By Sumit Manwal, Founder, Hospitality Vacancy | Updated: 8 November 2026
In short: To raise an unpaid salary complaint UAE mainland workers use MOHRE’s website or app: a confidential My Salary report, free and listed at 14 working days, or a formal labour complaint for specific dues. Gather your contract, bank statements and payslips first, and keep the reference number.
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Few things are more stressful than working a full month in a Dubai kitchen or an Abu Dhabi hotel and seeing nothing arrive in your bank account. Many workers wait quietly because they fear losing their job or residence visa. The UAE system, however, gives private-sector employees official, free routes to raise wage problems, including a confidential option where the employer is not told who reported it.
I have spent more than twenty years in hospitality, and many of the Indian staff I have worked with in the Gulf only learnt about these channels after months of delay. This guide explains the routes in the order most workers use them, what to prepare, and what happens after you submit.
This is general information, not legal advice. MOHRE services, eligibility conditions and procedures change. Confirm the current steps on the official MOHRE website or app, or speak to a qualified UAE lawyer, before acting on your own case.
Which route fits your salary problem
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) covers mainland private-sector employees. Its service directory lists two main paths for wage problems.
| Route | What it is | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| My Salary complaint (confidential) | A report that an establishment failed to pay wages on time, without your identity being disclosed to the employer | You are still employed and want the issue inspected without a personal dispute |
| Labour complaint | A formal complaint that opens a dispute between you and your employer, starting with an attempt at amicable settlement | You want a decision on specific dues, such as unpaid months, end-of-service benefits or deductions |
MOHRE’s published service card for the My Salary complaint for private-sector employees lists the website and the mobile application as service channels, no service fee, and a completion duration of 14 working days. Two conditions are stated: you must be registered in the Ministry’s database, and you must not already have a pending complaint or a dispute in court.
If you work in a free zone such as DIFC, ADGM or another zone authority, your employment may fall under that zone’s own rules and dispute body. If you are a domestic worker, MOHRE has a separate domestic worker complaint path. Check which authority issued your work permit before you start.
Before you file: documents to gather
A complaint is only as strong as the evidence behind it. Collect copies now, while you still have access to your work email and phone, and store them somewhere your employer cannot reach.
- Emirates ID and passport copy, plus your labour card or work permit details as shown in the MOHRE system.
- Your MOHRE-registered employment contract. The registered version is what officials compare against, not a side letter. Our guide to the UAE employment contract shows which clauses to check for wage, allowances and notice.
- Bank statements showing the months where salary did not arrive or arrived short.
- Payslips, attendance records or rosters that show you worked the period you are claiming.
- Messages and emails in which a manager or HR acknowledged the delay or promised payment.
- A simple timeline: the month, the amount due under your contract, the amount received and the date.
Keep your language factual. Officials deal with many cases, and a clean table of months and amounts makes their review easier.
How to file an unpaid salary complaint in the UAE, step by step
The menus inside the app and website are updated from time to time, so use these steps as a map rather than an exact click path.
- Open the official channel. Use the MOHRE website (mohre.gov.ae) or the official MOHRE app from your phone’s app store. Avoid third-party “typing centres” that ask for your login details.
- Sign in or verify your identity. The app generally uses UAE Pass. The website service asks for identifying details and sends a one-time code for verification.
- Choose the service for employees. Select the salary complaint for a confidential report, or the labour complaint if you want a formal dispute on your dues.
- Select the problem and the dates. Pick the option that matches your case, such as unpaid salary for a period or unlawful deductions, and enter the months affected.
- Submit and save your reference number. Take a screenshot of the confirmation. You will need the reference to follow up through the website, the app or the MOHRE call centre listed on the official site.
Do not submit duplicate complaints about the same issue. Because a pending complaint blocks the confidential service, filing twice through different channels can slow things down.
What happens after you submit
For a confidential salary report, MOHRE reviews the establishment’s wage payments; if the report is valid, inspectors can follow up with the employer without naming you. You are notified when the request is complete.
For a labour complaint, MOHRE first tries to settle the matter amicably between you and the employer. If that fails, the value of the claim decides the next stage. Since 1 January 2024, MOHRE has the power to issue final, enforceable decisions in disputes worth AED 50,000 or less, and in disputes where a previous amicable settlement was not honoured; either side can challenge the decision before the competent court within the time limit stated in the law. Larger claims that are not settled are referred to the court. The UAE Government portal page on resolving labour disputes explains this sequence in more detail.
Can my employer cancel my visa because I complained?
Filing a lawful complaint is a right under UAE labour law, and retaliation is not a lawful reason for dismissal. In practice, keep working normally if you can, avoid signing any document you do not understand, and record any threats in writing. If your contract is terminated, your end-of-service dues still apply; see our UAE gratuity calculation guide.
Protecting yourself while the case runs
- Do not sign a “full and final settlement” or salary receipt for money you have not received.
- Do not hand over your passport. Employers are not permitted to keep employees’ passports against their will.
- Do not abscond. Leaving work without following the proper process can create a separate case against you.
- Keep paying attention to deadlines. UAE labour law sets time limits for bringing claims, so act promptly instead of waiting for verbal promises.
- Ask your embassy for support. Indian workers can approach the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi or the Consulate General in Dubai for guidance; they cannot run your case but can point you to help.
If your next move is a new job in another Gulf country, plan the visa side carefully. Our sister site’s guide to the UAE work visa process explains how sponsorship and work permits are issued, which helps you spot a genuine offer.
Common mistakes that weaken a wage claim
- Waiting many months before raising anything in writing.
- Relying only on cash payments with no receipts or bank trail.
- Claiming amounts that are not in the MOHRE-registered contract, such as verbal bonus promises, without any proof.
- Paying an “agent” to file for you; MOHRE’s own services listed for this complaint carry no fee.
FAQ: salary complaints in the UAE
Is filing a salary complaint with MOHRE free?
Yes. MOHRE’s service card for the confidential My Salary complaint lists no service fee. Be wary of anyone who charges you to submit it.
Will my employer know I complained?
The My Salary service is designed as a confidential report, so your identity is not disclosed to the establishment. A formal labour complaint, by contrast, is a dispute between named parties.
How long does MOHRE take?
The official service card lists a completion duration of 14 working days for the confidential salary complaint. Labour disputes that move to a decision or to court can take longer, depending on the case.
I work in a free zone. Can I use MOHRE?
Free zone employees usually follow the free zone authority’s procedures first. Check with the authority that issued your permit, because the route and the court may differ.
What if my claim is above AED 50,000?
MOHRE still attempts an amicable settlement. If no settlement is reached, the dispute is referred to the competent court, as described on the official UAE Government portal.
Ready for your next step?
About the Author
Sumit Manwal, Founder, Hospitality Vacancy
Sumit Manwal is the founder of Hospitality Vacancy (since 2017), a free hotel and hospitality jobs portal for India, the Gulf and Europe, and has 20+ years of experience in hospitality. He received the "Excellence in Hospitality Sector of Uttarakhand" award, presented by Shri Dhan Singh Rawat ji (January 2023), and the Dainik Jagran inext Uttarakhand Ratan Samman for Excellence in Hospitality & Education, presented by Shri Bhagat Singh Koshyari ji (2023). Through the website, hotels post vacancies and hospitality professionals and students register free and apply for jobs in India and abroad.
📧 Contact: manwal@hospitalityvacancy.com | 🔗 LinkedIn
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