Questions & Answers - Legal Advice Middle East

My receivable commission has been delayed by the company. How can I claim it?

Q: Hi Team, I would like to ask. I`m an agent in the UAE, and my receivable commission has been delayed by my agency which is above AED 1 million. However the company is not running well lately, and it has a risk of insolvency. If it really happens, who should I claim my commission from? If there are still commissions not paid by the developer to the company, can I claim that part from the developer directly? Many thanks.

An employee ran away, returned the laptop formatted, and hasn't repaid loans. What now?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, My employee ran away and returned the laptop after formatting all the data. Also, he has yet to repay loans taken from the company; it`s been a year. What can I do?

Is it allowed for an employee to abscond and work as a freelancer without our NOC?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, My employee was working on a limited-term employment contract. He left the company without notice or resignation and absconded. For more than a year, he has been working in the UAE as a freelancer (without our NOC), as seen on his social media profiles, including LinkedIn. Is this allowed? What action can be taken?

Does a car rental company need to pay VAT when selling a car?

Q: Hi, I need to know: 1. In a car rental scenario, do we need to pay VAT when selling the car? 2. In a trading business where a company holds cars, do we need to pay VAT when selling them? Thanks!

What's next if a tenant won't pay or vacate despite winning the case in RDC court?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, The tenant didn`t pay rent for over 7 months. I filed a case, and finally won; the RDC court verdict is to evict the tenant and for them to pay all rent and legal fees. I contacted the tenant, who refused to move out or pay. What`s the next step? Do I file for execution via RDC, or will it be automatic? How much does it cost, and how long does it take? The tenant is arrogant and said he will not pay until I proceed with execution from RDC, and then he will ask for a one-year payment plan! The whole procedure is very unfriendly to the landlord, with the tenant risking nothing while the landlord incurs lawyer fees, interest losses, and significant time and effort.

I left a flat with 2 months' prior notice. Do I need to pay for a damaged door?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I left the flat with 2 months` prior notice and gave a DEWA clearance certificate to the building management. Now they are claiming compensation for a damaged door, amounting to AED 9000, and they have my deposit of AED 2000. They are asking me to settle the amount of AED 9000, otherwise they will take legal action against me. Am I bound to pay the extra amount? I have already left Dubai for India. Please advise me on what to do.

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

An Ajman company driver died in a Sharjah accident. Which court for insurance?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, Our company driver passed away in a road accident. He hit a heavy truck from behind and died on the spot. His family is in his home country. I have obtained the legal heirship certificate and had it attested. The insurance company requires a letter from the court mentioning the amount to be disbursed. The policy clearly states AED 200,000.00 in case of death. That is what we are hoping they will pass on to the family. Which court should we approach in this case? The accident occurred in Sharjah, and the company is based in Ajman. Your advice would be greatly appreciated!

What to do if my painting is copied and displayed in public without my permission?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I recently discovered that one of my paintings has been copied and displayed for 2 years in a public space/establishment in Abu Dhabi. I created the painting in 2018 for the celebration of the Year of Zayed. I noticed it last Sunday when I passed by the establishment. I tried to communicate with the project manager through a call and WhatsApp, but he didn`t answer. He replied once saying he would check, but never got back to me. I also tried to email the company but didn`t receive any response. I exhibited the painting in the same year, and I still have it with me. I never agreed to anyone using my painting or waived my rights to it. Now, my question is: do you think this is a form of plagiarism? Can you give me advice? As an artist, I feel this is not right.

The landlord demands increased rent without proper notice. What to do?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I have been a tenant of an industrial unit since 2017. In 2022, the landlord`s real estate forced extra rent on me, and without much thought, I agreed to it. In 2023, they asked for another increase just one day before the tenancy expired. At that time, I filed with RDC and the tenancy was renewed. Later, the real estate sent me an email for non-renewal for the year 2024, but since it was not an official legal notice, I filed again with RDC and deposited the cheques. Now, the real estate wants to renew with a 10% increase in rent. I received the email 6 days prior to expiry, and I informed them about the law requiring a 90-day notice as per RERA. Yes, it is a challenge for me to fight for my rights, but I am not interested in giving the real estate an undue advantage in the case of renewal. RERA should look into the facilities and amenities that the property has before granting them rights to increase the rent as per the Index. Kindly guide me!

If someone buys a home on installments but faces financial difficulties, what then?

Q: Assalamo Alaikum, If a person buys a home on installments after paying a 20% down payment but encounters financial difficulties after paying for a few months or less, what could be done in that case? Will he go to jail? What if the person offers to take the property back? Thank you!

What to do if an agency hired for VAT returns took the payment and disappeared?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, My father had hired an agency to handle his company`s VAT returns and paid them on time for all the filings. However, the person took his money and fled. Now the office is closed, and he is not answering any calls. Please advise on what can be done.

Looking for something else?

Ask for advice from a lawyer

It’s free and anonymous

No registration needed

Ask a lawyer

How can I check if I am eligible to enter Dubai if I have an old travel ban?

Q: Hi, I was banned from Dubai in the year 2010. I want to know if I am eligible to enter the UAE after all these years or not. I am currently in Pakistan and want to work again in the UAE.

Am I entitled to annual leave if I'm on a rotational contract?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I am from South Africa, employed under a UAE fixed-term contract to work in Madagascar. My rotation is 12 weeks on and 3 weeks off, unpaid. I`ve been with them for over a year. I`ve just been terminated, and my employer says I`m not entitled to annual leave due to the rotational contract. Is this correct?

How should I proceed if a friend I lent money to hasn't repaid it for months?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I gave someone a friendly loan of AED 1800, but it has been eight months and she has refused to pay me back. How should I proceed? Thanks!

An outsider authorized by the board signed a company's check, what's their liability if it bounces?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, If an outside person is authorized by the board of directors to sign a company`s cheque, what is the legal liability of the signatory if the cheque is dishonored, given that they are not an employee of the company?

What's more important: the tenancy contract or UAE rental laws on tenancy renewal?

Q: Hello, I hope you can advise me, please! I`m a tenant in Dubai. The owner/agency didn`t send me the rent increase notice 90 days in advance. It was sent to me on Thu, 18 Apr, 22:16. My lease expires on June 24, 2024. So it`s 78 days instead of 90. But they claim that in the signed contract there is a statement: "In the event that the tenant wishes to renew the lease at the end of the tenancy, they should notify the landlord in writing 90 days prior to the expiry date of the rental contract." Since I didn`t do this, they demand to increase my rent by the maximum amount possible as per RERA. As far as I can understand, according to the law, if no one notifies anyone before 90 days, the default is to extend the lease. So there is no increase. What is more important according to law, the signed contract, or UAE laws in this case? Thank you very much, hope you can advise and help me!