You Just Got Laid Off in Dubai. Translate These Documents Before Your Grace Period Ends.

Companies across Dubai are cutting headcount. Some are calling it “restructuring.” Others are asking employees to take months of unpaid leave. If this happened to you, the clock is already running. You have around 30 days from visa cancellation to either find a new sponsor or leave the UAE. Every step of that process involves Arabic paperwork.

The grace period is shorter than you think

Once your employer initiates visa cancellation through MOHRE, the process moves to GDRFA or ICP. Your residency visa is cancelled, and a grace period of 30 days begins. Some visa types allow up to 60 days, but assume 30 to be safe.

During this window you need to settle gratuity, close or transfer bank accounts, cancel or transfer your Ejari, and either find a new job or arrange departure. All government-facing steps default to Arabic.

The documents you need translated

Not everything needs translation on day one. Here is the priority order based on what expires first and what you will need for disputes or new employment.

1. Your employment contract (Arabic version)

Your MOHRE-registered contract exists in Arabic. It may not match the English offer letter you signed. The Arabic version is what courts enforce. Before you agree to any termination terms, know what the Arabic contract actually says about notice periods, non-compete clauses, and gratuity calculations. An MOJ-certified legal translation of your employment contract gives you that clarity.

2. End-of-service letter

Your employer issues this after termination. It confirms your role, duration, and reason for leaving. If you need to file a MOHRE complaint or apply for a new work permit, this letter — in Arabic — is the first thing the authorities ask for. Many multinational employers only issue it in English.

3. Final settlement and gratuity breakdown

The gratuity calculation must follow UAE labour law. If you believe the amount is wrong, a MOHRE complaint requires the calculation in Arabic. This includes your basic salary, allowances, leave balance, and any deductions your employer is claiming.

4. Salary certificate

Your bank may freeze your account once your visa is cancelled. A salary certificate in Arabic helps you request a continuity period from the bank, or at minimum withdraw your funds. Without it, you may face the same problem as those who discover a frozen account after cancellation.

5. Experience certificate

For your next UAE job, recruiters and MOHRE may request an Arabic experience certificate. This confirms your job title, department, and dates of employment. Getting it while you still have leverage with HR is easier than requesting it after you have left the country.

6. Any MOHRE or GDRFA correspondence

SMS messages from GDRFA and MOHRE arrive in Arabic. These may contain deadlines, status updates, or actions required. Ignoring an Arabic message because you could not read it is not a defense that holds up at a government counter.

If you plan to dispute your termination

MOHRE handles labour disputes before they escalate to court. Filing a complaint is straightforward, but any evidence you submit — emails, messages, contract pages — must be in Arabic or have an MOJ-certified translation attached.

The process goes: MOHRE complaint, then mediation, then labour court if mediation fails. At the court stage, everything is in Arabic. Judges will not review English-only evidence. This is why translating your contract and settlement documents early gives you options later.

What to do this week

1. Request your Arabic employment contract from HR. If they only have the English version, get an MOJ-certified translation.
2. Ask for your end-of-service letter and gratuity calculation in writing.
3. Download your salary certificates from the WPS portal or request them from HR.
4. Screenshot any MOHRE or GDRFA Arabic messages. Do not delete them.
5. If your Ejari is under your visa, arrange cancellation or transfer before the grace period expires.

The worst outcome is running out of time and leaving the country without the documents you need. Gratuity disputes can be filed from abroad, but it is harder, slower, and more expensive without Arabic paperwork ready. If deadlines are tight, our urgent translation service can turn around employment documents within 24 hours.