Middle East Legal Resources - Legal Advice Middle East

Six years of service, no pay for five months: What are my legal options?

Q: Good day, My contract ended yesterday. I have been working with them for six years. I have not taken my annual leave for this year. Am I entitled to get my paid annual leave? In addition, I still have four months of unpaid salary with them. For two of those months, we signed a letter stating that they could not provide a salary due to the company`s situation, which we understood. However, my manager told me that she would give me the salary in cash because I was working during those two months. For the other two months that they did not give us our salary, they asked us to sign photocopied copies of a salary slip just to show that we had already been paid. We signed them because they were only photocopies and they told us that they needed them to settle things with MOHRE/labor. In total, including this month, I am owed five months of salary.

Can I resign during extended probation period without paying visa costs?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, My three-month probation period ends on September 29. My contract states that the employer can extend the probation period by one month. Can I resign during that extended month of probation? Or will I have to pay the visa costs? Can I use that one-month extended probation period as my notice period?

Can I increase the rent as per rent valuation Certificate if RERA does not allow it?

Q: Hi, I am a landlord and getting 105k as rent. The renewal is coming and the RERA index shows no increase but I got RVC which says the rental value is AED 150k. How much can I ask for an increase from the tenant?

HR manager asking personal questions: Can I complain to MOHRE?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, Can I complain about my HR manager to MOHRE for a reason that I think is reasonable? Are they also allowed to ask their colleagues personal questions?

How to get bank statements for deceased non-UAE resident with a POA?

Q: Hello, I have a special situation that I need assistance with, and I would probably benefit from a further consultation session: A friend of mine, who is a non-UAE resident, has some bank accounts in the UAE. He passed away, and his son contacted me to ask if I could inquire about his father`s bank account (to get statements, not to act on them). My friend passed away outside of the UAE, and his son lives outside the country (Jordan). The son made me a power of attorney in Jordan, which was attested by the MOFA in Jordan and the UAE Embassy. However, when I asked the bank about this, they told me that it would need to go through the Dubai Courts and that I might need to hire a lawyer to do this. Is there a way for me to get the bank statements on his behalf? If so, what are the required documents?

Immigration fraud victim in Dubai: How to get money back and compensation?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I am a victim of immigration fraud by a company in Dubai. They have breached all terms of the contract, which is also expired. How can I get my money back plus compensation? How long will it take?

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Can I request fine reduction from previous employment to apply for a new employment visa?

Q: My boss canceled my employment visa 2 months ago, and I got a fine of AED 3500. Now I got a new job offer letter. If I apply for a fine reduction, will immigration give some discount? The canceled visa was Sharjah and the new visa is also Sharjah.

How can I release my liability for debts with Etisalat in case of identity theft?

Q: Respected Sir/Madam, I’m a victim of identity theft and fraud scam. Due to that, I have an outstanding amount of 50000 Dirhams from Etisalat and a travel ban.

How to remove an absconding report and get a new employment visa?

Q: I have an overstay and absconding report on my visit visa. I have cleared the fines and settled with the agent for the absconding. How do I remove the abscond at immigration what documents do I go with. Also, I have an offer letter for a job. Would I be able to get a work visa after the abscond has been removed?

How can I refund money I paid to an immigration agency if nothing was done?

Q: Dear Sir I applied for Canada AIPP programs from one of the consultancy agencies in Dubai in 2021, and they told me it would take 1 year for the process. Now it’s more than 2 years. They told me they were applying for me these years but I didn’t get any response from any company, and when I asked them to tell me where they applied, they told me it`s confidential. Now I told them to stop my process and they will refund my money but it will be very much less as per them. Please let me know how I can get my money as I paid almost AED 9000 or how I can proceed legally.

What to do if the one-year ban was not lifted after one year?

Q: Dear Sir I was deported from the UAE for one year due to an unknown reason. My ban should have been over after the mentioned time period which was one year, but still, the ban is not lifted. Please give me your valuable advice.

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How can I remove an absconding case if I have another job offer?

Q: I have a resident visa in the UAE. I did not finish the contract with my sponsor but he put me absconding on me. I did not run away from my sponsor but I went to my accommodation because I was a victim of crossing the country with an agent. My agent sold me to an agency and took my money. My problem now is my visa has already expired and my employer put on me an absconding case. My visa has now expired and I have also asked for help clearing documents. But the clearing documents say tomorrow and tomorrow because my sponsor doesn`t want to cancel my visa. What should I do if my sponsor doesn`t cancel me and remove absconding? I have one company willing to help me, give me a new visa, and willing to give me an offer letter also. Help me, what should I do? Because I don`t want to get too much fines.

If someone has a civil or rental case on him, will his assets be seized by the court?

Q: If someone has a civil or rental case on him, will his assets like a car or bank account get on hold?

Dubai spouse visa canceled: Can I return and what if husband won't let me in?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, My husband canceled my spouse visa without my knowledge. Can I get back to Dubai? What actions can I take if he will not accept me in his house?

Landlord changed mind about eviction after we signed new lease, can we sue him?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, We are due to be evicted from the villa we are renting in October 2023 because the landlord wants it for personal use. We received 12 months` notice in the correct manner. We are not happy to move, as we have been living here for 7.5 years. We found a new property to rent, which is more expensive and smaller. Last week, we asked our current landlord to confirm that he still wants the villa for his family and to let us know if anything changes. He confirmed that he still wants the property. Last night, we signed a new contract for the new villa and paid agent`s fees and deposit. We will move in October. Today, our current landlord says he has changed his mind and that we can stay. Where do we stand? We feel it is too late, as we have asked many times to stay and he has always refused. Can we raise a case if he rents the villa to new tenants?

Can ex-boss demand ticket money back after I returned to the UAE?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I finished my contract and asked my boss to pay for my ticket back home upon visa cancellation. He gave me the money after I confirmed that I was not going to stay in the UAE. At that time, I was looking for a job in different Gulf countries. A couple of days before leaving the UAE, I was offered a job in Dubai and accepted it. I left and went back a month later and got my new visa after two months. Now, my former employer wants me to return the money for the ticket. He insists that I have no right to a repatriation ticket because I didn`t leave forever and came back. He threatened to pursue legal action if I refused to return the money. He considers this fraud. Is there anything in the UAE Labor Law Article 131 that obliges the employee to leave forever? What are the chances that my boss opens a case against me?

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