Middle East Legal Resources - Legal Advice Middle East

An employer is not giving a domestic worker a day off. What to do?

Q: Dear sir/madam, I am a nanny here in Dubai. I am working for my local employer for almost 8 months now. My employer doesn`t give me a day off. They hold my passport and didn`t give me a copy of my labor contract. Sometimes they make a story, which is not true, that I took something from them. Now, what step should I make? I want to leave and find another job. They are threatening me that if I stop working with them, they will file a case against me and will deport me, and I will pay 15k for the cost of the visa and other employment documents. Hope someone can advise me. Thank you!

Warning to stop convincing colleagues from previous company to leave their job

Q: Warning to stop attempts to incite employees of the foreboding company to leave their work. I received the above legal notice from my ex-employer.

Inability to pay loan installments after termination. What to do?

Q: Dear questioner, I got terminated from a company within the probation period. I have a personal loan of 70000 AED and paid only one month`s EMI. I can`t pay the loan until I get another job. Please advise what I have to do!

How can I file for insolvency and what are the consequences?

Q: I would like to file for insolvency. I need to understand how this will work. I know insolvency means going bankrupt which means the individual truly has no money, but there is still a cost associated with the insolvency process. I would therefore appreciate replies to the following questions: 1- What is the insolvency process? 2- How long does it take to complete the insolvency case? 3- Finally approximately how much it will cost in total (lawyer + court fees).

The joining date is not determined after signing the offer letter. What to do?

Q: Dear sir/madam, I am on a visit visa currently. I have signed an offer letter (no MOHRE contract yet). They didn`t inform me of the joining date yet. Also, I`m wondering what are the next steps. They informed me in the offer letter that an employment visa will be provided from the company`s end. But they didn`t even ask for any documents yet (such as a passport copy, visit visa copy, etc). If this is something unusual as per UAE`s law. How can I deal with it?

How to settle pending car loan with the bank without any issues?

Q: I have an outstanding of around 4000 and when I approached the bank officials to pay, they started to harass me and ask for legal charges as they have made a repossession order against the car only for the amount of 4k. They are asking me to settle a partial amount from my credit card which I also agreed and at last they made a conditional letter for me to sign which I refused as it was against the norm. Can someone guide how I can settle my car loan so they can make the repossession order?

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هل ترفع دعوى الطلاق في الإمارات أم في مصر؟

س: السلام عليكم، أعيش حاليًا في الإمارات وزوجي أيضًا. أرغب في الطلاق للضرر لكثرة المشاكل والضرب والسب وبيننا محضر شرطة سابق يخيرني بين الإنفاق في البيت بالنصف أو الطلاق فاخترت الطلاق. والآن يضايقني لأرفع قضية خلع كي لايدفع شيء من حقوقي أنا وابنتي عمرها ٨ أشهر. أحيانًا يصمم أن يطلق في مصر. أريد أن أعرف هل الأفضل الطلاق في مصر أم دبي؟ وإذا كان الأفضل في دبي، فكيف يُلزَم بدفع حقوقنا بعد الطلاق؟ وهل يمكن أن يترك البلد حتى لا يدفع شيء؟ أم يُمنَع من السفر مثلي أنا والبنت؟ وهل لو تنازلت عن حقوقنا يمكن أن يتنازل عن الولاية في كل حاجة لكي أبتعد عنه وعن مشاكله؟ أنا في موقف صعب بمفردي في البلد. برجاء المساعدة وإفادتي بأحسن حل لي ولابنتي!

Inability to join a new employer because the old company is not canceling the visa

Q: Dear sir/madam, I was working for a transport company in Abu Dhabi as an engineer. My limited contract end date was in September 2022. I gave one-month prior notice in August asking not to renew my contract as I had found another job to be joined before October 2022. To date, my old company has not paid my salary for August and September and also has not paid my end-of-service benefits and so my visa is also not canceled. Now, my new company is saying I am already late in joining and they cannot wait. I have my wife and a daughter also to take care of. I am paying my daily expenses with the help of my friends as I was not able to work since September. Is there any law in the UAE where I can claim compensation from my old company for not clearing my dues and putting me in a situation where I am jobless for 2 months now? Also, I have lost my new job offer due to this delay. Kind lawyers, please help!

How to come back to Dubai after deportation and ban for visa overstay?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, My wife was working in the UAE from 2016 to 2018 and completely finished her contract. She got the cancelation of the papers from the company then she moved to another company. But the new company visa process got late from the date of the paper cancelation. So it expired and she did not exit the country at that time for more than 1 month. She went to her home country and she faced immigration at Dubai airport. They deported her for absconding and gave her an immigration ban. I tried in 2021 to get her a visit visa but that was also rejected. My question is how to come again to Dubai? Any possibility to check that at immigration?

How to get a Power of Attorney in the UAE?

Q: Hello, I would like to know how I can get a Power of Attorney here in the UAE. I have to send it to Algeria. Thank you!

What are the reasons for rejecting my visit visa twice and how to fix it?

Q: Dear Ma`am, My visit visa was refused 2 times. What`s the reason? It`s my first travel to any country.

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How can I remove a travel ban issued after a bounced cheque case?

Q: I got the below message from Dubai Courts: Please note that a travel ban order has been issued against you regarding case [....] (Cheques Execution). Can anybody help? What to do next?

How to claim back a small amount of money from a company for provided service?

Q: A company has still not refunded me 60 days after the cancellation of service (A total of AED 4000 for car/vehicle services). Dubai Economic Department intervention has given no results (the company/business has been told 3 times and agreed to refund me). What are the available next steps? Proofs available: 1) Receipt with written refund promise "1 business day" 2) Whatsapp chat log 3) Dubai Economic Department case references (they will have notes and can confirm the story).

Can the employer ask for compensation in case of resignation during probation?

Q: Hello, I signed a 2-year contract in a private LLC. Now I`m on a probation period. I need to leave my job and move to my country. Is it possible to resign during the probation period? Do I need to compensate the fees for breaking the contract with my employer? Thanks

The applicable law on an employee whose contract is with a Jafza company

Q: Dear sir/madam, I have an employment contract with a company that`s located in Jebel Ali Free Zone, while my work location is permanently outside of the UAE. My employers tell me I have no rights under UAE employment law as my contract is "International". They will not answer which country or laws my contract is subject to. Can anybody advise if I have any UAE employment rights at all? And if not, which rights might I be covered by? Thank you!

The cancelation of a contract signed one week before

Q: Hello, Good morning! I just have a question. Can I cancel the contract I just signed one week ago? My visa is not yet processed and I still have my documents. Thank you!

Self-help