Guide · updated 31.07.2026 · 9 min read · Lucent Legal team

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

If it's gotten to the point of filing a complaint against your employer, the worst part is not knowing what to click and how long you'll then be waiting. Below is purely the technical side: where to go, what to prepare, what happens after filing, and how to check status. If you first need to figure out whether you actually have grounds for a complaint at all (unpaid salary, gratuity, termination), that's a separate question worth checking with a lawyer for your specific case. If your situation is complicated by having 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 go to the complaints section and pick the type ("labour complaint" / "salary complaint").
• mohre.gov.ae website — the same form through your account, if a computer is more convenient.
• Contact centre 800 60 — the ministry's general number, free within the UAE.
• Labour Claims & Advisory Center, 800 84 — a dedicated line specifically for disputes and complaints.
• WhatsApp 600 590 000 — the same contact centre, but over chat: you can describe the situation and get instructions without calling.
• In-person visit to a MOHRE office (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and other emirates) — if you need to talk 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 filing through 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 to the process at all; those zones have their own courts, so there's no need to go through MOHRE for them.

What to prepare before filing

• Emirates ID and your labour contract/labour card number (or unified number for domestic workers).
• A copy of your employment contract (the MOHRE app can also download it if you've lost the paper copy).
• 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 will ask 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 need for emotional language.
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 attempts 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, meaning you'll have to start the process over.

Worth being upfront about: the complaint is not anonymous — registration requires an Emirates ID, and as part of the process MOHRE contacts both parties, so the employer will find out 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 — 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 about the case can't be verified any other way — don't rely on them, 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 in the country 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 risking it on conflicting figures.

Common mistakes

• Filing a general complaint for domestic staff instead of using "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 finds out about the complaint during mediation; prepare for that mentally and keep everything in writing.

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