Professional Labour Law Legal Services in Dubai & UAE

Employment disputes rarely wait for a convenient moment. A salary stops arriving, a termination letter lands without warning, a key employee walks out with confidential client lists — and suddenly you need to know exactly what UAE labour law says, what your deadlines are, and what your realistic options look like.

KH Legal’s employment team has spent more than 18 years acting on both sides of the employment relationship in the UAE — for employees recovering what they are owed, and for employers building compliant, defensible workplaces. That dual perspective is an advantage: we know how the other side thinks, because we regularly sit on the other side.

How We Help Employees

Unpaid salary and benefits. Wage claims are among the fastest-moving cases in the UAE system — Wage Protection System records make late payment straightforward to prove. We prepare the MOHRE complaint, represent you in mediation, and take the case to the labour courts if no settlement is reached.

Wrongful and arbitrary dismissal. If you were dismissed for reasons the law does not accept — or in retaliation for asserting your rights — you may be entitled to compensation in addition to notice pay and end-of-service gratuity. We assess the claim honestly before you spend a dirham pursuing it.

End-of-service gratuity. We calculate exactly what Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 entitles you to — basic salary components, accrued leave, notice periods, gratuity — and pursue the difference when the final settlement falls short.

Labour bans and immigration issues. We advise on when bans genuinely apply, how to challenge or avoid them, and how employment disputes interact with residence status — often the most urgent question for expatriate employees.

Restrictive covenants. Before you sign — or breach — a non-compete or non-disclosure clause, get advice. UAE courts enforce reasonable restrictions and strike down excessive ones; which side of the line your clause falls on is a legal judgment, not a guess.

How We Help Employers

• Employment contracts and handbooks that comply with Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 and its implementing regulations — drafted once, correctly, instead of litigated repeatedly
• WPS compliance reviews, before the fines and permit blocks arrive
• Defence of MOHRE complaints and labour court claims
• Lawful restructuring, redundancy and termination processes
• Non-compete, confidentiality and IP-assignment frameworks that hold up in court
• Investigations into employee misconduct, handled so the evidence survives scrutiny

How a Labour Dispute Proceeds in the UAE

1. Case assessment. We review your contract, correspondence and pay records and give you a frank view of the claim’s strength and value.
2. MOHRE complaint. Most private-sector disputes start with a complaint to the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, which attempts mediation — many cases settle here.
3. Referral to the labour court. If mediation fails, the dispute is referred to court. Claims below the statutory threshold are decided by MOHRE itself under recent reforms, with an appeal route to the courts.
4. Judgment and execution. Labour cases are exempt from court fees for employees in most instances, and judgments are enforced through the execution courts, including against company bank accounts.

Most straightforward wage claims resolve in weeks; contested dismissal cases typically run several months. We tell you the realistic timeline for your case at the outset — and we keep you informed in plain language at every stage.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to file a labour claim in the UAE?

Employment claims are subject to a one-year limitation period from the date the entitlement fell due. Waiting is the single most common way employees lose otherwise strong claims — act early.

Is it free to file a labour case?

Employees are exempt from court fees for claims up to the threshold set by law, and MOHRE complaints are free. Legal fees are separate — in suitable cases we offer fixed fees so you know the cost before committing.

Can my employer ban me from working in the UAE?

Work bans are narrower than most employees fear and depend on your visa type, contract and how the relationship ended. Many bans threatened during disputes never materialize. Get advice before accepting a settlement out of fear.

What am I owed if I am terminated?

Typically: notice pay (or payment in lieu), accrued but untaken leave, end-of-service gratuity based on basic salary and years of service, repatriation ticket where applicable, and compensation if the dismissal was unlawful. The calculation has traps on both sides — have it checked.

Do you act for employers or employees?

Both — and we are transparent about it. Acting on both sides keeps our advice realistic: we know which arguments actually persuade MOHRE mediators and labour judges, because we face them every week.