MOHRE Contract vs Offer Letter Mismatch

You negotiated hard. The offer letter lists a generous basic salary, a separate housing allowance, and 30 days annual leave. You signed it. Two weeks later, the company PRO hands you the MOHRE contract to sign. It’s in Arabic. You can’t read it. You sign anyway. The salary listed is a lower all-inclusive figure.

Why the mismatch happens

The English offer letter is a private agreement between you and your employer. The MOHRE contract is the one registered with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation. They’re two different documents, and they don’t always say the same thing.

Sometimes the mismatch is intentional. Employers may list a lower salary on the MOHRE contract to reduce gratuity obligations or avoid certain labour cost thresholds. Sometimes it’s a data entry error by the PRO or typing centre. Either way, the Arabic MOHRE contract is the one that matters in a dispute.

What the Arabic contract actually controls

In UAE labour courts, the MOHRE-registered Arabic contract is the primary reference. If you file a gratuity dispute or wrongful termination complaint, the court examines the Arabic contract. It does not consider what your English offer letter promised.

• Basic salary. Your gratuity is calculated on the basic salary in the MOHRE contract, not the offer letter.
• Job title. If the Arabic contract lists a different title, it may affect your work permit category and visa type. This is the same issue that causes remote work visa rejections for “profession not allowed”.
• Notice period. The Arabic contract specifies the notice period both parties agreed to. If it says 30 days but your offer letter said 90, the MOHRE contract prevails.
• Allowances. Housing, transport, and other allowances may not appear separately in the MOHRE contract. They might be bundled into “total package”, which changes your gratuity calculation.

How to check before signing

Before you sign the MOHRE contract, get it translated. Compare every line with your offer letter:

1. Ask the PRO for a copy of the Arabic contract (digital or printed).
2. Send it for certified translation into English.
3. Compare salary breakdown, job title, notice period, probation terms, and allowances.
4. If anything differs, raise it with HR before signing. Once signed and registered, changing it requires a new contract amendment, which your employer may not agree to.

After you’ve already signed

If you’ve already signed and suspect a mismatch, translate the contract now. Knowing what it says lets you prepare. If the differences are material (lower salary, different terms), document them and consult with MOHRE’s complaint process. Having both the English offer letter and the Arabic translation side by side strengthens your position.

Send your MOHRE contract via WhatsApp: +971 50 862 0217. We’ll translate it so you can compare it with your offer letter before signing.