Unpaid salary, a withheld gratuity, a termination that didn’t follow the contract — the UAE gives employees a fast, free complaint route, and it works best when you approach it prepared. Here is the process from first step to enforcement, as we guide clients through it every week.
Before You File: Build Your File
- Your employment contract (the MOHRE-registered version matters most)
- Salary evidence: bank statements, WPS records, payslips
- The dispute trail: termination letter, emails, WhatsApp messages with managers
- A clear calculation of what you are owed: salary months, notice, leave balance, end-of-service gratuity
Ten minutes of organization here shortens everything that follows.
Step 1 — File with MOHRE
Submit the complaint via the MOHRE app, website or call centre (80060). Filing is free, available in multiple languages, and triggers a case number you can track. Describe the claim factually and attach your documents.
Step 2 — Mediation
MOHRE schedules a mediation session and summons the employer. A large share of wage disputes settle here — employers know WPS records make late payment easy to prove. Any settlement is recorded; insist that payment terms are specific and dated.
Step 3 — Decision or Referral
If mediation fails, the route depends on the claim: for amounts up to AED 50,000 (and disputes over breached settlements), MOHRE can decide the case itself — and its decision has executory force, confirmed as constitutional by the Federal Supreme Court in 2026. Larger claims are referred to the labour court, where employees are exempt from court fees within statutory limits.
Step 4 — Challenge or Enforce
A party dissatisfied with a MOHRE decision has fifteen working days to bring the dispute before the Court of First Instance — miss it, and the decision becomes enforceable as it stands. Favourable decisions and judgments are enforced through execution, including against the employer’s bank accounts.
Deadlines That Decide Cases
- One year from when the entitlement fell due to bring the claim — the most common way strong claims die is waiting.
- Fifteen working days to challenge a MOHRE decision in court.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I start a labour complaint in the UAE?
File with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) through the MOHRE app, website, or call centre (80060). Describe the claim, attach your contract and evidence, and the Ministry opens a case and schedules mediation. Filing is free.
How long does a MOHRE complaint take?
Mediation is scheduled quickly — often within days to a couple of weeks. If no settlement is reached, claims up to AED 50,000 can be decided by MOHRE itself with executory force; larger or contested matters are referred to the labour courts. Straightforward wage claims frequently resolve within weeks.
Do I need a lawyer for a labour complaint?
Not to file — the process is designed to be accessible. A lawyer becomes valuable when the amounts are significant, the employer disputes the claim, dismissal legality is at issue, or a MOHRE decision needs challenging in court within the fifteen-working-day window.
Can I file a complaint after leaving the UAE?
Yes — claims can be pursued through a representative under power of attorney, and much of the process is electronic. Remember the one-year limitation period from when the entitlement fell due.
Will filing a complaint affect my visa or get me banned?
Filing a labour complaint is a legal right and does not itself trigger a ban. During a dispute, MOHRE can permit a change of employer in defined cases. Threats of visa retaliation for filing are a pressure tactic — document them.
Facing a labour dispute? Our labour lawyers in Dubai act for employees and employers at every stage — see also our analysis of the Supreme Court ruling on MOHRE’s dispute mechanism.
Free case review: call +971 4 427 0845 or message us on WhatsApp.