Labour & Employment — UAE

Dubai · Sharjah · Abu Dhabi · Ajman · RAK · All 7 Emirates

Labour & Employment Lawyer
in Dubai & UAE

Unpaid salary, withheld gratuity, wrongful termination, passport confiscation, labour ban threats — you have rights under UAE Labour Law. Under Federal Decree-Law No. 33/2021, every private sector employee is protected. The limitation period is only 1 year — act now.

Our advocates speak Arabic, English, Urdu, and Hindi. We file MOHRE complaints, attend mediation, and represent you at Labour Court across all UAE emirates.

Facing a MOHRE complaint, false misconduct allegations, or an absconding employee? Employers have rights too. We defend employers at MOHRE mediation and Labour Court — with a strategy that protects your business and limits your liability.

We also advise on employment contract compliance, WPS, and proactive HR legal risk management across all UAE emirates.

Free Consultation WhatsApp Now +971 52 179 5170
Free consultation 1-year limitation — act now Arabic · English · Urdu · Hindi
EMPLOYEE RIGHTS — UAE LABOUR LAW
Full salary paid on time via WPS
End-of-service gratuity (1 year+ service)
Notice period salary (30–90 days)
Annual leave cash payment
Repatriation ticket (overseas hire)
Up to 3 months compensation — wrongful termination
Passport return — confiscation is illegal
Federal Decree-Law No. 33/2021 — UAE Labour Law
400K+MOHRE complaints/year
77%Resolved at mediation
1 yrLimitation period
14 daysMOHRE mediation window
0
MOHRE complaints/year UAE
77%
Resolved at mediation — no court
14 days
MOHRE mediation window
4 Lang
Arabic · English · Urdu · Hindi
0
UAE labour court experience
WHAT WE HANDLE

Labour & employment cases
we handle — both sides

We represent both employees and employers across all UAE labour disputes — at MOHRE, Labour Court, and beyond.

Employee Claims
01

Unpaid Salary & Delayed Wages

Employer not paying salary on time or at all. Under the WPS system, salary delays are a direct MOHRE violation. We file immediately, recover all unpaid wages, and if unpaid for 60+ days, get you a temporary work permit to join another employer.

WPS violation — file within 30 days
02

End-of-Service Gratuity Dispute

Employer withholds gratuity without a court order, calculates it incorrectly, or deducts unjustified amounts. Under FL 33/2021, resignation and termination receive the same gratuity. Employer needs a court ruling to withhold — not automatic. We recover the full amount.

Same gratuity — resign or terminate
03

Wrongful & Arbitrary Termination

Terminated for discriminatory reasons, retaliation for filing a complaint, or without valid cause. Compensation: up to 3 months gross salary in addition to all standard end-of-service entitlements. We build the strongest possible case for maximum compensation.

Enforce via civil court →
04

Passport Confiscation — Illegal

Employer holding your passport is a criminal offense in UAE. No employer has the right to retain your passport under any circumstances. We demand immediate return through MOHRE and, if refused, escalate to criminal complaint. Your passport must be returned within 24 hours of demand.

Criminal complaint available →
05

Notice Period & Leave Encashment

Employer denies notice period salary, forces immediate exit, or refuses to cash out unused annual leave. Under UAE Labour Law, all these are recoverable. We file a comprehensive MOHRE claim covering every unpaid entitlement — nothing is left behind.

14-day settlement timeline
06

Labour Ban — Myths & Reality

Many employees fear labour bans that don't apply to them. Under FL 33/2021, labour bans for resignation are abolished in most cases. We clarify your exact situation — if a ban has been imposed unfairly, we challenge it at MOHRE and get it lifted.

Most bans now abolished
Employer Defense
07

MOHRE Complaint Defense

An employee has filed a MOHRE complaint against your company. We review the claim, gather evidence of compliance, represent you at mediation, and defend at Labour Court if referred. Early legal involvement dramatically improves the outcome.

Employer side
08

Misconduct & Disciplinary Cases

Terminating an employee for misconduct requires following strict due process under Article 44. We help employers document violations correctly, issue proper warnings, and execute termination procedures that withstand MOHRE and court scrutiny.

Employer side
09

Absconding & Contract Compliance

Employee abandoned their post or violated contract terms? We advise on proper absconding procedures, file with MOHRE, and protect your company from counterclaims. We also handle employment contract drafting and WPS compliance review.

Employer side

Not sure where your case stands?

Get a free case assessment →
MOHRE PROCESS

How to file a MOHRE complaint —
step by step guide 2026

Every UAE labour dispute must go through MOHRE before reaching court. Understanding the process — and the critical deadlines — is essential.

30 days File MOHRE complaint within 30 days of breach
14 days MOHRE mediates within 14 working days
14 days Register court case within 14 days of referral Critical deadline
Step 01

File Your MOHRE Complaint

Within 30 days of breach

File online via mohre.gov.ae, the MOHRE app, WhatsApp 600590000, or call 80084. You receive a case number immediately. Documents needed: Emirates ID, employment contract, salary certificates, and evidence of the dispute (payment records, WhatsApp messages, termination letter).

How to file:
🌐 mohre.gov.ae 📱 MOHRE App 💬 WhatsApp 600590000 📞 Call 80084
77% of cases resolve here
Step 02

MOHRE Mediation — Free

Within 14 working days

MOHRE assigns a conciliation officer who contacts both parties and attempts amicable settlement. This service is completely free. Both parties must attend (in person or through an authorised representative). The mediator reviews the case and proposes solutions. 77% of cases resolve here — without ever reaching court. We represent you at mediation and ensure no right is settled for less than its full value.

Settlement agreed → case closed
No agreement → referred to Labour Court
⚠ Do not miss this deadline
Step 03

Register with Labour Court — 14 days

From MOHRE referral date — strictly enforced

If mediation fails, MOHRE refers the case to Labour Court with a memo. You must register the court case within 14 days of this referral. Under Ministerial Resolution No. 47/2022, missing this deadline can jeopardise your entire claim — treat it as non-negotiable. The court schedules the first hearing within 3 working days of receiving the referral.

Court fees are paid by the employer regardless of outcome — no cost barrier for employees.
Step 04

Labour Court Hearing

Weeks to months

The Labour Court reviews the dispute, hears both parties, and issues judgment. We present payslips, contracts, WhatsApp evidence, salary certificates, and legal arguments. The court can order payment of all unpaid amounts plus interest.

Step 05

Judgment & Enforcement

Salary attachment + asset seizure available

Court judgment in your favour becomes immediately enforceable. If the employer still refuses to pay, we file with the Execution Court — salary attachment, bank account freeze, travel ban. Labour court judgments are among the fastest to enforce in UAE.

Can I work for another employer while my case is pending?

Yes. If your complaint has been referred to court, or if your employer has failed to pay salary for over 2 months, you are eligible for a temporary work permit from MOHRE — allowing you to join a new employer while your case continues. We apply for this permit immediately.

END-OF-SERVICE GRATUITY

How UAE gratuity works —
Article 51 explained 2026

Gratuity is not a bonus — it's a legal right. Many employees receive less than they're entitled to because employers miscalculate, deduct without reason, or withhold without a court order.

Article 51 — Federal Decree-Law No. 33/2021
View official law
First 5 years
=
21 days basic wage × each year
After 5 years
=
30 days basic wage × each year
Maximum
=
24 months basic wage total
Calculated on basic salary only — not total salary. Housing, transport, and other allowances are excluded.
EXAMPLE CALCULATION
Basic salary AED 5,000/month
Years of service 7 years
First 5 years: 21 days × 5 × (5,000 ÷ 30) = AED 17,500
Next 2 years: 30 days × 2 × (5,000 ÷ 30) = AED 10,000
Total gratuity AED 27,500
COMMON MYTHS — BUSTED
✗
"Resignation means lower gratuity"

FALSE. Under FL 33/2021, resignation and termination receive the same gratuity. The old rules that reduced gratuity on resignation were abolished in 2021.

✗
"Employer can withhold gratuity for misconduct"

FALSE. Under the 2021 law, employers must obtain a court ruling to withhold gratuity. Simply accusing an employee of misconduct is not enough — the employer must go to court.

✗
"Total salary is used for gratuity"

FALSE. Gratuity is calculated on basic salary only. Allowances (housing, transport, commission, bonuses) are excluded. Employers sometimes misquote total salary to inflate your figure — and underpay.

✗
"I must sign a full & final settlement"

You can sign — but get legal review first. Some full & final settlements waive rights you didn't know you had. Never sign under pressure without a lawyer reviewing the document.

At termination, you are entitled to all of these:
  • Full gratuity (1 year+ service)
  • Notice period salary
  • Accrued annual leave cash
  • All unpaid wages
  • Repatriation ticket (overseas hire)
All must be paid within 14 days of termination under UAE Labour Law.
Calculate my gratuity — free →
WRONGFUL TERMINATION

Wrongful & arbitrary termination —
your rights & compensation

UAE Labour Law allows termination for any reason — but with conditions. When those conditions aren't met, or when termination is retaliatory, you are entitled to compensation over and above your standard entitlements.

WHAT COUNTS AS WRONGFUL TERMINATION
Retaliatory termination

Fired for filing a MOHRE complaint or reporting a workplace violation. Explicitly prohibited under FL 33/2021. You get compensation plus the complaint still proceeds.

Discriminatory termination

Terminated due to race, nationality, religion, gender, or pregnancy. UAE Labour Law prohibits discriminatory dismissal regardless of work performance.

Termination during protected leave

Dismissed while on maternity leave, sick leave, or annual leave. These are protected periods — termination during them is unlawful.

Constructive dismissal

Employer makes working conditions intolerable — cutting salary, changing role, removing benefits — to force a resignation. Courts treat this as termination by the employer.

Termination unrelated to work performance

Dismissed for personal reasons, or for reasons the employer cannot prove were legitimate. The burden of justification lies with the employer.

COMPENSATION — WRONGFUL TERMINATION
Entitlement Amount
Full gratuity As calculated (1 yr+)
Notice period salary 30–90 days pay
Accrued leave cash Full amount
All unpaid wages Full amount
Wrongful termination compensation Up to 3 months salary
Wrongful termination compensation (1–3 months gross salary) is awarded in addition to all standard end-of-service entitlements — not instead of them.
WHAT TO DO IMMEDIATELY
01
Document everything

Save all messages, emails, letters, payslips, and communications related to your termination. Do not delete anything.

02
Do not sign anything

If presented with a full & final settlement, do not sign without legal review. Some waive significant rights you're entitled to.

03
File MOHRE within 30 days

The clock starts immediately. Acting within 30 days gives you the strongest position. We file on your behalf the same day.

Get urgent legal help →
SERVICE COVERAGE

Labour cases across
all 7 UAE emirates

MOHRE covers all UAE emirates. We file complaints, attend mediation, and represent clients before Labour Courts in every emirate.

Dubai

MAIN OFFICE

Dubai Labour Court handles the highest volume of employment disputes. All MOHRE complaints for Dubai-based employers file through MOHRE. DIFC and ADGM have separate employment tribunals — we handle both.

Dubai Labour CourtMOHRE DubaiDIFC Employment Tribunal

Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi Labour Court handles private sector disputes. ADGM Employment Tribunal covers ADGM-registered entities. Government sector follows separate civil service regulations.

Abu Dhabi Labour CourtADGM Employment Tribunal

Sharjah

High Pakistani and Indian expat employee population. Many Sharjah-based companies have employees across Dubai and Sharjah. We handle cross-emirate jurisdiction from day one.

Sharjah Labour CourtMOHRE Sharjah

Ajman

Low competition

Ajman Labour Court is underserved by larger firms. Faster timelines in many cases. We file for all labour matters before Ajman courts and MOHRE.

Ajman Labour Court

RAK & Northern Emirates

RAK, Fujairah, and Umm Al Quwain fully covered. Construction and manufacturing sectors are major employers — we handle high-volume worker disputes efficiently.

RAK Labour CourtFujairah Courts

Free Zones — DIFC & ADGM

Separate jurisdiction

DIFC and ADGM have own employment regulations and tribunals — separate from MOHRE. Many employees don't know which regime applies. We identify the correct jurisdiction and file in the right place.

DIFC Employment TribunalADGM Employment Tribunal
Dubai MAIN OFFICE Abu Dhabi Sharjah Ajman RAK ALL 7 EMIRATES
7Emirates + DIFC/ADGM
4 LangArabic · Eng · Urdu · Hindi
1 yrAct fast — limitation

The 1-year limitation period starts from when the right arose — not when employment ended. Act immediately.

WHY ITTIHAD

Why clients choose
Ittihad for labour cases

Labour cases move fast and have short deadlines. Who you choose on day one determines how much you recover.

01

We file the same day — deadlines are strict

Labour cases have the shortest limitation period in UAE — 1 year. MOHRE complaint must be filed within 30 days of the breach. Court registration within 14 days of MOHRE referral. We act immediately — the same day you contact us.

02

We claim everything — not just the obvious

Most employees only claim the headline unpaid salary. We claim everything: gratuity + notice period + annual leave cash + repatriation ticket + wrongful termination compensation + interest. Many clients recover significantly more than they expected.

Gratuity+Notice+Leave+Compensation
03

Arabic · English · Urdu · Hindi — no translation barrier

Pakistani and Indian expats make up the largest proportion of labour dispute cases in UAE. Being able to explain the full context of your employment — the agreements made, the promises broken, the pressure applied — in your own language changes what we can claim.

عربي Arabic English اردو Urdu हिंदी Hindi
04

We defend employers too — honestly

We represent both employees and employers. For employers, we provide honest liability assessment from day one — what the exposure is, what the realistic settlement range is, and the most cost-effective resolution strategy. No prolonged litigation when settlement makes more sense.

4.9
Based on 347 client reviews
MR
Muhammad R.
Dubai · Unpaid salary + Gratuity
★★★★★

My employer hadn't paid salary for 3 months and was threatening a labour ban. Ittihad filed the MOHRE complaint the same day. The case was settled at mediation — full salary plus gratuity, all in 3 weeks. The labour ban threat was empty.

SK
Sunita K.
Sharjah · Wrongful termination
★★★★★

I was terminated after filing a complaint about unpaid overtime. Ittihad told me this was retaliatory — illegal under UAE law. We claimed full entitlements plus 3 months compensation. The employer settled everything before court.

FA
Faisal A.
Dubai · Employer — MOHRE defense
★★★★★

An ex-employee filed exaggerated claims against our company. Ittihad reviewed our documentation, calculated the actual liability, and settled at mediation for the correct amount — significantly less than what was claimed.

Ready to act on your labour case?

Free consultation → WhatsApp: +971 52 179 5170
FREE CONSULTATION

Get a free labour law assessment

Tell us your situation — we respond within 1 hour. The 1-year limitation clock is ticking.

  • 1-year limitation — act now

    The clock starts from when the right arose. Don't wait.

  • We file the same day

    MOHRE complaint filed within hours of your instruction.

  • We represent both sides

    Employees and employers — honest assessment for both.

  • Arabic · English · Urdu · Hindi

    Explain your full situation in your own language.

Prefer to contact directly?

WhatsApp: +971 52 179 5170 Call: +971 52 179 5170

🔒 Confidential · Response within 1 hour

FAQS

Frequently asked questions

Clear answers about MOHRE, gratuity, termination, and your rights in UAE — no jargon.

Still have questions?

Ask our advocates — it's free →
RELATED SERVICES

Other legal services we handle

Labour disputes often connect to other legal matters. We handle all of these across UAE — simultaneously where needed.

Civil Lawsuits

Civil claims for employment contract breaches, unjust enrichment, or compensation exceeding what MOHRE can award.
Criminal Defense

Passport confiscation criminal complaints, employer criminal breach of trust, and defense against false misconduct allegations.
Debt Collection

After a labour judgment, enforce payment through the Execution Court — bank freezes, salary attachment, travel bans.
Cheque Bounce Cases

Salary cheques that bounced — pursue criminal and civil remedies simultaneously alongside the MOHRE complaint.
Business & Corporate Law

Employment contract drafting, WPS compliance review, HR legal risk management for businesses operating in UAE.
Personal Injury

Workplace injury claims — compensation for injuries sustained at work, separate from and in addition to MOHRE gratuity claims.
Not sure which service applies?

Free confidential assessment — we identify the right legal route for your situation.

Get free assessment →