيل الجلسة لعدم تقديم المرافعة. 2. تأجيل الجلسة لعدم تقديم لائحة جوابية. 3. تأجيل الجلسة لعدم تدقيق قرار إعدادي.

What are the requirements for opening a company in a free zone?

Q: I am planning to open a business in the Sharjah Free Zone. I want to know the requirements of opening a business/personal bank account in the UAE in relation to the FATF regulations.

Reasons set by the law to terminate a sale and purchase agreement

Q: Can you terminate a sale & purchase agreement in the UAE? And, what are the laws that support the claim?

Hire a lawyer online

Save time and money. Buy fixed-fee legal services or submit your request and get multiple competitive offers from qualified lawyers.

Buy services Get quotes

اعتراض المفوِّض على بيع عقار بقية أقل من قيمته

س: فوضت أخي بالتوقيع مجتمعًا مع أختي الشريكة في شركة إسكان بالأمور المالية وباعا شقتين وسجلا الثمن بعقد البيع الرسمي الصادر عن دائرة الأراضي بقيمة أقل بكثير من القيمة الحقيقية علمًا بأن شركة الإسكان والمشتري معفيين من دفع الرسوم. هل يعتبر هذا التصرف تزويرًا؟

Is it possible to check if a person is banned in KSA from the UAE?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, How do I know or check that I am banned to enter Saudi Arabia? Please help me with this matter. Thanks

Divorce of expats in the UAE while the wife is abroad

Q: Good afternoon, I have an inquiry regarding the divorce procedures in the United Arab Emirates. Brief facts of my situation: I am a US citizen and have been married to a resident of the United Arab Emirates. He is originally from Syria and works in Abu Dhabi, UAE for approximately 40 years. We got married in 2014 in Abu Dhabi where I lived with my husband until 2019. I hoped to create a family with him but he was abusive and I decided to leave him. I came back to the United States on May 5, 2019, and have no intention to go back nor to stay in this marriage. My husband had been informed by me and my family that I want a divorce. I would like to get a divorce as soon as possible. We have no children nor property to share. I can provide all additional information upon further request. Please provide me with the approximate costs to prepare the necessary documents to file the paperwork and how long it will take to obtain a divorce.

The right action when the employer does not pay the salary on time

Q: Hello Mr. Ahmed, My wife is working in a private company in Dubai since September 2018. The employer and his partner spent 2 months in prison for some illegal activity. Employer`s clients used to call my wife and ask her to finish the pending jobs (the jobs are not her responsibilities but she finished them when her employer requested that from her through the phone) and 1 month back, the employer came out of prison. For 6 months, her employer is not transferring salary, he paid 2 months` salary in small amounts. 4 months are pending. Whenever she asks, he does not respond. When she complained to the ministry of labor (80060), they told her they can solve the salary issue, but if she wants to resign, the employer has the right to ban her for 1 year and she has to pay the employer 45 days salary due to her limited contract. She doesn`t want to work with him because of the reckless behavior and delaying the salary. Please advise us if we can take legal action against him.

Demands by property seller for more money and threatening to re-sell

Q: Hi, I signed an MOU to purchase a property. My seller is now asking for more money and threatening to not sell the property even though the MOU has an automatic extension clause of 20 more days. What shall I do? P.S. My mortgage final offer is signed and he is supposed to apply for a NOC which he is not doing.

Looking for something else?

Ask for advice from a lawyer

It’s free and anonymous

No registration needed

Ask a lawyer

عزل المحامي بسبب تأخير إقامة الدعوى ومطالبته برد المصاريف

س: السلام عليكم، وكلت محامي بمطالبة مالية في ٢٠١٨. ومن ذلك التاريخ وهو يختلق لي أعذارًا ويؤجل لفترات. اشتكيت ضده في النقابة بعدما أثبتت أنه لم يسجل الشكوى ضد المدعي عليه إلا قبل ١٠ أيام وطالبته بإرجاع المصاريف واليوم سجل الدعوى في المحكمة. هل يحق لي أن أعزله كوني اشتكيت ضده في النقابة قبل أن يسجل القضية ومعي إثبات أن القضية لم تُسجَّل إلا اليوم وشكوتي منذ ١٠ أيام في النقابة؟

The real flat size is not the same as the size mentioned in the tenancy contract

Q: I have rented a flat in Dubai through a private real estate company since 2016. I have Ejari Tenancy Contract Registration Certificate which mentions that the flat size is around 800 square feet, but in fact, it is around 400 square feet. Can I have the right to take any action against the real estate company?

Custody of children and ex-wife's residence visa after divorce

Q: I had divorced my wife at her request last month. I don`t know what the next step would be; like for visa cancelation because she is under my sponsorship. She can change any time her office. After the divorce, my wife will leave me. We have kids; a 7-year old boy and a 13-year old girl. She opened a custody case also but I couldn`t get any paper from the court. Can I ask her to leave my house? Or can I leave and take my children to another house? Please advise!

Inability to pay a fine imposed by court

Q: It is appreciated if you please advise on the below situation! 1- What is the maximum amount of fine that can be imposed in a misdemeanor, criminal case? 2- What if the fine imposed in a criminal case is not paid? (a huge amount is imposed by the court which I am unable to pay).

المدة المتوقَّعة لإنهاء قضية عمالية بعد صدور حكم وفتح ملف تنفيذي

س: ربحت قضية عمالية وفتحت ملف تنفيذي. أُعلِن المُدَّعَى عليه في الشركة عن طريق لصق الإعلان. ما المدة المُتوقَّعة لإنهاء القضية؟ هل يستطيع عمل استئناف نظرًا لأن الحكم حضوري اعتباري وأنه لم يُستدَل عليه لإعلانه بحكم المحكمة؟