UAE Legal Resources - Legal Advice Middle East

Do I need to pay my company any compensation if I resign during probation?

Q: I worked for a company and due to the lack of work-life balance affecting my mental and physical health, I submitted my resignation according to the contract I signed. The contract stipulated a two-month notice period during my probation as I joined this company on 05 Dec 2023. I submitted my resignation on March 20 stating my last working day as May 20 But the company released me on April 16. However, for the month of March, I did not receive my salary. Now the company is asking me to sign the visa cancellation letter In this letter there is a clause stating "I certify that I have received all my dues up to date - Employee signature" but I have not received my salary. I also explicitly asked them whether they would deduct any amount for the visas as some people have told me that some companies do such things even when nothing is mentioned in the contract. They replied to that email stating they would provide dues but did not mention any specific date. Please advise me on how to proceed.

The Procedures of Insurance Claims After the Major Floods in the UAE

It has been reported that the UAE has witnessed its heaviest rainfall in 75 years from late Monday the 15th of April till Tuesday night the 16th of April. The weather department recorded the highest rainfall in Al Ain, reaching 254 mm in less than 24 hrs and this was an exceptional event. We introduce in this article the details for claiming losses and damages from insurance.

Credit card loans with different banks. Can I settle them all at once?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I have credit card loans with different banks, around four in total. Is there any way to negotiate and settle all of them together? Is there a special court authority or office, like an arbitration committee, for this? I don`t want to settle them one by one; I need to settle all of them together.

Paid 40% for off-plan property, construction not started. Can we stop future payments?

Q: Hi, We bought an off-plan property from a developer in March 2023. We signed the SPA, but the developer hasn`t signed it yet; telling us it takes time. We have already paid 40%, but the construction has not started yet, according to the information in their application. Can we request to stop paying any future installments?

How to achieve mutual consent divorce affordably?

Q: Hi, My husband and I agreed to a divorce. We want to proceed as soon as possible. He is a local from the UAE, and I am French. We got married in Dubai Courts. What is the best way to do it without paying a huge amount for it? Many thanks!

Can a landlord use the same evaluation certificate to increase the rent twice?

Q: Hello all, I`m renting a villa in the Springs area. Last year, the landlord made an evaluation certificate in March 2023 and 90 days before renewal, the property management company informed me that based on the evaluation certificate, the landlord would increase the price by 20%, I accepted it. Current contract from July 2023 till July 2024, rent value 160,000. In March 2024, I received an email from the landlord (92 days before renewal) that he wanted to increase rent again by 20% and attached the same certificate from March 2023 which has been used for the 2023 contract renewal. The certificate states that validity is 1 year. So when they sent an email with a notification, the certificate was still officially valid. Can the landlord use the evaluation certificate twice to increase property rent in 2023 and then in 2024? Why evaluation certificate is valid for 1 year if the market changes every month? How can I check that the certificate is not "fake"? Can the landlord use a certificate issued in March 2023 to increase the rent for the property, considering that the contract renewal date is in July 2024?

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There is an execution against me in the UAE; what should I do?

There is an execution against me in the UAE; what should I do? How do I cancel the arrest warrant and summons, and how do I deal with the travel ban? Dear readers, we present this simplified article, in which we explain the implementation procedures briefly, how the defendant can deal with them, and the options he can take to enforce the judgment smoothly while decreasing the damages of implementation as much as possible.

I bought a property and served the tenant an eviction notice. Can I renew his contract only until notice expiry?

Q: Hi, I bought a property in Dubai in November last year and post transfer, I gave the tenant a 1-year notice to vacate the property as I wanted to occupy it. The current Ejari expires in May. I gave the tenant the option to renew until the end of the notice period i.e. up to next December, however, the tenant wants to renew for 1 more year. I need to move in in December, what can I do in this situation? Thanks

I have deportation and a fine. Can I appeal to remove both or one of them?

Q: If I have deportation and a fine. If a lawyer appeals can he remove the deportation and fine or just one?

Dubai police clearance delays despite cleared misdemeanor. Next steps?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I had a misdemeanor case, paid the fine, and everything was cleared. According to the ruling, I could apply for police clearance after one year upon obtaining a rehabilitation certificate. It has now been over a year, and I have submitted a name-clearing request in Dubai six times without any response. Can someone please guide me?

Landlord's breach regarding water supply and finding buyers for farm's yield. What to do?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I rented a farm in Umm Al Quwain, and the landlord agreed to provide free water, supplying 50m³/day during winter and up to 120m³ for the rest of the year. He also agreed to assist in finding buyers for the yield and fresh alfalfa for camels and cattle. However, he doesn`t want to supply the water and about helping find buyers, he says "This is not my job." Of course, guarantee checks are given and now I refuse to pay since he doesn`t fulfill his obligations. I tried to communicate but the sole reply I get now is: "I don`t care about the agreement and I am very powerful." Of course, the check is handed over to the bank and since I emptied the account, it will bounce. I am faced with two conflicting replies that contradict my business etiquette. What steps should I take next?

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Employer refuses resignation, demands visa expenses. How to leave?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I`ve been working for a pharmacy in Sharjah for a year and a half. I want to leave to pursue higher education in my home country, but the owner won`t accept my resignation. He told me that I must pay 50% of the entire visa expenses or continue working until my contract expires. He is also holding onto my passport.

Company license expired, my visa too. Who should pay my ID fines?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, My company`s license expired, causing my visa to expire as well. After five months, the company renewed its license, but they are not paying my ID fines. I have my labor card, which is valid for another year. So, what can I do? Who will need to pay fines even if I cancel my visa?

If there is a case against me for credit card non-payment, will it extend to my wife?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, If there is a case against me for credit card non-payment, will it extend to my wife?

Lost a rental case against a developer. Can I travel if the judgment is not executed?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, We were sued by a developer for rent. Before the case went to court, we attempted to negotiate with the developer, explaining our inability to pay and proposing either closing the shop or basing the rent on a percentage of sales rather than a fixed amount. The situation worsened due to COVID-19 affecting sales. Despite not utilizing the full time in the shop, we lost the case and were ordered to pay the full contract amount. One of the main issues is the travel restriction imposed, despite being an LLC company. My question and the advice I seek are, firstly, to regain travel privileges and, secondly, to understand the options for resolving this case, as they have not yet executed the judgment.

What are the reasons an expat Muslim woman need to provide to divorce her Muslim husband?

Q: Can an expat Muslim woman divorce her Muslim husband without his consent and without giving a reason? I have a thousand reasons but little evidence and I don`t want to trigger a lengthy hostile process since he`s rich and I`m not and he`s evil.

Self-help