The MOHRE Complaint Process, Explained

Who MOHRE covers, and who it doesn't

MOHRE handles labour disputes for private-sector employees on the mainland. If you work in a free zone with its own labour authority, or for the government, your complaint may need to go through a different channel, check your employment contract and offer letter for which authority applies. For most private-sector mainland workers, though, MOHRE is the first stop for unpaid salary, wrongful termination, contract breaches and end-of-service disputes.

Step 1: Filing the complaint

You can file a complaint yourself through the MOHRE app, the MOHRE call centre (800 60), or a Tas'heel typing centre, filing itself is free of charge. The stronger route is to prepare a proper case file first: your employment contract, salary proof (payslips or bank statements), any written correspondence with your employer, and a clear, dated account of what happened. A well-organised file makes the conciliation stage far more productive, because the case officer can see the facts quickly rather than piecing them together from a verbal account.

Step 2: The conciliation session

Once filed, MOHRE typically calls both you and your employer in for a conciliation session, usually within around two weeks. This is an informal meeting where a MOHRE officer tries to help both sides reach a settlement, for example, an agreed payment plan for owed salary, or agreed terms for the end of employment. Many complaints are resolved at this stage without ever reaching court.

If conciliation doesn't work: referral to court

If the two sides can't agree, MOHRE refers the case onward. Disputes involving amounts over AED 50,000 typically go to the Labour Court, while smaller claims may follow a simplified track. From this point, you're in a formal official process, and it's worth having a licensed lawyer represent you, the facts you gathered for the MOHRE file will carry through and strengthen your case.

Common mistakes that slow the process down

• Filing without evidence of salary or the written contract, which delays the conciliation session.
• Waiting months after the dispute arose, when documents and messages have already been deleted or lost.
• Assuming a verbal promise from HR counts as proof, get everything in writing where possible, even a WhatsApp message confirming what was agreed.
• Not knowing your notice period or contract type, which affects what you're entitled to claim.

How DocuGulf helps

We prepare your case file, translate documents where needed, file the complaint with MOHRE, and follow up on your behalf through conciliation, and, if the matter needs to go further, we coordinate a referral to a partner lawyer for the court stage. Our filing package is AED 750; the MOHRE filing itself remains free, and any later court fees are shown separately at cost.

Key takeaways: MOHRE filing is free; the conciliation stage usually happens within about 14 days; claims over AED 50,000 that aren't settled move to the Labour Court; a well-documented case file makes every stage faster. See our MOHRE Filing service for the full process and pricing.

A note on scope: DocuGulf is a documentation facilitation service. All kinds of work is performed by licensed notaries, translators and approved typing centres. Reach us at info@docugulf.com or +971 58 569 3628.