A court referral is not simply another complaint update. It is a handover from an administrative process to a judicial one, with a referral document, a disputed amount, evidence and procedural steps that should be checked promptly.
The UAE Government’s labour-dispute guidance says a worker whose complaint is referred should register it with the competent court within the period stated by the official process. Current MoHRE guidance says that where a disputed claim above AED 50,000 cannot be settled amicably, it is referred to the judiciary; the referral notice and current instructions should control what the user does next.
Save the referral package first
Keep these items together:
- MoHRE complaint or transaction number;
- referral notice and date received;
- MoHRE’s summary or memorandum of the dispute;
- employer and worker submissions already recorded;
- settlement proposals, if any;
- calculation of each amount claimed;
- contract, wage and termination records; and
- every SMS or email giving a court or permit instruction.
Do not assume the court automatically receives every attachment you gave MoHRE in the format you expect. Check the referral package and the court’s registration requirements.
Reconcile the money before registration
Separate the total into lines such as unpaid wages, leave pay, notice pay, gratuity and any other claimed amount. For each line, record the period, calculation and supporting document. If the amount has changed since the complaint began, explain why rather than silently replacing the earlier figure.
This table is useful for preparation:
| Item | Period | Amount claimed | Evidence | Point to verify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salary | Month / dates | AED — | Contract and bank record | Payment date or partial amount |
| Leave | Accrued period | AED — | Leave record | Days and applicable rate |
| Gratuity | Service dates | AED — | Contract and salary record | Basic salary and regime |
Treat work-permit questions as a separate task
Official guidance also addresses temporary work permits and cancellation after a final decision or judgment. Do not sign a cancellation or final-settlement declaration you do not understand. Save the version presented to you and compare it with the amounts actually received.
Immigration status, permission to work elsewhere and the labour claim are connected but not identical. Use MoHRE’s official advisory channel for current permit steps and obtain licensed advice where the facts are disputed.
Prepare for a lawyer review without retelling everything
A useful handover contains the referral, a one-page chronology, the itemised claim, a numbered evidence index and a short list of disputed points. This lets a professional test the important facts instead of reconstructing months of messages.
CaseDaleel can help organise that material and show the official route. It does not register a court case, make submissions or represent a user unless a separately engaged, appropriately licensed professional is responsible for that work.
Frequently asked questions
Does a MoHRE referral mean the worker has won?
No. A referral moves an unresolved dispute into the relevant judicial process. It is not a judgment or promise of outcome.
Should I wait before checking the court-registration step?
No. Read the referral notice promptly and confirm current instructions through the official channel because procedural time periods matter.
Can I work for another employer during the case?
Official guidance discusses temporary work permits in eligible circumstances. Ask MoHRE about your current status; do not assume permission.
What should I give a lawyer first?
Start with the referral notice, chronology, itemised figures and evidence index. The lawyer can then identify what else is needed.