Labour Court Dubai (2026): When a MOHRE Complaint Goes to Court, How to File, Fees and Deadlines

In Dubai, a private-sector labour dispute starts at the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) and only reaches Dubai Courts once MOHRE refers it (Dubai Courts also accepts referrals from free zones approved by MOHRE). This guide is built from Dubai Courts' Labour Cases service page (last updated 22 October 2026), u.ae's Resolving labour disputes page (updated 12 August 2026) and Articles 54 and 55 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 as amended in 2024, read on 25 October 2026.

When a labour dispute goes to court

Quick answer: You cannot start with the court. The Court of First Instance does not accept a labour lawsuit that has not gone through MOHRE's procedures and deadlines (Art. 54(8)). MOHRE first tries to settle the dispute amicably, and then:

u.ae summarises Ministerial Resolution No. 782 of 2023 the same way: MOHRE decides when the claim is less than AED 50,000 (u.ae's wording) or the parties settle, and refers to the judiciary claims above AED 50,000 that are not settled. How to file the complaint itself is in our MOHRE labour complaint guide.

How to file a labour case with Dubai Courts

Dubai Courts' Labour Cases service is open to all workers and employers covered by the labour law:

See our MOFA attestation glossary entry for document legalisation.

Labour court fees in Dubai

Quick answer: Art. 55(1) exempts worker claims up to AED 100,000 from judicial fees. Dubai Courts' service page lists a 5% fee, capped at AED 20,000, for worker claims above that and for cases an employer files (minimum AED 500). Confirm the exact fee when you register.

The wording of Art. 55(1) is broader: "Labour claims shall be exempted from judicial fees at all stages of litigation and execution, as well as the requests filed by workers or their heirs, whose amounts do not exceed (100,000) one hundred thousand UAE Dirham." The 5% lines are what Dubai Courts' fee schedule lists, so confirm the fee for your case when you register.

Deadlines once MOHRE refers a case

Under Ministerial Resolution No. 47 of 2022, as u.ae summarises it, a worker whose complaint is referred to the labour court must:

1. Register the case with the competent court within 14 days of the referral being approved.
2. Not work for another employer without a temporary work permit from MOHRE.
3. Ask for the original work permit to be cancelled within 14 days of the final judgment, if the employment relationship has ended.

The worker may apply for a temporary work permit with a new employer while the case runs, unless the employer has reported them absent.

u.ae adds that where the complaint has led the worker to stop working, the work permit is cancelled 6 months after the complaint is referred to the labour court. Claims under the Labour Law are not heard two years after the employment relationship ends (Art. 54(9)).

For employers

An employer can also bring a labour case, through the same MOHRE route, and pays Dubai Courts' 5% fee (minimum AED 500, maximum AED 20,000). Keep the employment contract, WPS salary records, leave records and any warnings ready: they are the supporting documents a statement of case relies on. Our UAE Labour Law guide covers the rules most disputes turn on, such as notice periods, end-of-service gratuity and salary delays.

How ZETUP PRO helps

ZETUP PRO is not a law firm and does not represent parties in court; for a court case, use a licensed lawyer. What we do is keep the MOHRE side clean for mainland companies on a published monthly retainer: contracts, work permits, renewals, cancellations and WPS, so fewer disputes start. See what our PRO services in Dubai cover.

Free PDF: UAE Employer Labour Law Checklist 2026 | See the pricing | Book a free PRO Health Check

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the labour court in Dubai? A: Labour cases in Dubai are registered with Dubai Courts as a type of first-instance claim, after MOHRE has referred the dispute. The result is an electronic first-instance judgment.

Q: Can I file a case directly with the labour court? A: No. The Court of First Instance does not accept a labour lawsuit that has not gone through MOHRE's procedures and deadlines (Art. 54(8)). Start with a MOHRE complaint.

Q: How much does it cost to file a labour case in Dubai? A: Art. 55 exempts worker claims up to AED 100,000 from judicial fees. Dubai Courts' fee schedule lists 5% of the claim, up to AED 20,000, for a worker's claim above that, and 5% of the case value (at least AED 500, at most AED 20,000) for an employer's case. Confirm the fee when you register.

Q: How long do I have to register the case after MOHRE refers it? A: 14 days from the date the referral is approved (Ministerial Resolution No. 47 of 2022, per u.ae).

Q: Can I work for another company while my labour case is in court? A: Only with a temporary work permit from MOHRE, which a worker can apply for during the case unless the employer has reported them absent (Ministerial Resolution No. 47 of 2022, per u.ae). Note that if the complaint led you to stop working, u.ae says the work permit is cancelled 6 months after the referral.

Q: Which documents do I need to file a labour case in Dubai? A: MOHRE's referral in PDF, the statement of the case with a docket of supporting documents, and the trade licence for a company, all translated into Arabic by a legal translation approved by the UAE Ministry of Justice (Dubai Courts).

Q: How long do I have to bring a labour claim? A: Claims under the Labour Law are not heard two years after the employment relationship ends (Art. 54(9)).