Middle East Legal Resources - Legal Advice Middle East

My EID linked to cousin's bounced checks, travel ban issued. What to do?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, My cousin sister asked me to use my EID to set up water and electricity for her apartment in Sharjah in 2018 for two months while her ID was being renewed. She called me in 2019 to cancel the water and electricity. The apartment management assured me that the checks and everything would be under my cousin`s name, and that`s how it was for the past 5 years. My cousin had bounced checks, and since the apartment management knew about the agreement, nothing was done on my behalf. New management took over this year and placed a travel ban on me for failing to pay my rent, even though I have never lived in that apartment in Sharjah. For the past few years, I have been living in company accommodation. How can I get justice since I have a travel ban?

Can I go to GCC countries if I was deported for the possession and facilitation of drugs in the UAE?

Q: A friend got a judgment of deportation and a fine in a case of drug possession and facilitation of psychotropic substance abuse for others. If he is deported from the UAE, can he go to other GCC countries to look for a job? Will he be banned in other GCC countries too?

I've been given a termination letter. What will happen until the date written in that letter comes?

Q: I`ve been given a termination letter but I`m not signing it. What will happen until the date written in that letter comes?

Can we incorporate a mainland company in Dubai under English laws?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, Can we incorporate a mainland company in Dubai under English laws?

I came to the UAE and found out I have a lifetime ban by my previous employer. What to do?

Q: Recently, I traveled to the UAE on a visit visa and came to know I have a lifetime ban. I had an issue with a previous employer and had an accident. I was treated for my fractures and mental health as I encountered a traumatic situation. To my knowledge, the company agreed to pay my bills for the hospital and sponsored my return ticket. I thought everything was smooth but I came to know a lifetime ban was imposed on me. What would be the reason for the ban? How to find the reason and how to resolve the issue? Please advise on the solution.

How can I retrieve my passport from my previous employer after visa canellation?

Q: Good evening Sir, I resigned from my company and they cancelled my visa also. Still, they have not released my passport. I complained in MOHRE (80084) 10 days ago. Still, they did not take any action. Then I went to the police station and they told me I needed to go to Dubai court. There they told me I needed to go to Alaweer immigration. Now, what will I do? Please tell me. They did not give me the September month salary either. Now I am stuck.

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I bought a property and the seller sent an eviction notice to the tenant. How to ensure eviction?

Q: Hi I bought a residential property on 31-Oct-2023. It has already been on lease to tenants by the seller. The seller has already served a 1-year legal eviction notice from Dubai Courts on 25 August 2023. The tenancy contract expiry will be the 30th of June 2024, and the new owner/buyer wants to stay in the said apartment after the expiry of the contract and ensure that the property is vacated on time and does not get extended beyond 24 August 2024. (Q1) Kindly confirm if it is required by law that a new 1-year legal notice has to be issued by the buyer or if the old legal notice issued by the seller is still valid. (Q2) The tenant company has kept 6 bachelor boys from their company in the flat, which I heard was illegal for the JLT area to have bachelors and even more than 4 boys. Please confirm if anything can be done about that. (Q3) Due to 6 bachelor boys, the 5-year-old flat is not being well maintained and the condition worsening. Kindly advise on the action to take. Thanks

New job, similar industry: Can my former employer sue for breach of non-compete?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I had a contract with my former employer that had a 3-year non-compete clause. This was an internal company contract. I later signed another contract with the Dubai Media City Authority, which only mentions that my non-compete is limited to the territory of Dubai. Which contract am I bound by? Additionally, the line of business is different between my former employer and my new employer. However, my former employer is saying that they will take legal action and file a case against me. My new employer has a business within their group umbrella that is similar to one of the products of my former employer. Can I be held legally liable?

صاحب العمل يطالب بدفع تكاليف التدريب. هل هذا قانوني؟

س: السلام عليكم، أعمل في القطاع الخاص بعقد عمل سنوي محدد المدة (عقد داخلي ودوام جزئي). قدمت استقالتي قبل انتهاء العقد بشهر وذكرت في رسالة الاستقالة أنني سأدفع بدل فترة الإخطار. صاحب العمل أخبرني أنه يجب عليّ دفع مبلغ 5 آلاف درهم كلفة تدريب وقد وقعت على ذلك في العقد وأنا أظن ذلك، لكنني في الواقع لم أتلقَّ أيَّ تدريب من جهة ثالثة، فقد علمني الشخص السابق في مكاني بشأن العمل فقط. لذلك هل يحق له فعل ذلك؟ وإن لم أدفع المبلغ له، فماذا يمكنه أن يفعل؟ شكرًا لك!

Overstay fine for deceased daughter in UAE: Can it be waived?

Q: Good day! My question is about the overstay fine for my daughter, who passed away in 2021 and was born in December 2020. Her visa was under my sponsorship and was issued in Dubai. She was cremated in the UAE after her death. We did not know what to do in cases like this at the time, and we still do not. When I checked the ICP website, I saw that she already has a fine. What should I do? Is there a way to request a waiver for the fine, which is currently around AED 7800? Please help us with this matter. Thank you!

My brother was caught in a drug related charge. What will be his punishment?

Q: My brother is 23 years old & he was forced by one informer who was texting him day & night. When he blocked his number, he tried calling him in fear. He went to meet him and got caught by CID with crystal meth. Now he is in prison. What would be his punishment & will there be any chances of direct deportation without imprisonment?

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Can all property and money be considered equally owned after marriage?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, Conditions in Sharia marriage contract My future husband (a Muslim expatriate) and I are going to register our marriage in the Sharia court in Abu Dhabi. We have agreed that all property and money acquired after the date of marriage will be considered matrimonial and belong to both of us. I would like to include this in our marriage contract. Would the following condition be valid: "The property and assets gained by one of the spouses starting from the date of marriage are considered to be a matrimony property/asset and belong to both spouses equally."? Please let me know what are some examples of valid conditions that can be included in a Sharia marriage certificate. Thanks!

UAE labor case: Do I need to pay to send the notification to the defendant?

Q: Hello team, I have registered a labor case against my employer in Ajman, UAE through the Ministry of Justice (MOJ). I have received an e-meeting notification. Now, the typing center guy is asking me for extra money to send the notification to the defendant via Aramex. I need to know if this is a mandatory step. I thought the court would notify the defendant and send the paper notification. Please let me know, as I am not sure what the next steps are.

Employer demands AED 5,000 training fee upon resignation - is it legal?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I work in the private sector with a fixed-term annual employment contract (internal and part-time contract). I submitted my resignation one month before the end of the contract and mentioned in the resignation letter that I would pay the notice period allowance. The employer told me that I had to pay an amount of AED 5,000 for the training cost, and I signed. I think this is in the contract, but in reality, I did not receive any training from a third party. The previous person in my place only taught me the work. So, does the employer have the right to do that? If I do not pay the amount, what can the employer do? Thank you!

I was deported from the UAE and cannot continue to pay my loan. Will they file a case against me?

Q: I have a pending loan of AED 100k. I have been paying all my payments until this month, and I was deported from the UAE. Will they put a case if I don`t pay this amount?

My wife is working in a bad work environment. What can she do?

Q: Salam Alaykom, My wife just came to Abu Dhabi. Let`s skip the fact that her company is so bad, they took too long to prepare her documents. Eventually, she got her visa and the flight was paid for by her company. She has 4 years of experience, but we were surprised to find that her initial salary offer stands at just AED 3500, no benefits, no nothing! She is required to work six days a week, with 8 hours each day, and there is no possibility for remote work. She went to work today. I stopped a taxi for her and the taxi was AED 100, so her job is far away from where we live. She showed me the place, it`s dirty and not a work environment. She also told me it smells bad. Anyway, I have to save her from that place. So please let me know what can we do.

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