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Employment & Labor Law · For Employers · Dubai, UAE

Employment Lawyer for Employers Dubai

Facing a MOHRE complaint, defending a termination claim, or need contracts and policies done properly? Act on the facts, not on guesswork.

MBM advises Dubai companies and HR teams on the full employer side of UAE labour law - drafting and reviewing employment contracts, terminating staff safely, defending MOHRE complaints and employee litigation, and handling misconduct and workplace investigations. We work from the Labour Relations Law and your own documents.

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  • 17 years in practice
  • Over 90 years of shared experience
  • 95% win rate in high-stakes disputes
  • Dubai & Sharjah offices
Free initial consultation · Confidential
The framework

MOHRE now decides most labour disputes directly

UAE employment is governed by the Labour Relations Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021), as amended. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) now issues binding decisions on many labour disputes, with penalties reported up to AED 1,000,000 for non-compliance, and refers unresolved worker complaints to the labour courts.

For an employer, this means a MOHRE complaint is not a preliminary formality - it can be the whole dispute. This page describes the general framework; it is not advice on your matter.

Matters we handle

Employer matters MBM is instructed on

These are the situations that most often reach us. If yours is not listed, it is still worth a call.

HR / Legal Team

Employment contracts & policies

Drafting and reviewing employment contracts and HR policies to reflect current UAE labour law and reduce future dispute risk.

Employer

Terminating an employee safely

Following the correct process, notice and settlement calculation before a termination takes effect.

Employer

Defending a MOHRE complaint

Preparing and presenting the company's response to a complaint filed by a current or former employee.

Employer

Defending unfair dismissal claims

Where a former employee alleges the termination was unlawful, we prepare the company's defence on the facts and the contract.

Employer

Employee misconduct & investigations

Advising on or conducting a properly documented workplace investigation before any disciplinary decision is made.

Employer

Non-compete & confidentiality enforcement

Assessing whether a non-compete or confidentiality clause is enforceable, and pursuing a remedy where it has been breached.

Employer

Being sued by an employee

Where an employee has filed litigation, we prepare and present the company's defence.

Our approach

What MBM actually does for employers

Concrete steps, whether the work is preventive or defensive.

  • Review the contract and the record

    We assess the employment contract, any policies, and how the situation has been documented so far.

  • Confirm the deadline

    MOHRE and labour-court deadlines are often short. We confirm the applicable timeframe immediately.

  • Prepare a properly evidenced response

    Whether responding to MOHRE or defending litigation, the response is built on the contract, the record, and the applicable law.

  • Negotiate a settlement where it serves the company

    Where settlement genuinely reduces cost and risk, we negotiate from a position of preparedness.

  • Represent through to resolution

    From the first MOHRE notice through to the labour courts, if the matter escalates.

Before you call

What to have to hand

You do not need any of this to call us - but having it ready makes the first conversation more useful.

If a MOHRE deadline is running, call first. Do not wait to gather documents.

  • The employment contractAnd any relevant HR policies
  • Any MOHRE notice or complaintIncluding the reference number
  • Termination or disciplinary documentationNotices, warnings, investigation notes
  • Payroll and settlement recordsFinal settlement calculation, if prepared
  • A timeline of eventsAs you understand them, with dates where you can
Why MBM

Employer-side experience, not generic HR advice

MOHRE and the labour courts move on documents and deadlines. What makes the difference is a team that prepares the company's position properly from the first notice.

  • Litigation experience in-house. If a matter has to be argued before the labour courts, the people advising you are the people who will argue it.
  • Preventive and defensive. We draft contracts and policies to reduce risk, and defend the company when a dispute still arises.
  • Straight answers on exposure. If a claim is likely to succeed, we will tell you that early, so the company can decide on settlement with clear eyes.
  • Two offices. Dubai and Sharjah.
17Years in practice as MBM Businessmen Services L.L.C.
90+Years of shared experience across the team
10Lawyers, litigation and arbitration capable
95%Win rate in high-stakes disputes, as published by the firm
Common questions

Employer questions, answered directly

General information, not advice on your matter. Positions and procedures can change and depend on your specific facts.

A former employee has filed a MOHRE complaint against my company - what should I do?

Respond within MOHRE's applicable timeframe and have the underlying employment contract and termination circumstances reviewed before doing so. MOHRE can now issue binding decisions on many labour disputes, with penalties reported up to AED 1,000,000, so an early, well-prepared response matters.

How do I terminate an employee safely under UAE labour law?

Termination should follow the process set out in the employment contract and the Labour Relations Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, as amended), including notice, any applicable grounds, and correct calculation of end-of-service gratuity and final settlement. Getting this wrong is a common source of subsequent claims.

What is unfair or unfair dismissal risk for an employer in the UAE?

A termination that does not follow the required process, or that is found to lack proper grounds, can expose an employer to a claim. MBM reviews the circumstances before termination where possible, or defends the company's position where a claim has already been filed.

Can an employer enforce a non-compete clause against a former employee?

Non-compete clauses are enforceable in the UAE within certain limits as to time, geography and scope. Whether a specific clause is enforceable, and what remedy is available if it is breached, depends on how it is drafted and the facts.

What should an employer do about a confidentiality breach by an employee?

The available remedy depends on what the employment contract and any separate confidentiality undertaking actually say, and on what can be shown about the breach itself. MBM advises on both the contractual position and the practical steps to limit further disclosure.

How should an employer conduct a workplace investigation?

A properly conducted investigation - documented, fair to the employee, and consistent with the company's own policies - protects the company's position if the matter later leads to termination or a claim. MBM can advise on the process or conduct it directly.

Does MBM draft and review employment contracts and HR policies?

Yes. MBM drafts and reviews employment contracts, HR policies and related documentation to reflect current UAE labour law and reduce the risk of later disputes.

Can MBM defend a company against an employee's legal claim?

Yes, including claims filed through MOHRE and, where a matter escalates, before the labour courts. MBM prepares and presents the company's defence based on the employment contract and the facts.

Is MOHRE's decision on a labour complaint final?

MOHRE now issues binding decisions on many labour disputes, though certain matters or higher-value disputes may still be referred to the labour courts. Whether a MOHRE decision is final, or can be challenged, depends on the nature of the dispute and the value involved.

How much does employer-side employment law advice cost in Dubai?

The initial consultation with MBM is free. Cost thereafter depends on whether the matter is advisory, a MOHRE response, or full litigation. MBM provides a scope and fee position before you instruct.

Free consultation

Tell us about your matter

Tell us briefly about your situation. Our team will review your enquiry and advise you on the appropriate next step. Everything you send is treated as confidential.

Practice area: Employment & Labor Law Jurisdiction: Dubai & Sharjah, UAE Last reviewed: September 2026
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We will review your enquiry and come back to you with the appropriate next step. No obligation, and no outcome is promised. Your information is treated as confidential and is not used for marketing.

Thank you — your enquiry is with our team.

A member of the MBM team will review what you have sent and come back to you with the appropriate next step.

MOHRE deadlines are short. Prepare the company's position early.

Whether you are drafting contracts, terminating staff, or defending a claim, the earlier the file is reviewed, the stronger the company's position. The first consultation is free.

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