An employment lawyer in Dubai helps employees and employers with legal matters at work, such as contracts, wrongful termination, unpaid wages, end-of-service gratuity, and workplace disputes. In the UAE, employment is governed by the Labour Law and, in free zones like the DIFC, by their own rules, and an employment lawyer makes sure your rights under the correct law are protected. For employees, that can mean recovering unpaid dues or fighting an unfair dismissal; for employers, it means compliant contracts and safe handling of terminations. At Salha Al Basti Advocates, our employment lawyers bring 35+ years of combined legal experience and work in both English and Arabic across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and the UAE. Whether you were dismissed unfairly, owed money, or need advice as a business, an employment lawyer in Dubai guides you through MOHRE and the labour courts to a fair result. Acting within the time limits is critical, because labour claims must be filed quickly.

Employment Issues We Handle

Workplace disputes take many forms, and knowing your type points to the right claim. Here are the workplace issues that most often reach us.

Because each issue has its own rules and deadlines under UAE labour law, matching yours to the right route is where a fair outcome begins.

How to Claim Your Labour Rights

Most UAE labour disputes follow a clear path, and knowing it helps you act in time. You usually start by filing a complaint with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE), which tries to settle the matter between the parties. If no settlement is reached, the case moves to the labour court, where a judge decides it. Free zone employees, such as those in the DIFC, follow their own separate process and courts. Strict time limits apply, often one year from when the entitlement arose, so delay can cost you the claim. A lawyer prepares your evidence, meets the deadlines, and represents you at each stage. Because labour claims are deadline-driven and process-specific, having a lawyer manage them protects your right to be heard.

What You May Be Entitled To

UAE labour law gives employees clear entitlements, and knowing them helps you claim fully:

• Your unpaid salary, allowances, and agreed commissions
• Overtime pay where you worked beyond your contracted hours
• End-of-service gratuity based on your length of service
• Payment in lieu of untaken annual leave
• Compensation for arbitrary or unfair dismissal

Because many employees leave money on the table by not claiming everything they are owed, a lawyer makes sure your full entitlement is included.

Help for Employees and Employers

Employment law has two sides, and we act for both, each needing a different approach.

For Employees

An employee facing dismissal, unpaid dues, or mistreatment needs someone to enforce their rights, and an employment law lawyer helps you claim what you are owed and challenge unfair treatment.

For Employers

An employer needs compliant contracts, lawful policies, and safe handling of terminations to avoid claims, and a lawyer helps you meet UAE labour rules, alongside your corporate obligations, and defend against complaints.

Because employees and employers have opposite needs, having a lawyer who understands your side leads to the right outcome.

When to See an Employment Lawyer in Dubai

Some workplace problems can be raised directly, but others need legal help quickly:

• When you are dismissed and believe it was unfair or unlawful
• When wages, overtime, or gratuity are unpaid at the end of a job
• When your employer breaches the terms of your contract
• When you face harassment, discrimination, or an unsafe workplace
• When, as an employer, you receive a labour complaint or claim

Because labour claims have strict deadlines in the UAE, getting a lawyer involved early protects both your rights and any evidence you may need.

Free Zone and DIFC Employment

Not all UAE jobs follow the same rules, and where you work decides which law applies.

Mainland Employment

Employees on the mainland fall under the federal Labour Law and resolve disputes through MOHRE and the labour courts, with rights and notice periods set by that law.

Free Zone and DIFC Employment

Employees in a free zone such as the DIFC or ADGM are covered by that zone's own employment law and courts, which run in English, and an employment arbitration lawyer can help where a contract sends disputes to arbitration.

Because the applicable rules change with the workplace, knowing which system governs your job is the first step to a valid claim.

Why Choose Our Employment Team

Employment cases reward a firm that knows both the Labour Law and the free zone systems, and moves within the deadlines, and that is our strength. With 35+ years of combined experience and more than 3000+ clients served, we have acted for employees and employers across Dubai and the wider UAE, and for an employment lawyer UAE clients trust in complex cases. We work in English and Arabic, prepare your evidence and filings on time, and represent you at MOHRE, the labour courts, or a free zone tribunal. Registered with the Dubai Legal Affairs Department and meeting UAE Bar standards, we pair legal skill with the right guidance and practical, fair advice. Because winning a labour claim depends on acting correctly and on time, an experienced employment team on your side gives you a real advantage.

Protect Your Workplace Rights Today

Whether you are an employee owed your dues or an employer needing sound advice, the right lawyer protects your position. Salha Al Basti Advocates brings 35+ years of legal experience, more than 3000+ clients served, and a bilingual team across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and the UAE, handling employment matters for both sides. Our employment lawyers, part of a full-service legal team, assess your case, explain your rights, and pursue the fastest route to a fair result, at MOHRE, in court, or in a free zone. Do not wait until a deadline passes to act. Call our Dubai office on +971 4-397-0701, email ask@albastiadvocates.com, or visit us at Business Venue Building (TAS-HEEL), Suite 510-512, Oud Metha, Dubai.

Frequently Asked Questions