United Arab Emirates · employment

Can I Work for Another Company While a MOHRE Case Is Pending in the UAE?

In the United Arab Emirates, you cannot informally work for another employer while an employment dispute is open without risking severe fines and deportation. However, UAE labor regulations allow you to apply for an official temporary work permit from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) once your dispute is referred to court. Understanding this legal mechanism allows you to earn an income legally without surrendering your claims for unpaid wages or end-of-service gratuity.

What the Law Says in the United Arab Emirates

Under Article 6 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations, working in the United Arab Emirates without a valid, ministry-issued work permit is strictly illegal. If your employer has withheld your salary or terminated you unlawfully, working 'under the table' for a new sponsor while your MOHRE case is open plays directly into the offending company's hands, exposing you to administrative fines, labor bans, and deportation.

Crucially, the legal framework protects employees from being starved out during lengthy litigation. Under Ministerial Resolution No. 47 of 2022 Regarding the Settlement of Labor Disputes and Complaints Procedures, a worker whose case has been referred from MOHRE conciliation to the competent Labour Court has the right to apply for a temporary work permit with a new employer. You do not require a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the employer you are suing to obtain this authorization.

How the MOHRE Temporary Work Permit Works

When an individual dispute cannot be resolved during MOHRE's mandatory conciliation window (or exceeds MOHRE's summary adjudication threshold of AED 50,000 under Ministerial Resolution No. 782 of 2023), the Ministry issues a court referral certificate. Once the dispute is formally transferred to the Labour Court, you become eligible for a temporary work permit issued directly through MOHRE.

This temporary permit allows a secondary mainland company to hire you on an interim basis while your primary lawsuit moves through the judicial docket. Under Article 31 of Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022, the law also provides that if the dispute results in an outright cessation of work, the initial permit may be cancelled after six months from referral, preventing bad-faith employers from freezing your career indefinitely. The only disqualifier is if the employer lodged a valid, uncontested work abandonment (absconding) report prior to the registration of your labor complaint.

Taking Control of Your Employment Status

Companies facing labor claims often attempt to exhaust employees financially, banking on the assumption that you will drop your gratuity or wage claims simply to get your visa cancelled and move on. Refusing to succumb to this pressure requires strict procedural discipline: preserve your referral documents, demand that any prospective employer apply for an official temporary work permit via Tasheel or MOHRE smart channels, and keep your residency visa active.

Navigating ministerial procedures while managing financial uncertainty requires reliable information and swift execution. You can use Caunsel to research relevant provisions under UAE labour law, organize and save your employment documents into a secure case file, or connect with an independent UAE-licensed lawyer to protect your rights.

Steps

• Confirm your MOHRE dispute status and obtain the official judicial referral letter if conciliation fails to yield a settlement within 14 days.
• File your labor claim with the competent UAE Labour Court within 14 days of receiving the MOHRE referral to keep your dispute legally alive.
• Secure a written job offer from a prospective employer willing to sponsor a temporary work permit through MOHRE while your litigation is underway.
• Submit an application for a Temporary Work Permit via MOHRE's smart app or a Tasheel center, attaching your court case registration number.
• Track your residency status with the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) or GDRFA to prevent unlawful visa lapses.

Common mistakes

• Working for a new company on a visit visa or cash-in-hand basis before the temporary work permit is officially granted by MOHRE.
• Failing to register the lawsuit in the Labour Court within 14 days of MOHRE issuing the referral, which invalidates the referral.
• Allowing the employer to file a retaliatory absconding report without immediately submitting proof of your pending MOHRE complaint to cancel it.
• Signing a blanket visa cancellation or discharge receipt stating you have received all dues before your settlement money is actually in your bank account.

Questions people ask

Do I need an NOC from my current employer to get a temporary work permit?

No. Under Ministerial Resolution No. 47 of 2022, once your case is referred to the Labour Court, MOHRE can grant a temporary work permit without the consent or No Objection Certificate (NOC) of your existing sponsor.

Can I work for another company while MOHRE is still mediating the dispute?

No. You cannot legally start working during the initial 14-day mediation phase. You must either settle amicably with visa cancellation or wait until MOHRE issues the referral to the Labour Court, which opens the legal route for a temporary work permit.

What happens if my employer files an absconding report after I complain to MOHRE?

MOHRE does not permit employers to register valid work abandonment reports against employees who have an open, active labor complaint. If your employer files one maliciously, visit MOHRE immediately with your complaint reference number to have the report overturned.

General information only, last updated 2026-10-29. Caunsel is not a law firm and does not practise law. AI answers and this guide are not legal advice. Verify filings, deadlines, and statutes with a licensed lawyer in United Arab Emirates.