If your salary is delayed in the UAE, you can file a complaint with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) online, in the MOHRE app, or by calling 600 590000 β you do not need your employer’s permission. Keep your labour contract, bank statements and any written promises about pay, because MOHRE will check Wage Protection System (WPS) records against what you claim.
Quick facts
- Cost: Filing a MOHRE salary complaint is free for employees
- Time needed: About 10 to 20 minutes to file; mediation usually follows within days
- Where it happens: MOHRE app, mohre.gov.ae, call centre 600 590000, or a Tasheel centre
- Who can file: Private-sector employees on a MOHRE contract; free zone staff use their free zone authority first
Step-by-step: filing a salary complaint
- Check what is actually overdue. Look at your MOHRE contract for your pay date and total salary, then check your bank account and WPS payments. Note each missing or short month separately β MOHRE deals in exact amounts and dates, not general frustration.
- Raise it in writing with your employer first, if it is safe to do so. A short email to HR or your manager asking when salary will be paid creates a paper trail. Keep the reply. You can still file with MOHRE even if the employer does not respond.
- Log in to MOHRE with UAE PASS. Open the MOHRE app or website, sign in, and find your labour card and contract details. Confirm your mobile number is the one registered with MOHRE, because the mediator will call it.
- Submit the complaint. Choose the salary complaint service, enter the months unpaid, the amount due for each month, and upload evidence such as bank statements. Be precise and keep the description factual.
- Take the mediation call. A MOHRE legal advisor will contact you and your employer to try to settle the matter. Be available, stay calm, and do not agree to withdraw the complaint until money has actually reached your account.
- Follow the outcome. If the employer pays, MOHRE closes the case. If mediation fails, MOHRE can refer the dispute to the Labour Court. You will receive a referral letter and a court date β keep all messages from MOHRE.
- Ask about your options if the company keeps delaying. In certain long-delay cases, MOHRE rules may allow you to transfer to a new employer. Ask the advisor handling your case what applies to you rather than resigning on the spot.
Documents and evidence to gather
You do not need a lawyer to file, but strong evidence speeds everything up. Gather your MOHRE labour contract, Emirates ID, recent bank statements showing missing salary credits, payslips if your company issues them, and any emails, letters or messages where pay was promised. If colleagues have the same problem, each person should still file their own complaint, even if you mention the wider pattern. Screenshots should show dates and sender names clearly.
Domestic workers and employees of free zone companies follow slightly different routes. Free zone employees usually complain first to the free zone authority’s mediation desk, which then coordinates with MOHRE if needed. If you are unsure which system covers you, call MOHRE and give them your labour card number β they will direct you correctly.
Costs and timelines
There is no fee to file a MOHRE complaint or for mediation. Timelines vary with how quickly your employer responds. Many straightforward WPS cases, where the records clearly show a missed payment, move within one to two weeks. Contested cases that go to court take longer and depend on the court’s schedule. You should not pay any agent who promises a faster MOHRE outcome for a fee β the official channels above are the only ones you need.
Common mistakes to avoid
Do not stop coming to work without advice just because salary is late β unauthorised absence can be used against you. Do not sign a settlement or a statement saying you received the full amount if you have not. Do not accept cash in place of a WPS transfer without written confirmation, because the official record will still show you as unpaid. Finally, do not wait many months hoping it will fix itself. File while the amounts and dates are clear; it protects you and often prompts the company to act.
FAQ
How late does salary have to be before I can complain?
You can complain once salary is past the due date in your contract and WPS records show it missing. You do not need to wait several months β file as soon as a payment is genuinely overdue.
Will my employer find out I filed a complaint?
Yes. MOHRE contacts the employer during mediation, so a complaint is not anonymous. Retaliation for using a legal channel is not permitted, and you should report any threats to MOHRE immediately.
Can I file if I have already resigned?
Yes. Unpaid salary and end-of-service dues owed from your employment can still be pursued after you leave. Keep your cancellation papers and final settlement sheet and file promptly.