How to File a MOHRE Complaint in the UAE (2026): Step-by-Step Guide

Verified against MOHRE and the UAE Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, as amended by No. 9 of 2024)

Learning how to file a MOHRE complaint in the UAE starts with knowing your rights. A MOHRE labour complaint is the official, free way for a private-sector worker to claim unpaid salary, gratuity, or other rights from an employer. You file it with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) online, on the app, or by calling the labour complaint number, 600590000. MOHRE then tries to settle the dispute within 14 days.

This guide walks you through every step: the channels, the documents you need, what happens after you file, and the rules most people miss. If your dispute involves your labour contract terms themselves, it’s worth confirming what’s actually registered with MOHRE before you file, since your complaint should match your official contract, not just what was verbally agreed.

What Is a MOHRE Complaint?

A MOHRE complaint is a formal labour dispute you raise against your employer through the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation. It covers most private-sector jobs on the UAE mainland.

MOHRE reviews the case and tries to settle it fairly within 14 days. If there is no settlement, MOHRE itself can issue a final, binding decision for claims up to AED 50,000. Only claims above AED 50,000 are referred to the labour court.

The process sits under the UAE Labour Law, Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, updated by Federal Decree-Law No. 9 of 2024. It applies to private-sector workers, both expats and UAE nationals.

When Should You File a Labour Complaint?

File a labour complaint when your employer breaks the contract or the law. The most common reasons are:

• Unpaid or delayed salary
• Unpaid end-of-service gratuity
• Arbitrary or unfair dismissal
• Forced resignation
• Unpaid leave salary, overtime, or other benefits
• A withheld passport or documents

If the money or right is clear and your employer will not fix it, a MOHRE complaint is your route. If your dispute is specifically about unpaid overtime or your end-of-service gratuity amount, working out the exact figure you’re owed before you file makes your complaint far stronger.

Before You File: 3 Quick Checks

A few minutes here saves weeks of delay.

1. Mainland or free zone?

MOHRE handles mainland private-sector jobs. If you work in a free zone like DIFC or ADGM, your dispute usually goes through that zone’s own system, not MOHRE. Check your contract first.

2. Employee or domestic worker?

Domestic workers (maids, drivers, nannies) fall under a separate law, Federal Decree-Law No. 9 of 2022, and a separate complaint channel. Filing in the wrong one slows everything down.

3. Are you within the deadline?

This is the rule most people miss. You generally have two years from the end of your employment to file. The deadline used to be one year, but the 2024 amendment extended it to two. Do not wait until the last moment, evidence is easier to gather early.

How to File a MOHRE Complaint in the UAE? Step by Step

Step 1: Choose your channel

You can file and follow up through any of these:

Channel	Number / access	Best for
MOHRE call centre (24/7)	600590000	Filing and follow-up any time
WhatsApp	600590000	Quick filing and updates by chat
Labour Claims & Advisory Centre (toll-free)	80084	Advice and filing in Arabic, English, Urdu (Mon to Sat, 8am to 8pm)
MOHRE website	mohre.gov.ae	Filing and tracking with your complaint number
MOHRE app	the “MOHRE” app	Filing and status updates on mobile

If you want guidance before you file, the Labour Claims and Advisory Centre on 80084 is the easiest start.

Step 2: Prepare your claim clearly

MOHRE moves faster when your complaint is short and specific. Write it in three parts:

• What happened: a short, date-based timeline (5 to 8 lines).
• What you want: exact amounts (salary owed, gratuity, benefits).
• What proves it: the documents you are attaching.

Avoid long stories. Clear numbers and dates win.

Step 3: Gather your documents

Have your Emirates ID or passport ready, plus the documents for your type of dispute:

Your dispute	Documents to attach
Unpaid or delayed salary	Contract + WPS/bank salary proof + payslips + a short timeline
Termination / forced resignation	Contract + dismissal or resignation letter + last salary proof + any warnings or messages
Gratuity / end-of-service	Contract + basic-wage proof (payslips) + start and end dates + any settlement sheet
Leave salary / benefits	Contract + leave approvals + payslips

Step 4: Submit and save your complaint number

Once you submit, MOHRE gives you a complaint reference number. Save it. You can track your complaint’s status anytime on the MOHRE website or app using this number, and you will need it for any follow-up.

Step 5: Follow up and respond fast

If MOHRE asks for more documents, send them quickly. Most cases are stuck because evidence arrived late.

What Happens After You File?

Once your complaint is in, it follows a set legal path. Here is what happens at each stage, and how long it takes.

Stage 1: Amicable settlement (within 14 days)

MOHRE reviews your claim and contacts both sides to settle it fairly. Most cases end here. Clear amounts and strong evidence settle faster.

Stage 2: Binding decision for claims up to AED 50,000

If there is no settlement, MOHRE can now decide the case itself for claims up to AED 50,000. This is the big 2024 change. The decision is enforceable directly, so you do not need a long court case to recover your money.

Stage 3: Referral to court for larger claims

If your claim is over AED 50,000 and no settlement is reached, MOHRE refers it to the labour court, along with a summary of the dispute and the evidence from both sides.

Stage 4: Appeal and court timelines

Either side can appeal MOHRE’s decision to the Court of First Instance within 15 working days. The court then schedules a hearing within 3 working days and usually decides the case within about 30 working days.

Quick timeline at a glance:

• Settlement attempt: within 14 days
• MOHRE binding decision (up to AED 50,000) or court referral (over AED 50,000): if no settlement
• Appeal window: 15 working days
• Court hearing scheduled: within 3 working days
• Court decision: around 30 working days

Your Rights While the Complaint Is Pending

This is where many guides go quiet. Three things protect you:

Salary continuation for up to 2 months

Where your employer has stopped your wages, MOHRE can order them to keep paying you for up to two months while the dispute is resolved. This power, added by the 2024 amendment, is at MOHRE’s discretion and is aimed at employers who use delay as a weapon.

Separately, if your case is referred to court and you continue working for the same employer while it’s pending, you generally retain the right to claim up to two months of wages for that period, under Article 31(4) of Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022.

Filing is free

You do not pay to file a MOHRE complaint. Better still, under Article 55 of the Labour Law, workers and their heirs are exempt from court fees at every stage of litigation and execution for claims under AED 100,000.

Your visa and a temporary work permit

A complaint does not erase your visa overnight, but your status is tied to your work permit. There is strong protection here. If your case has been referred to court, or your employer has not paid you for more than two months, you can apply to MOHRE for a temporary work permit. This lets you legally work for a new employer while your case continues.

One catch: this permit is not available if an absconding report has been filed against you, which is another reason to file your own complaint early. Get advice through MOHRE on 600590000 or 80084 before you make a move.

Filing From Outside the UAE or After You’ve Left

You do not have to be inside the country to act. From abroad, the most reliable channels are the MOHRE app and the website (mohre.gov.ae), since they do not depend on a UAE phone line. The two-year deadline still applies, so file before it runs out.

Responding to an Absconding Report

Sometimes the employer moves first and files an absconding report, the official term for a report that a worker has stopped showing up without a valid reason. An employer can file it when a worker is absent for more than seven consecutive days.

Here is the key protection: an employer cannot file this report against you if you already have an active labour complaint. So if a dispute is brewing, file your MOHRE complaint first. A complaint that predates any absence report is strong proof the report was retaliatory.

If a false report is filed against you, do not ignore it. Contact MOHRE at once on 80084, give your side with proof (messages, attendance records, your resignation notice), and ask to have the report withdrawn. A false report also exposes the employer to a fine and other penalties.

Common Mistakes That Weaken Your Complaint

• Signing a “full and final settlement” under pressure. Once you sign, you may lose the right to claim more, so read it first. If you signed but never actually received the money, keeping your bank and WPS records, a waiver signed without payment can be challenged.
• Filing with no numbers. “They owe me money” is weak. State the exact amount and how you worked it out.
• Missing salary proof. WPS records and bank transfers are your strongest evidence.
• Using the wrong channel. Domestic workers and free-zone staff have separate routes.
• Missing the two-year deadline. File in time.

How to Word Your Complaint (Pre-Filing Draft)

MOHRE’s app and website use fixed form fields, not a letter or an email. So treat this as a draft to get your wording right first, then enter it line by line into the portal. Keep it short and factual:

Subject: Labour complaint, [unpaid salary / termination / final settlement] Employer: [company name] Employment dates: [start] to [end]

What happened:

• [Date] [event]
• [Date] [event]

What I am owed:

• Unpaid salary: AED [amount]
• Gratuity / benefits: AED [amount]

Evidence attached: contract, salary proof (WPS/bank), HR messages, resignation or dismissal letter.

Outcome requested: payment of the above with a written settlement breakdown.

When to Get a Lawyer?

You can file most complaints yourself. MOHRE’s settlement stage runs directly between you, the employer, and the MOHRE mediator, so early on a lawyer’s main value is helping you prepare a strong statement and evidence. 

Formal representation matters most if the case is not settled and moves to the labour court. Still, get advice sooner if the amount is large, misconduct is alleged, or you are pushed to sign a waiver. For straightforward unpaid-salary or gratuity claims with clear documents, you usually do not need one.

Conclusion

Knowing how to file a MOHRE complaint in the UAE puts real power in a worker’s hands. It is one of the strongest, simplest tools available. It is free, it is fast, and since 2024 MOHRE can settle most disputes itself without a court case.

Three things decide your outcome: file within the two-year deadline, state exact amounts, and attach your proof from day one. Save your complaint number, respond quickly to MOHRE, and do not sign anything you have not checked.

If your salary or end-of-service pay is being withheld, you do not have to accept it. Pick up the phone to the labour complaint number, 600590000, or start online, and put your claim on record.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to file a MOHRE complaint online in the UAE?

Go to mohre.gov.ae or open the MOHRE app, choose the labour complaint service, enter your and your employer’s details, describe the dispute with amounts, and attach your documents. You can also file by calling 600590000 or WhatsApp on the same number.

What is the MOHRE labour complaint number?

The MOHRE call centre and WhatsApp number is 600590000, open 24/7. The toll-free Labour Claims and Advisory Centre is 80084, available in Arabic, English, and Urdu, Monday to Saturday, 8am to 8pm.

What is the UAE labour complaint number for free advice?

Call the toll-free UAE labour complaint number 80084 for free guidance before or during your complaint. For round-the-clock help, use 600590000.

What is the Dubai labour court helpline number?

MOHRE handles labour complaints across the UAE and refers unresolved cases to the labour court. For help with a labour complaint or the Dubai labour court process, call MOHRE’s Labour Claims and Advisory Centre on 80084, or the 24/7 line on 600590000.

Is filing a MOHRE complaint free?

Yes. Filing is free, and under Article 55 of the Labour Law, workers are exempt from court fees for claims under AED 100,000.

How long does a MOHRE complaint take?

MOHRE tries to settle the dispute within 14 days. If it cannot, it either issues a binding decision (for claims up to AED 50,000) or refers the case to the labour court, which schedules a hearing within 3 working days.

Can I file a MOHRE complaint without a contract?

Yes. If you do not have the contract, file with whatever you have, salary proof, messages, and your passport or Emirates ID. Start collecting WPS or bank proof right away.

How long do I have to file a labour complaint?

Two years from the end of your employment. The deadline was extended from one year to two under the 2024 amendment to the Labour Law.

Can I claim my gratuity through a MOHRE complaint?

Yes. Unpaid end-of-service gratuity is one of the most common reasons to file. Attach your contract, basic-wage proof, and your service dates.

What if my employer ignores MOHRE?

Keep following up through the official channels and keep your evidence complete. Non-response does not end your case, and MOHRE can issue a binding decision or refer it to court.

Official Sources & References

• Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 (UAE Labour Law), as amended by Federal Decree-Law No. 9 of 2024 (Articles 54, 55, 60): dispute resolution, court-fee exemption, and penalties.
• Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE): filing channels, complaint service, and the labour complaint numbers.
• UAE Government Portal: Resolving Labour Disputes: the official dispute process and timelines.
• Ministerial Resolution No. 782 of 2023: the process for resolving individual labour complaints.