UAE Legal Resources - Legal Advice Middle East

Are non-compete and training repayment clauses valid under UAE labor law?

Q: Hello, My wife, who is on my dependent visa in the UAE, has received a job offer. She plans to remain on her dependent visa, and the hiring company has included additional terms in her employment contract. These terms include: - A two-year non-compete clause, preventing her from working in a competing business in the UAE after leaving the company. - A requirement to repay AED 10,000 for training costs if she resigns within one year of starting the job. - A clause stating that resigned or terminated employees will not receive any bonuses or incentives after leaving. - A disclaimer that any clause violating the UAE Labour Law (Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021) will be considered invalid. Are these conditions legally enforceable under UAE law? Can I include a statement to ensure both parties are legally safe?

Can I reject the rent increase (41%) & short notice (81 days) served by my landlord in RAK?

Q: Dear Legal Community, I am seeking advice regarding a residential tenancy contract renewal in Ras Al Khaimah. Situation: Property: Residential unit in Ras Al Khaimah. Current Annual Rent: AED 27,000. Contract Expiry: December 21st, 2025. Landlord`s Proposal: Increase to AED 38,000 (approx. 41% increase). Notification Date: October 1st, 2025 (81 days before expiry). My Questions: Notice Period Validity: Is a notice of 81 days for a rent increase legally valid in Ras Al Khaimah, given the common requirement of 90 days` prior notice? Rent Increase Legality: Is a 41% rent increase permissible under RAK rental laws and the RAK Municipality Rental Index, or are there caps/guidelines? Tenant`s Rights: What are my rights in this situation? Can I insist on renewing at the current rent (AED 27,000) due to the invalid notice? Dispute Resolution: What is the process for escalating this to the Ras Al Khaimah Rent?

Is a termination notice valid if the employee read it in the mail and replied to it?

Q: Hello, Q: Is the notice of termination considered delivered and acknowledged if the employee has read it in the mail and responded to the message by asking additional questions? If the employee does not sign the notice, is it necessary to draw up a report stating their refusal to sign the notice?

I have a Labour case against the company and they cannot find them on the registered address. What to do?

Q: I have a labor case against the company; it`s a small company working from home. After MOHRE, I filed it in the court. 3 hearings are over already, and the other party has not shown up at any hearings and has not responded to any court notifications. They are not coming to the registered address, so the court has not been able to serve them properly either. The trade license is active, and the company is working, putting updates on LinkedIn and all that. How many more hearings might the court give before giving judgment? What can be done from my side?

Can my employer cancel my labour contract and revoke my labour card without my knowledge?

Q: Can my employer cancel my labour contract and revoke my labour card without my knowledge?

Can I travel to India with an emergency certificate without canceling my new residence visa?

Q: Hello, I am on a residence visa, but I lost my passport. I have already applied for an emergency certificate from the Indian Embassy. Can I go to India without residence visa cancellation? My company didn’t allow me to cancel my visa; last week I only got my new residence visa. Now, what’s the procedure, Sir? Without sponsorship involvement, how can I travel to India?

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What can I do if the company did not provide me with a visa after 10 months of working with them.

Q: The company did not provide me with a visa after 10 months of working with them. They always promise that it is in process. Then they terminated me verbally.

Will my father’s unpaid debts affect my re-entry to Dubai on a tourist visa?

Q: Hello, My father had some debts due in Dubai, and at that time, he was unable to pay them and still hasn’t. We left the country in 2017, but my mom and I were under his sponsorship, and we didn’t cancel our residency visas. Now I need to go back to Dubai on a work trip. I want to check if this might have any effect on me re-entering on a valid tourist visa. I’ve checked the ICP website, and it shows that my residence permit has been cancelled.

If I were found guilty of a misdemeanor, will my application for a police clearance certificate get rejected?

Q: Hello Sir, If I were found guilty of a misdemeanor, I would pay the fines. Would that be the reason for the rejection of my application for a police clearance certificate? And if it is, how do I go about it?

What are the next steps after the court’s final decision, and how can I pay in installments?

Q: Hello, I received the final decision from the court regarding the cheque execution filed. What is the next step? How can I pay on an installment basis? How can I request the excess amount regarding the 6% of the loan amount filed, since the final verdict amount was reduced? I also made a deposit to the court of 10,000 AED. How can I request it back? I appreciate your advice, and many thanks.

What do I need to file a case against my tenant for failing to provide rent cheques after a legal notice?

Q: I`m looking for a potential opening of an RDC lawsuit for my tenant. She is not providing rent cheques, even though we agreed and renewed the tenancy contract. There is also an overdue of the 1st cheque payment. I sent a legal notice on non-payment, served on her on 16th September.

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Should a legal notice be bilingual, in English and Arabic?

Q: Should a legal notice be bilingual? I want to send a legal notice to my business partner (non-Arab). I went to an official translator and got an official translation into Arabic. Now I will go with three printouts to the Notary Public. It is about 8 pages in Arabic and 8 pages in English. Question: Should I only take the Arabic printout with me and get that stamped by the Notary, then ask TABLEEGH to send the English version as an attachment to the Arabic notice? Or should I take all 16 pages (8 Arabic + 8 English) and get the notary stamp on the last page? The reason I ask is that sometimes the Notary does not like long notices.

How to protect my residency when switching from a self-employed to an employer-sponsored visa?

Q: I currently hold a Self-Employed Residency Visa from the Dubai Development Authority (DDA – GoFreelance). I’ve been offered a new role with a U.S. university via an Employer of Record (EOR). Their attempt to apply for a labor card through MOHRE was rejected, as it’s not possible for free zone residents. They have asked me to cancel my current visa so they can sponsor me under an employment visa. My concern is that if I cancel my visa and the new employer/EOR withdraws or fails to complete the process, I’ll be left without valid residency. I’ve also been told new self-employment permits are no longer issued, only renewals, so I cannot easily return to my current status. Questions: - Does UAE law offer any protection in this scenario? - What risk-mitigation steps can I take/request before canceling? - If the process fails, what legal options remain for me to stay in the UAE?

How can a U.S. startup sign a contract with a UAE company despite legal differences?

Q: Hello, I have a company in the USA, but we are still a startup, and we have an offer from a company in the UAE. However, we can`t create a contract because of different laws. What can we do, please?

Will the court rule based on the expert’s higher report or my lawyer’s lower claim?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I am currently involved in a court case against a developer who failed to fulfill his obligations under our contract. My lawyer filed the lawsuit at the beginning of the case, claiming the return of the amounts I paid. Later, the court appointed an expert. The expert has now issued his report and concluded that the developer owes me a much higher amount than what was originally claimed by my lawyer, as the expert also included items such as lost profit and other damages. I am confused and would like your guidance: in my situation, will the court’s decision be based on the expert’s report, or only on the lower amount requested by my lawyer in the lawsuit? Thank you very much for your advice. The court is in Shajrah.

How to enforce a catch order on a tenant back in Dubai despite a travel ban?

Q: Good morning, I am a landlord in a case against my tenant, who has been evicted due to non-payment of rent. The court has already issued the eviction order and provided me with a list of the tenant’s furniture. I also applied for a travel ban and license blocks against the tenant. However, I recently found out that the tenant is currently in Dubai. Since I already have a catch order from the court, could you please advise me on the following: 1. How is it possible for the tenant to re-enter the UAE despite the travel ban and catch order? 2. What is the procedure for me to follow up and activate the catch order now that the tenant is in Dubai? 3. What further steps can we take to ensure the payment settlement is enforced? I would appreciate your urgent guidance on this matter. Thanks!

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