File a labour complaint with MOHRE in the UAE
MOHRE handles private-sector employment complaints and attempts amicable settlement before any referral to the labour court.
- Timeline
- 2-8 weeks at the MOHRE stage
- Cost
- Free at MOHRE; court fees waived for claims under AED 100,000
- Steps
- 7 stages
Deadline — read this first
One year from the date the entitlement arose.
Who can file
Any private-sector employee under a MOHRE-registered contract. Free zone employees follow their zone's authority.
Step by step
- 1
Attempt internal resolution
Raise the issue with HR in writing; MOHRE will ask what steps were taken.
- 2
Lodge the complaint
Submit through the MOHRE app, website or a Tas'heel service centre with contract and salary evidence.
- 3
Attend mediation
A MOHRE officer contacts both parties and proposes a settlement, often within two weeks.
- 4
Obtain the referral letter
If mediation fails, MOHRE issues a referral to the Court of First Instance with its recommendation.
- 5
File at the labour court
Submit the referral and claim; fees are waived below AED 100,000.
- 6
Attend the hearings
Documents in Arabic carry weight; certified translations of English contracts are required.
- 7
Enforce the judgment
Execution is handled by the court's enforcement department, which can attach bank accounts and trade licences.
Documents you must produce
- Employment contract registered with MOHRE
- Emirates ID and passport copy
- Salary transfer records or WPS statements
- Resignation or termination letter
- Calculation of gratuity and unpaid entitlements
Common mistakes that sink cases
- Assuming free zone employment is covered by MOHRE; DIFC and ADGM have separate systems.
- Leaving the country before the complaint is resolved, which complicates representation.
- Relying on an unregistered side contract, which MOHRE will not enforce over the registered one.
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