Questions & Answers - Legal Advice Middle East

Filing a complaint because of harassment for debt collection

Q: Hi, Can I file a complaint for being harassed to collect my debts to a bank here in Dubai? They`ve been calling me in my landline office and they`ve been calling my boss as well at work. Can you help me? Thanks, W.M.

Sending a proper legal notice to the developer for handover delay

Q: I have purchased an off-plan apartment from a developer. It was supposed to be ready on phase 1, 2019. The contract states that the legal delay is 12 months. After that period, I should send a legal letter to the developer and they need to finish the project within 90 working days. I was advised by their customer service representative to write an email. He told me that an email with my name, unit number, and a complaint is the legal letter I need to send, but it does not sound right to me. Should I get a legal letter from a Dubai Court? The progress of the project is only 33% by now and I want to get my money back.

Taking action against a bank for freezing the EOSB without consent

Q: Good morning, I work for the MOE. I changed the emirate and they paid out my End of Service Benefit. My salary is still the same and I am still employed by the MOE. My bank put a freeze on my EOSB and subsequently used it to pay down my loan and credit card. Their reason was that my debt ratio was too high. I did not give them permission to do that but they did it anyway. I have never been late in paying them and I have been a customer since 2016. My question is, can the bank legally do that? Do I have to file a case against them? Also, how to stop the bank from taking my entire salary to pay down their debt if they can take my EOSB even though I am still working with the same company; with the same salary being deposited into the bank? Please advise!

Time frame of a bounced cheque case to change from a criminal to a civil case

Q: Hello, If I have a bounced check case over 200,000 AED which has been filed over 3 years ago, is it still considered a criminal offense in Dubai or is it now considered civil? Is there a time frame through which checks change from criminal to civil?

Domestic helper's resignation during the probation period and visa costs

Q: Hi Sir/Ma`am, I`ve been working here in the UAE for 15 years as a domestic helper. Now, I have a new employer who is an expat. They have already issued a visa for me. My problem is that I`m not happy to work with them. Do I have a probation period for 6 months? Should I pay the whole year visa costs to them? Thank you!

Leaving job after 6-month probation period and searching for another

Q: Hi, I came with an agency for a housemaid job and after the 6-month probation period, I left the place because of many reasons. Then, my employer canceled my visa. Now I want to search for an outside job, but my agency is claiming 5000 AED to give me back my passport. Please I need to know my rights!

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

Leaving the current work and getting another offer in limited contracts

Q: Hi Sir, I am an Architect Engineer and I am writing to you because I am too much discouraged and blackmailed by my employer. I was selected for an office and I worked there for 3 months and then, due to workload, my employer transferred me 2 times. When he was doing that, he said that he will pay for my rent in the first month and, in the 2nd month, he will increase my salary and, with that, he transferred me. After 1 month, when I asked him for the rent, he didn`t pay me the rent. In the second month when I called him, he started shouting and fighting but at last, he paid me for the rent. Now it has been 3 months and he didn`t increase my salary. When I text him, he didn`t reply and when I call him, he says that he is in a meeting. I have a limited-term contract. When I sent my CV to another office for new opportunities, my current employer called me and blackmailed me that he will ban me for 1 year. I got another job offer double the salary. Can I join?

Convincing the bank to accept loan installments after filing a civil claim

Q: Hello, I have a notice from the DIFC courts against my personal loan which I borrowed from a bank in 2014. The amount is AED 350k. I have already served the jail time; 2 months for the criminal offense of signing the cheque. I am offering a settlement to the bank in monthly installments which I can manage, but they are not agreeing upon and, now, the court will resume the hearings. The problem is that I wanted to pay off, but I can`t afford to pay heavy installments which the bank is asking for. How to convince the bank?

Consequences of multiple criminal cases for bounced cheques

Q: I have two criminal cases for cheque bounce in Al Ain Court for the same party; the first case amount is 1,006,000 AED (13 cheques) and the second case amount is 400,000 AED (one cheque). What will be the possible action against me? Prison or fine? What will be the maximum? Thanks!

The consequences of rejecting a civil appeal and inability to pay

Q: Cassation Court has rejected my civil appeal and I, along with 3 more people, have been made liable to pay 360k each. I wanted to know what happens if I don`t have money to pay. Can the court issue an arrest warrant or put a travel ban? Will they freeze my bank accounts for recovery? Also, can I speak to the party who has put a claim to settle it outside? As I have spent a lot of money on the last 5 years fighting the case and now I don`t have money. Please advise!

Precautions for giving a security cheque against provided services

Q: We are asked to give an undated security cheque in lieu of the payment done for provided services, how to write this cheque? Can we mention "Security Cheque" on the face of the cheque?

Looking for something else?

Ask for advice from a lawyer

It’s free and anonymous

No registration needed

Ask a lawyer

Second marriage without first wife's permission

Q: My concern is that my husband has done the 2nd marriage without taking permission from me and without informing me when I was in Pakistan. When I came to Dubai, I knew about it but before that, my husband was not giving us any expenses and we were struggling but when I came to Dubai he apologized to me. Now my husband wants to leave that woman since he is not earning that much money but I don`t know what to do. Should I approach the court since my husband wants to get rid of that woman? He does not even have children with her so should he file for divorce? or should I file a case against him for my sons` expenses? Your advice will help me!

Charging an employee for employment expenses

Q: Hi, I am a first timer here in Dubai. My employer wants to charge me all her expenses incurred during my application; like medical examination, visa, work permit and the money she gave to my agency. What should I do?

Consequences of canceling a contract by a client after property completion

Q: I have paid 20% of a commercial property value which has been completed. I am unable to arrange for the remaining amount and want to cancel the contract. Can the builder legally demand 20% more to forfeit a total of 40% before the cancellation? Can the builder put a criminal case for the non-payment of a bank loan? What are my options?

Proving partner's forgery of signature on a cheque from outside the UAE

Q: Hi, I am not a resident of the United Arab Emirates and there was an unpleasant situation with me. My business partner issued a check on my behalf and forged my signature. The amount of the check is 3 million dirhams. I got an international arrest warrant. Now I can’t come to the UAE for objective reasons. I need your consultation. How can I prove my innocence?

تقديم الشركة بلاغ رغم الاتفاق على سداد الشيكات المرتجعة على أقساط

س: السلام عليكم، أتعامل مع شركة منذ سنوات بالشيكات الآجلة، ولظروف معينة ارتجعت شيكات لي واتفقنا على السداد بالتقسيط وفعلاً سددت 12000 درهم. تفاجأت بوجود بلاغ بقيمة 50000 كاملة. تم توقيفي وإيداع جواز سفري في قسم شرطة الشارقة البحيرة وتم حظري من السفر. عندما تواصلت معهم طلبوا مني تسديد المبلغ البالغ 50000 في قسم الشرطة لرفع البلاغ ومن ثَم سعيدون المبلغ الإضافي 12000 درهم لي نقدًا! هل أستطيع تحويل الموضوع إلى المحكمة المدنية؟ وفي حال أمكنني ذلك هل يتم رفع منع السفر عني؟