Labour Complaint for Unpaid End of Service in the Gulf: Where and How to File

In most Gulf countries a labour authority first tries to settle your unpaid end of service or wages (in Bahrain only while you are still employed, or if both sides agree), and a decision or court follows if that fails. Time limits: 2 years from the end of employment in the UAE, 12 months in Saudi Arabia, 1 year from the end of the contract in Kuwait and Qatar, 1 year from the date each right fell due in Oman (30 days to complain about a dismissal, Art. 10), and in Bahrain 30 days for compensation for termination (Art. 135), otherwise 1 year (Art. 136). File early, and put the amount in writing first.

The dispute goes to the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) to be resolved amicably (Decree-Law 33/2021, Art. 54). If an amicable settlement is not possible, MoHRE refers the dispute to the competent court within 14 days of the date you submitted the complaint (Cabinet Resolution 1/2022, Art. 31).

• Up to AED 50,000: MoHRE can give a final judgment itself, and the decision can be enforced. Either side can challenge it in court within 15 working days of being notified, and a challenge suspends the decision.
• Over AED 50,000: MoHRE refers the dispute to court with a memorandum. The UAE Government portal says you register the referred case with the court within 14 days of the referral being approved.
• Time limit: claims are not considered after two years from the end of the employment relationship (Art. 54). Older sources may show one year.
• Fees: labour claims are exempt from judicial fees at all stages up to AED 100,000 (Art. 55). No filing fee for the MoHRE complaint is published.

Full steps: How to file a MoHRE complaint for unpaid gratuity. Check the figure first with the UAE gratuity calculator.

Friendly settlement is the first stage of a labour dispute, and the HRSD service page describes it as free. You file electronically with the settlement office for the city where your last working day was, within 12 months. The Ministry guide names the Wady platform, reached through the Individual Portal of the Ministry's services portal. The first step gives a week for direct negotiation, then notifies both sides of settlement sessions. If it fails, the case goes to the labour court within about 21 working days, through the Najiz platform.

• Time limit: labour courts do not hear claims after 12 months from the end of the employment relationship, unless the claimant gives a justification the court accepts or the employer admits the right (Labour Law, Art. 234 in the HRSD English text).
• Helpline: 19911, in Arabic, English and Urdu.
• Remote sessions: possible, but with no interpreter for non-Arabic speakers.
• Fees: workers are exempt from judicial costs when claiming entitlements arising from employment contracts (Judicial Costs Law, Art. 17).

Full steps: How to file a labour complaint for unpaid EOSB in Saudi Arabia. Figures: KSA calculator.

• Kuwait: apply to the PAM labour department first. If it cannot settle, it refers the case to the Court of First Instance within one month (Arts. 146-147). Court fees are waived (Art. 144).
• Qatar: Ministry of Labour has 7 days to settle, then the Labour Dispute Settlement Committee decides within 3 weeks of its first hearing. Appeal within 15 days (Art. 115 bis).
• Oman: you must apply to the Ministry of Labour before going to court. It has 30 days to settle, then refers the case to court within 7 days (Art. 9).
• Bahrain: the Ministry complaint service is for workers still employed with a valid permit. After you leave, file a statement of claim with the Labour Case Administration Office. A claim for compensation for termination must be filed within 30 days (Art. 135).

• Write to your employer with the amount and a payment date. The demand letter generator drafts it. Keep proof.
• Work out what you are owed. The calculators for the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain give the figure.
• Gather your contract, ID, payslips or bank statements and proof of how the job ended.
• Check the date your job ended against the time limit in the table above.

The settlement checker compares your payment with the legal amount.

The time windows on this page are the ones the law sets. Keep every reference number and message in case your case takes longer.