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Labour complaint filing in Dubai

A labour complaint in Dubai starts with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE), which can decide claims of up to AED 50,000 itself. We help employees and employers prepare a clear complaint and the documents behind it, then guide you while you file through MOHRE's own channels.

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Overview

How labour complaints work in Dubai

If you work for, or run, a private-sector business on the UAE mainland, including Dubai, labour disputes go to MOHRE first. Either side can file: an employee chasing unpaid salary or end-of-service dues, or an employer dealing with a breach of contract by a worker. Complaints are filed through the MOHRE website, the MOHRE smart app or its labour claims and advisory call centre.

After a complaint is registered, both parties receive a reference number by text message and an invitation to settle, and a MOHRE representative then contacts you. If the dispute settles, MOHRE records the settlement. If it does not, MOHRE can issue a final decision itself where the claim is AED 50,000 or less. That decision can be enforced like a court judgment unless either side challenges it in court within 15 working days of being notified. Larger claims that do not settle are referred to court.

Much of this comes down to paperwork and timing. A complaint with the right contract, accurate figures and a clear timeline is easier for MOHRE to assess and harder for the other side to dispute. That is the part we help with. We are not a law firm, we do not advise on what you are entitled to, and we do not speak for you in MOHRE calls or court hearings.

Who it's for

Who it's for

  • 01

    Employees with unpaid dues

    Unpaid salary, overtime, leave pay, end-of-service gratuity or a contractual benefit that was never provided.

  • 02

    Employees in a dispute at exit

    A contract ended without notice, a work permit cancellation disagreement, or final dues that do not add up.

  • 03

    Employers responding to a complaint

    Businesses that need contracts, payroll and attendance records organised and translated for MOHRE.

  • 04

    Employers with a claim of their own

    Breach of contract, or a work abandonment complaint when an employee stops coming to work without explanation.

  • 05

    Domestic workers and their employers

    Domestic worker disputes are also handled by MOHRE, using the worker's unified ID number.

Our part

What we do, and what we don't

Clear boundaries, so you know exactly what you're paying for and who decides each step.

Included

  • Checking whether your dispute belongs with MOHRE, a free zone authority or a court
  • A document checklist tailored to employees or employers
  • A claim summary listing each amount, matched to your payslips, contract and bank records
  • Legal Arabic translation of contracts, offer letters, emails and warning letters
  • Guiding you through the complaint form on the MOHRE app or website
  • Preparing your court file if MOHRE refers the claim
  • Help with replies and documents MOHRE asks for during the process

Not included

  • Advice on what you are legally entitled to or whether to accept a settlement
  • Filing the complaint in our name or from our account
  • Speaking for you in MOHRE calls, settlement meetings or court hearings
  • Negotiating with your employer or employee on your behalf
Documents

Documents you'll need

  • Employee: work permit number and passport number, plus the unified ID number for domestic workers
  • Employer: establishment number, plus the unified ID number for domestic worker establishments
  • The employment contract and any offer letter or amendment
  • Payslips, bank statements or Wage Protection System (WPS) records showing what was paid
  • Resignation or termination letter, and any notice or warning letters
  • Emails or messages about the unpaid amounts or the dispute
  • Legal Arabic translations of key documents if the claim moves to court

MOHRE may ask for more as the case progresses; we confirm the list for your situation before you file.

Fees and timing

Two fees, shown separately

  • Government fees, paid at cost

    Any MOHRE or court fees are set by the authority and paid at cost; we confirm them with you before you file. Our service fee is quoted separately in writing.

  • Global Sky PRO service fee

    Quoted in writing before we start, so you know the full cost up front.

  • Timing

    MOHRE tries to settle first, so the overall time depends on whether your case settles, is decided by MOHRE or goes to court. The deadlines for challenges and court registration are short, so we plan around them from the first day.

Process

How it works, step by step

Each step shows who does what, so you always know where things stand.

  • You
  • Global Sky PRO
  • Authority

  1. Step 1: Gather your records

    You

    Send us your contract, payslips, bank statements and any letters, with a short timeline of what happened and when.

  2. Step 2: Check the route

    Global Sky PRO

    We confirm whether MOHRE, a free zone authority or a court is the right starting point, and list any missing documents.

  3. Step 3: Prepare the complaint

    Global Sky PRO

    We type a clear claim summary, match each amount to its evidence and arrange the translations you may need later.

  4. Step 4: File with MOHRE

    You

    You submit through the MOHRE website, app or call centre in your own name, with our guidance, and keep the reference number safe.

  5. Step 5: MOHRE contacts both parties

    Authority

    A MOHRE representative contacts you to try to settle. Without a settlement, MOHRE decides claims up to AED 50,000 or refers larger ones to court.

  6. Step 6: Prepare the next stage

    Global Sky PRO

    If MOHRE issues a decision or refers the claim, we help you prepare the documents and translations for the next step, with the deadlines in view.

Good to know

Details that save time

For employees: building a strong complaint

The strongest complaints are specific. Instead of saying your company owes you money, list each item, the period it covers and the document that proves it. MOHRE can then see the claim at a glance, and your employer has less room to dispute it.

Keep your records while you still have access to them. Download your payslips, keep copies of emails about pay and leave, and note your attendance and leave dates. If you resign or are dismissed, keep the letter and write down the date you received it.

  • Unpaid salary: the months affected and the amount for each
  • End-of-service gratuity: your start date, end date and last basic salary
  • Leave pay: the leave days you earned and the days you took
  • Notice period: whether it was worked, paid or waived
  • Other contract benefits: the clause and what was not provided

For employers: responding and raising claims

When an employee files, MOHRE contacts the employer too. Responding with organised records, such as signed contracts, Wage Protection System payment files, leave approvals and warning letters, makes it easier to settle on facts rather than memories. We pull those records into one clear bundle, with translations where needed.

Employers can raise their own complaints as well, for example for a breach of contract or a work abandonment complaint when an employee stops coming to work. These carry real consequences for the worker, so the facts and dates must be accurate. We prepare the paperwork; whether to file and what to claim is your decision, ideally made with an advocate's advice.

Free zones, deadlines and the court stage

MOHRE covers private-sector employment on the UAE mainland. If you work in a free zone, your dispute may start with the free zone authority instead, and the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) have their own employment laws and courts. We check where your case belongs before you file anything.

Two deadlines matter most. A MOHRE decision on a claim of AED 50,000 or less can be challenged in court within 15 working days of notification; if neither side does so, the decision stands and can be enforced. Claims themselves are also time-limited: under the Labour Law as amended in 2024, a claim must be brought within two years of the end of employment. These limits have changed in recent years, so we confirm the current rule before you file, and it is wise not to wait.

FAQs

Labour complaint: your questions

Short answers here. Your situation may differ, so ask us before you decide.

Still have a question?

An adviser replies during opening hours, Mon–Sat 10:00–21:00.

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How do I file a labour complaint with MOHRE?

File through the MOHRE website, the MOHRE smart app or the labour claims and advisory call centre. Employees need their work permit and passport numbers; employers need their establishment number. Both parties then receive a reference number by text message and an invitation to settle. We prepare your claim summary and documents first, then guide you while you submit.

Can I file a labour complaint online?

Yes. MOHRE accepts labour complaints through its website and its smart app, so most complaints can be started without visiting an office. Have your work permit and passport numbers ready, or your establishment number as an employer, along with the documents that support your claim. We get these in order and walk you through the online form.

What happens if my claim is over AED 50,000?

MOHRE still tries to reach an amicable settlement first. If a claim over AED 50,000 does not settle, MOHRE refers it to the competent court, and you then need to register the case there within the period set after referral. Court files need documents in Arabic, so we prepare the translations and court file in advance and guide your registration.

How long do I have to file a labour claim?

Under the Labour Law as amended in 2024, claims must be brought within two years of the end of the employment relationship. Because these limits have changed in recent years, we confirm the rule that applies to you before you file. Whatever the limit, filing sooner is better: records are easier to find and the facts are fresher.

How do I check my labour complaint status?

Use the reference number MOHRE sends you by text message when the complaint is registered. You can follow the complaint through the MOHRE channels you used to file it, such as the app or website, or by calling the labour claims call centre. Keep the number safe and note the date of every call or message from MOHRE.

Do I need a lawyer for a labour complaint?

Not for the MOHRE stage. Employees and employers file complaints in their own names, and many disputes settle there. If your claim goes to court, is large or involves allegations against you, a licensed advocate's advice is worth having, because only advocates can represent you in court. We prepare documents and translations for either route.

Do workers pay court fees for a labour case in the UAE?

Not for smaller claims. The UAE government portal states that workers, or their heirs, are exempt from judicial fees at every stage of litigation and enforcement for claims under AED 100,000. Claims above that level, and claims brought by employers, follow the court's normal fees. The exemption covers court fees only, so translation and typing are separate costs. We confirm what applies before you file and quote our own fee in writing, apart from any government charge.

Source: u.ae: labour dispute

Can I appeal a MOHRE decision on my labour complaint?

Yes. Where the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) decides a claim of up to AED 50,000, its current guidance says either party may appeal to the competent Court of Appeal within 15 working days of being notified. If no one appeals, the decision carries the force of an execution writ, so it can be enforced. These rules have changed in recent years, so we check MOHRE's latest guidance with you, and an advocate can advise on whether to appeal.

Source: MOHRE: how to file a labour complaint

Can I work for another employer while my labour case is in court?

You may be able to. MOHRE's current guidance says that once a complaint is referred to court, the court case must be filed within 14 days of the referral, and during that period a worker can apply for a temporary work permit with a new employer, unless the worker is accused of absconding. Because these procedures have been revised in recent years, we confirm the rule MOHRE applies today before you or a new employer apply.

Source: MOHRE: how to file a labour complaint

What happens if I miss MOHRE's call about my labour complaint?

Your complaint may be closed. MOHRE's guidance says a ministry representative contacts you by phone within 14 days of filing, and that a complaint can be closed if the complainant does not respond within the set time. Keep your phone on, answer unknown numbers during that period and keep your reference number to hand. MOHRE says appointments can be rescheduled, so if you miss one, call its Labour Claims and Advisory Call Centre on 80084 straight away.

Source: MOHRE: how to file a labour complaint

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Global Sky PRO is not a law firm and does not give legal advice or court representation. We prepare, type and translate your documents and guide you through filing; for representation, please consult a licensed advocate. Last reviewed 31 October 2026 by the Global Sky PRO team.

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