MOHRE Ruled in Your Favour. The Employer Counter-Claimed. Now Every Document Goes to Court — in Arabic.

You filed a complaint with MOHRE. The mediator sided with you. You thought the dispute was over. Then your employer filed a counter-claim, and the entire case moved to Dubai Labour Court. The rules just changed. Everything submitted to the court must be in Arabic.

How a MOHRE complaint becomes a court case

MOHRE handles employment disputes through mediation. If mediation fails, MOHRE can issue a binding decision called the executive formula. This covers disputes involving amounts up to AED 50,000. If the amount exceeds that threshold, or if either party objects, the case is referred to Dubai Labour Court.

The employer has 15 working days to object to the executive formula. If they file a counter-claim during that window, the case escalates. MOHRE’s role ends, and the court takes over. The court operates entirely in Arabic.

What the executive formula actually is

The executive formula is not a suggestion. It is a MOHRE decision that carries the force of a court judgment — unless someone challenges it. It covers unpaid wages, end-of-service gratuity, leave balances, and other entitlements under UAE Labour Law.

MOHRE issues the executive formula in Arabic. If your original complaint was submitted through the MOHRE app in English, the decision itself still comes in Arabic. Many employees receive this document and do not fully understand what it awards them, because they cannot read the Arabic text.

Before the 15-day objection window closes, get that document translated. Knowing exactly what MOHRE awarded you is essential if the employer decides to challenge it.

Why employers counter-claim

Employers counter-claim for several reasons. Some dispute the amount MOHRE awarded. Others argue the employee breached contract terms — a non-compete clause, a notice period, or a training cost reimbursement. Some counter-claim as a delay tactic, knowing the employee may leave the UAE before the court hearing.

Whatever the reason, a counter-claim transforms a straightforward MOHRE mediation into a formal court proceeding. The burden of documentation increases significantly.

Documents you need translated for court

Dubai Labour Court requires Arabic originals or MOJ-certified Arabic translations of every document you submit. Here is what a typical labour case file includes:

• Employment contract. The MOHRE-registered Arabic version and any English offer letter or side agreements. If the two versions differ, the Arabic contract is what the court enforces.
• MOHRE executive formula. Already in Arabic, but you need to understand it. Translation into English helps you and your lawyer prepare the response to the counter-claim.
• Salary certificates and pay slips. Prove your salary history. If your employer paid a different amount than what the contract states, bank statements and salary certificates become evidence.
• End-of-service calculation. The gratuity breakdown showing how the employer arrived at the final figure.
• Written correspondence. Emails, HR letters, termination notices, and warning letters. If originally in English, each one needs certified translation.
• WhatsApp messages. Screenshots of conversations with HR or management are admissible. They must be translated into Arabic, with timestamps and sender details visible.
• Bank statements. If you are claiming unpaid wages, bank records showing gaps in salary deposits support your case. Statements from non-Arabic banks need translation.

The WhatsApp evidence problem

Many employment disputes in Dubai involve WhatsApp conversations. An employee asks HR about a missing salary payment. A manager promises a bonus in writing. A termination is communicated informally over chat before any formal letter is issued.

Dubai courts accept WhatsApp screenshots as evidence. But the screenshots must be submitted in Arabic or with Arabic translations. If the conversation was in English, every relevant message needs MOJ-certified translation. Mixed-language conversations — common in Dubai workplaces — require the English portions to be translated while the Arabic portions remain as-is.

Print the screenshots clearly. The court needs to see the date, time, phone number, and sender name on each message. Blurry or cropped screenshots are not useful.

Timeline pressure

Once the case is referred to court, hearings are scheduled. The first hearing may come within a few weeks. If you do not have your documents translated and filed by that date, the court may proceed based only on what the employer submitted.

If your visa is already cancelled and you are in your grace period, the timeline is even tighter. Leaving the UAE before the hearing does not automatically close your case, but attending remotely is harder and appointing a legal representative requires a translated power of attorney.

For tight deadlines, urgent translation is available. Prioritize the employment contract and MOHRE decision first, then remaining documents in order of relevance.

What to do right now

If MOHRE ruled in your favour and your employer is counter-claiming — or you suspect they will — take these steps:

1. Get the executive formula translated into English so you understand what was awarded.
2. Gather every document related to your employment: contract, salary slips, correspondence, HR letters, WhatsApp messages.
3. Identify what is in English and needs Arabic translation for court.
4. Check your visa status. If your visa is cancelled, note your grace period deadline and work backward from it.
5. Send your documents for translation before the first hearing date. Do not wait until the week before.
6. Consult a labour lawyer who can review the translated documents and advise on the counter-claim.

The court only reads Arabic

This is the part that catches many employees off guard. During MOHRE mediation, you may have communicated in English. The mediator may have spoken English. The app interface was in English. But once the case reaches Dubai Labour Court, the operating language is Arabic. Judges review Arabic documents. Arguments are presented in Arabic. If your evidence exists only in English, it is invisible to the court until it is translated.

Do not assume the judge will read an English contract. Do not assume someone at the court will translate informally. Every page that matters must be in Arabic, certified by an MOJ-licensed translator.

If you need your MOHRE decision, employment contract, or supporting documents translated for a labour court filing, send them on WhatsApp — +971 50 862 0217. We handle immigration documents, employment contracts, and court filings for labour disputes across Dubai.