Moving to Dubai? Know what you're signing.
Thousands of expats arrive in the UAE every month excited about a new chapter — and end up trapped by contract clauses they didn't understand. A visa cost they didn't expect. A tenancy clause that lets the landlord raise rent mid-year. You don't need a lawyer on retainer. You need to know what's in your documents before you agree to them.
UAE Federal Law
Not general advice. Sidqo is trained on the actual legislation.
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Before you land, three documents will define your first year.
Most new expats focus on the job offer, the salary, the excitement. The legal details get skimmed. That's exactly when employers and landlords — not all, but some — can take advantage.
1. Employment Contract
Your job offer is a legal document — and some clauses in it may actually be illegal.
UAE law is clear on a lot of things that many employers still try to include in contracts. Things like making you pay your own visa costs, banning you from working in your field if you leave, probation periods longer than 6 months (which violates Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021), or salary deductions for "training" — all prohibited.
Most people only discover these clauses matter when they're trying to leave. By then, the leverage is with your employer.
Upload your employment contract or offer letter → get a UAE-law-based clause review2. Tenancy Contract
Dubai's rental market moves fast. Landlords know it. Some use that to their advantage.
Signing a tenancy contract in Dubai under pressure — because the apartment will be gone tomorrow — is one of the most common mistakes first-time renters make. Clauses that look standard can allow rent increases outside what RERA's rental index permits, strip your right to maintenance, or lock in disproportionate early exit penalties.
Under Dubai tenancy law, you have real protections. Ejari registration, RERA's rental increase calculator, and the Rental Dispute Settlement Centre exist specifically to protect tenants — but only if you know what you're entitled to.
Upload your tenancy contract → see which clauses may be risky under UAE law3. Visa Paperwork
If something goes wrong with your visa, it can cascade fast.
Your residency status in the UAE is tied to your employer sponsor. That creates a power imbalance that some employers exploit. Your employer is legally required to bear the cost of your visa, entry permit, medical check, and Emirates ID. If your employer threatens to "cancel your visa" as pressure during a dispute, that's a coercion tactic — not an automatic legal outcome. The 60-day grace period after visa cancellation gives you time to change status, not just leave.
Ask Sidqo about your visa situation →The questions expats ask before signing
Can my employer make me pay my own visa costs?
No. Under Article 6(4) of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, employers are prohibited from charging employees — directly or indirectly — for recruitment, visa, entry permit, medical examination, or residency costs. Any clause requiring you to bear these costs may be legally unenforceable.
My contract says my next employer has to pay back my visa costs if I leave within 2 years. Is that legal?
This is one of the most common questionable clauses in UAE employment contracts. Employers try to disguise the visa cost transfer as a training cost or recruitment cost clause. UAE law prohibits transferring these costs to the employee in any form. Upload your contract and Sidqo can identify whether the specific wording crosses the legal line.
My landlord wants me to sign a tenancy contract with a clause that lets them terminate with 30 days notice. Is that normal?
No. Under Dubai's Law No. 26 of 2007, tenants have significant protections around eviction. Landlords must follow strict grounds and notice periods — 12 months written notice in most eviction scenarios. A 30-day termination clause by the landlord would likely conflict with these protections.
Is a non-compete clause in a UAE employment contract enforceable?
UAE courts have increasingly limited the enforcement of non-compete clauses that are overly broad in scope, geography, or duration. Under Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, a non-compete restriction must be limited to what's genuinely necessary to protect the employer's legitimate interests. Upload your contract to understand what you're actually agreeing to.
Can my employer hold my passport?
No. Passport confiscation is illegal in the UAE and has been treated as a criminal offence. If an employer takes or retains your passport, you can file a complaint with MOHRE and, for criminal aspects, with the police.
Go deeper on what matters to you
Employment Contracts
Visa cost clauses, probation terms, non-competes, salary deduction rules, and what you must check before signing a UAE job offer.
Before signing a UAE job offer: 9 clauses to checkTenancy Contracts
Security deposits, maintenance liability, rent increase limits, renewal clauses, and eviction protections under Dubai law.
First tenancy contract in Dubai: what to check before signingVisa & Immigration
Who pays your visa costs, what happens if your employer cancels your visa, and how to protect your residency status.
UAE visa costs: what your employer must cover by lawGot a contract in front of you right now?
Upload it to Sidqo. You'll get a plain-language breakdown of what the key clauses mean, which ones may be risky under UAE law, and what questions to ask before you sign. No legal jargon. No sales pitch. No waiting for a callback.
Sidqo provides AI-powered legal guidance based on UAE law. For formal legal action, consult a licensed UAE lawyer.