A salary that never showed up. A termination that felt completely unfair. Gratuity your employer just won’t release. When something like this happens, the difference between getting paid and getting nothing often comes down to two things: knowing where to file, and filing in time.
The reassuring part is that the UAE’s dispute system is built to resolve things quickly. MOHRE reports that 98.6 per cent of labour disputes were resolved amicably in the first half of 2026, with only about 1.4 per cent referred to the courts. Most people who file never see the inside of a courtroom.
This guide covers the whole process, from deciding whether you have a valid complaint to what happens if your case reaches court.
Table of Contents
- Do you have a valid complaint?
- Your deadline: two years, but don’t wait
- Step 1: Try to settle it directly
- Step 2: Get your evidence together
- Step 3: File with MOHRE
- Step 4: The 14-day settlement window
- Step 5: MOHRE decision or court referral
- Step 6: Registering your case in court
- While your case is pending
- What’s new in 2026
- Special cases: free zones and domestic workers
- Mistakes that cost workers their claims
- Tips for a better outcome
- FAQ
- The bottom line
Do you have a valid complaint?
You likely have grounds if your employer has:
- Paid your salary late or skipped it
- Withheld your end-of-service gratuity after you left
- Denied annual, sick or maternity leave
- Terminated you without notice or without a valid reason
- Failed to provide a safe workplace
- Held your passport, which is not allowed in the UAE
- Made you work beyond legal daily or weekly hour limits
- Charged you for your visa, work permit or recruitment costs, which are the employer’s responsibility
- Breached your contract in any material way
On gratuity specifically: employers must pay it within 14 days of the contract ending, and the basic wage, not your total package, is what it’s calculated on.
Your deadline: two years, but don’t wait
The time limit is the single most important thing to know. Under the 2024 amendment, no employment claim can be heard after two years from the date the employment relationship ends, up from one year since 31 August 2024.
One caution: some official pages haven’t caught up. A summary on the UAE government portal still shows the older one-year figure, and some law-firm guides do too. Plan around the shorter one if you’re unsure, and confirm with MOHRE.
If the problem is ongoing, such as unpaid wages while you still work there, file as soon as it happens. Waiting makes evidence harder to collect and weakens your position.
Step 1: Try to settle it directly
Before you escalate, raise the issue with your manager or HR in writing. Plenty of disputes are payroll errors or misunderstandings that a direct email clears up in days. If that goes nowhere, you’ve at least created a paper trail.
Save everything: emails, WhatsApp messages and meeting notes. If the dispute escalates, that record becomes your evidence.
Step 2: Get your evidence together
A well-documented complaint moves faster and lands harder. Gather:
- Your signed employment contract and any amendments
- Salary slips and bank statements showing what you were actually paid
- Your termination or resignation letter, if relevant
- Messages and emails about the dispute
- Your passport copy and Emirates ID
- Your work permit number
- Statements or contact details from colleagues who can back you up
Keep digital and paper copies. If the case reaches court, you may need originals or certified copies.
Step 3: File with MOHRE
Every mainland private-sector labour complaint starts at MOHRE, and you can’t skip straight to court. Filing is free. MOHRE’s service page lists the fee as none.
Ways to file:
- MOHRE website: mohre.gov.ae, under labour complaint services.
- MOHRE UAE mobile app: good for filing and tracking on your phone.
- Labour Claims and Advisory Call Centre: toll-free on 80084, where workers can get help with grievances and legal questions.
- Tawafuq service centres: these receive and examine complaints and try to reach an amicable settlement, but they don’t make the final decision.
Once your complaint is registered, both parties receive a text message with the complaint number. Keep it. You can use it to track your case through MOHRE’s app or website, or by calling 600 590000.
Step 4: The 14-day settlement window
MOHRE’s first goal is a deal. The ministry is required to resolve individual complaints within 14 days of submission, by settlement, a final decision or a court referral.
In practice, a MOHRE officer or legal advisor contacts you and your employer by phone or video. Some people report a call within about 72 hours, though MOHRE’s own guidance says contact comes within 14 days of registration. Answer unknown numbers during this period. A missed call can cost you.
If both sides agree, the settlement is recorded and becomes binding. This is where almost every case ends.
Step 5: MOHRE decision or court referral
What happens next depends on the size of your claim.
Claims up to AED 50,000. Since 1 January 2024, MOHRE has been able to issue a binding decision itself on claims that don’t exceed AED 50,000. That cuts out months of litigation. If either side disagrees, they can appeal to the Court of Appeal within 15 working days, which temporarily suspends the ministry’s decision until the court rules. Working days exclude weekends and public holidays.
Claims above AED 50,000. If settlement fails, MOHRE refers the dispute to the labour court with a memo summarizing the dispute and the evidence from both sides.
Step 6: Registering your case in court
If you’re referred to court, speed matters.
- Register the case within 14 days of the referral. MOHRE’s guidance says the complainant must record the complaint with the competent court within 14 days. Miss it and you can lose the case on a technicality.
- Cancel your original work permit if your employment has ended. MOHRE’s guide says this application is due within 14 days of the final court decision, and within 60 days of notification of a MOHRE decision, unless employment is continuing.
Court costs. For most workers this is good news. Article 55 of the Labour Law exempts workers from judicial fees at all stages, including enforcement, for claims under AED 100,000. For larger claims, fees apply, so ask a lawyer or the court what to expect.
While your case is pending
Your wages. If you keep working during a referred dispute, you have the right to claim two months’ wages, and MOHRE can order the employer to keep paying you for up to two months.
Working elsewhere. Once the case is in court, you can apply to MOHRE for a temporary work permit to work with another employer until it’s resolved. Don’t take any job without that permit. It can invalidate your complaint and trigger penalties.
Your permit. If the complaint leads you to stop working, your work permit is cancelled six months after the case is referred to the labour court.
What’s new in 2026
New salary deadline. Under Ministerial Resolution No. 340 of 2026, private-sector salaries must be paid on the first day of each month from 1 June 2026, and the old grace period is gone. Enforcement escalates quickly:
- From day five, MOHRE may suspend new work permits for the employer.
- Beyond day 16, MOHRE may register individual or collective labour disputes on workers’ behalf. This applies to employers with 25 or more affected workers, and to certain sectors such as construction and security. If you work for a smaller company, you’ll likely still need to file yourself.
Bigger penalties. Fines for many serious labour violations now run from AED 100,000 to AED 1 million per violation, multiplied by the number of affected workers.
Special cases: free zones and domestic workers
Free zone employees. MOHRE’s process is built for employers holding a mainland trade licence regulated by MOHRE. Many free zones, such as DIFC, have their own employment rules, courts and time limits. In the DIFC, for example, the deadline to claim unpaid gratuity is six months. Check with your free zone authority, or call 80084 first.
Domestic workers. You fall under a separate law (Federal Decree-Law No. 9 of 2022). MOHRE has handled disputes involving domestic workers and recruitment agencies since 1 January 2024, so you can file through the same channels.
If you were charged recruitment or visa fees to get your job, that’s also a violation. Our guide to Dubai job scams explains why, and how to spot the offers that start this way.
Mistakes that cost workers their claims
- Waiting too long. The two-year limit is real, and workers who leave the UAE planning to “sort it out later” often find it has expired.
- Poor documentation. Vague complaints with no evidence slow everything down.
- Not tracking your case. MOHRE won’t always chase you. Check status with your complaint number.
- Missing a call or message. Delays can be read as disinterest.
- Missing the 14-day court registration deadline. If you’re referred, this is the one that matters most.
- Missing the 15-working-day appeal window. Only working days count.
- Taking a new job without a temporary permit. It can undermine your claim.
Tips for a better outcome
- Stick to facts. Dates, amounts and contract clauses carry more weight than frustration, however justified.
- Calculate what you’re owed first. Use a UAE gratuity calculator before any negotiation so you know your number.
- Respond fast. Reply to MOHRE or the court within the time they give you.
- Show up. Attend every mediation session or hearing, in person or online.
- Stay professional. Mediators and courts notice conduct on both sides.
- Consider a lawyer for larger claims. Complicated or high-value disputes are where a UAE labour lawyer earns their fee.
FAQ
How do I file a labour complaint in Dubai?
Through MOHRE’s website, its mobile app, or the Labour Claims and Advisory Call Centre on 80084. Filing is free.
How long do I have to file?
Two years from the end of your employment under the 2024 amendment. File earlier if the problem is ongoing, and confirm the current limit with MOHRE.
Can MOHRE force my employer to pay me?
For claims up to AED 50,000, yes. MOHRE can issue a binding decision. Larger claims go to the labour court.
Do I pay anything to file?
No. Filing with MOHRE is free, and workers are exempt from court fees on claims under AED 100,000.
Can I work somewhere else while my case is pending?
Only with a temporary work permit from MOHRE, which you can apply for once the case is in court.
What if my company is in a free zone?
Check your free zone authority first. Many have their own employment rules and different deadlines.
The bottom line
Filing a labour complaint in Dubai is free, mostly digital and designed to be settled quickly. The system works when you use it: act early, document everything and follow the steps in order. Whether it’s a month of unpaid salary or a year of gratuity, your claim starts with one thing, a MOHRE complaint number.
If you’re job hunting after a bad experience, PropelGig’s verified listings and scam-awareness guides can help you find your next role more safely.
This article is for general information only and isn’t legal advice. For case-specific guidance, speak to a licensed UAE employment lawyer or contact MOHRE directly.