Guide · updated 16.08.2026 · 8 min read · Lucent Legal team

How to File a MOHRE Complaint in the UAE in 2026 — Step by Step

Once it's come to filing a complaint against your employer, the worst part is not knowing what to click and how long the wait runs. Below is purely the technical side: where to go, what to prepare, what happens after filing, and how to check status. If you still need to work out whether you have grounds for a complaint at all (unpaid salary, gratuity, termination), that's a separate question worth checking with a lawyer for your case. If you've already left the job without authorization, or you're worried about an absconding case, that's covered separately in the absconding guide.

Filing channels

• MOHRE app (Google Play / App Store) — the fastest option: log in via UAE Pass or by phone number and Emirates ID, then open the complaints section and pick the type ("labour complaint" / "salary complaint").
• mohre.gov.ae website — the same form via your account, when a computer suits better.
• Contact centre 800 60 — the ministry's general line, free inside the UAE.
• Labour Claims & Advisory Center, 800 84 — a line dedicated to disputes and complaints.
• WhatsApp 600 590 000 — the same contact centre over chat: describe the situation and get instructions without calling.
• In-person visit to a MOHRE office (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and other emirates) — for talking to a staff member directly.
• Domestic workers — a separate "Domestic Worker Services" option in the app/website, not the general complaint form: nannies, drivers, and housemaids have a different work-permit number (unified number), and the wrong form delays the review.
• DIFC and ADGM — if the employer is registered in one of these free zones, MOHRE isn't a party at all; those zones run their own courts, so there's no need to go through MOHRE for them.

What to prepare before filing

• Emirates ID plus your labour contract/labour card number (or unified number for domestic workers).
• A copy of your employment contract (the MOHRE app can pull it if you've lost the paper one).
• Evidence of the problem: proof of unpaid salary, correspondence with HR/the employer, a written reminder you've already sent.
• If it's about end-of-service settlement — your start and end dates and the exact basic salary figure from the contract.
• A one- or two-sentence summary of your claim — the form asks you to pick a complaint type and briefly describe the situation.

Filing step by step

1. Pick a channel and log in. Easiest is the MOHRE app, signing in via UAE Pass or Emirates ID plus phone number.
2. Open the complaints section and select the type (unpaid salary, arbitrary dismissal, breach of contract terms, etc.), attach documents, and describe the situation factually, with dates — no emotional language needed.
3. Register the complaint and save the case number. That's the number you'll use to track status and, if needed, to go to court.

What happens after filing

1. Mediation — up to 14 days. MOHRE forwards the case to the Tawafuq mediation centre and tries to settle the dispute — a mandatory first step under Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021. Some sources say a centre representative reaches out within 72 hours of registration.
2. If the parties settle — MOHRE records the agreement in writing and closes the case.
3. If mediation doesn't work — it depends on the claim amount: for claims up to AED 50,000, the ministry can issue its own final decision; above that, or if either party disagrees, the case is referred to the labour court.
4. Filing the case in court — must happen within 14 days of MOHRE approving the referral. Miss that window and the approval expires, so you start the process over.

Be upfront with yourself about one thing: the complaint is not anonymous — registration requires an Emirates ID, and MOHRE contacts both parties, so the employer learns a complaint was filed. That said, Article 47 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33/2021 explicitly bans dismissing an employee specifically for filing a serious, substantiated complaint — if that happens anyway, the dismissal itself can be classified as arbitrary, with separate compensation. That's no guarantee the employer won't sour the relationship informally, so keep every conversation in writing.

Checking your complaint status

The only reliable method is your account in the MOHRE app or website, under "My Complaints" / "Complaint status," using the case number you got at registration. It shows the current stage: in mediation, referred to court, or closed by settlement. Verbal assurances from HR or a manager can't be verified any other way — rely only on the status in your account.

If you've already left the UAE, you can still file and follow a complaint remotely — through the app or by calling the contact centre's international line; physical presence isn't required. Sources disagree on the statute of limitations: some cite 1 year from when the dispute arose, others 2 years from the date the salary should have been paid (per Article 54(9) of Federal Decree-Law No. 33/2021). If more than six months have passed since the problem started, don't wait — confirm the current deadline with a lawyer or directly with the contact centre rather than betting on conflicting figures.

Common mistakes

• Using the general complaint form for domestic staff instead of "Domestic Worker Services" — wrong form, slower review.
• Waiting for an HR callback instead of checking the account — the only thing that matters is the case stage in the app, not verbal promises.
• Delaying the court filing after the referral is approved — the 14-day window closes fast, and missing it complicates everything that follows.
• Not gathering documents in advance — without correspondence and proof of the delay, a complaint takes longer to process and your position is weaker.
• Expecting anonymity — the employer learns of the complaint during mediation; brace for that and keep everything in writing.

Topic: UAE Labour Law 2026

This material is for information only and is not legal advice. UAE law changes — a lawyer will assess how it applies to your situation.