Community Care Resources

The Care Ministry provides holistic practical, emotional, and spiritual support to those experiencing significant hardship in the Fellowship community here in the UAE.

The Care Community Guide is an overview of the different social resources available in the UAE, which are provided by either Fellowship Church or governmental organizations throughout the UAE. It also contains responses to some common questions and concerns that we usually get from the community.

Community Resources

Visit https://dubaihealth.ae/about-dubai-health to learn more about the following resources:

  • RASHID HOSPITAL is the largest government hospital for emergencies in Dubai, and it treats patients without health insurance.
    https://rashlhos.com/ 
  • LATIFA HOSPITAL is a public hospital in Dubai that provides medical care specifically for women and children.
    https://dubaihealth.ae/ 
  • SERVICES FOR PEOPLE OF DETERMINATION can get an assessment for a POD card at the Al Amal CAMHS team in Al Jalila Children’s Hospital. With this card, you can apply for services at Dubai Autism center, Rashid Center, My Maximus, and more.
    https://dubaihealth.ae/l/197362
  • Dubai Foundation for Women and Children offers immediate protection and support services for women and children in the UAE against domestic violence, child abuse, and human trafficking. The foundation provides various services, including shelter, counseling, legal aid, rehabilitation programs, and vocational training. Victims can contact the hotline 800111 to obtain services such as legal, psychological, and family consultations. Shelter can be arranged through a transfer from the police station or the client’s presence at the foundation to assess her situation after setting an appointment.
    For more information, please visit: http://www.dfwac.ae/ar 
  • Ewa’s Shelter for Women and Children, Abu Dhabi is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation operated under the UAE Red Crescent.
    For more information, please visit email ewaa@shwc.ae 
  • Aman Center for Women and Children, RAK
    For more information, please visit: https://aman.rak.ae/en/Pages/default.aspx
  • Sharjah Child Protection Center
    https://sssd.shj.ae/service-details/11  
  • Himaya Foundation: For Children and Women in Ajman
    Contact: 800-446 292. https://www.instagram.com/himayafoundation/  
  • Emirates Red Crescent employs various modalities to provide support to applicants in the Emirate of residence. This may include direct financial assistance, distribution of vouchers, or coordination of services to meet the individual’s needs effectively. Free of charge.
    Visit: https://www.emiratesrc.ae/
  • Dar Al Ber Dar is a non-profit organization that provides financial assistance to underprivileged expats in the United Arab Emirates. Expats can file a help request here:
    daralber.ae/help-request-forms/index.html 
  • The Voluntary Legal Services Smart Portal is based on a Dubai Government smart portal for voluntary legal services (The Voluntary Legal Services Smart Portal). Simply create an account to access the portal and submit a case that you need help with. 
    https://probono.legal.dubai.gov.ae/en/probono.aspx 

FAQs

It is important to keep your passport after your visa paperwork has been completed. Your passport is your government issued document that allows you to leave the country.

Employers are only allowed to keep a worker’s passport, if both the employer and employee agree. It is illegal for employers to keep and employee’s passport without their consent. Only government and semi-governmental entities may keep your passport.

Employers keeping and withholding an employee’s passport in both private (domestic helpers) and public sectors is illegal in the United Arab Emirates.

Refusing to return a worker’s passport is considered a breach of trust and against the law. If your employer refuses to return your passport you must file a complaint with the Ministry of Labor. The punishment for an employer holding an employee’s passport in the UAE is an AED 20,000 fine per passport, withheld and up to a 3-year jail sentence (Ministry of Interior Circular No.267 of 2002). https://www.mohre.gov.ae/en/home.aspx

Step 1: Go to Tasheel and formally file a complaint (for those in Freezones, please contact your Freezone Headquarters)

Step 2: You will be given 48 hours to settle the issue with your employer

Step 3: Verify the complaint and confirm if you want to continue with the case

Step 4: Schedule an appointment with MOHRE

Step 5: Discuss Care with MOHRE 

https://www.mohre.gov.ae/en/home.aspx

Harassment, bullying, and unsafe working conditions are prohibited within the UAE.

According to Article 14 of UAE Labor Laws: “Sexual harassment, bullying or any verbal, physical or psychological violence committed against the worker by the employer, his superiors at work, colleagues or the persons who work with him are prohibited.” “Any discrimination based on race, color, sex, religion, national or social origin or disability, which would have the effect of nullifying or impairing equality of opportunity or prejudicing equal treatment in the employment, the maintenance of a job and the enjoyment of its benefits are prohibited!”

First, try to report the behavior to your HR department to initiate an internal investigation. If the issue remains unresolved, file a formal complaint with the Ministry of Human Resources authority through their online portal, or by visiting a service center near you.(Services | Ministry of Human Resources & Emiratisation – MOHRE)

The employee may file a complaint with the employer, and a copy of the said letter may be addressed to the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE). Suppose a dispute arises between an employer and an employee, and both parties fail to reach an amicable settlement. In that case, the following steps can be taken:

  • The employee shall submit a complaint in writing to the employer and simultaneously dispatch a copy thereof to MOHRE.

  • The employer shall reply in writing to the complaint or claims of the employee within seven (7) working days from the date of receipt of the complaint. Simultaneously, a copy thereof shall be submitted to the MOHRE;

  • If the employer fails to submit a reply to the complaint within the fixed period or if the reply does not result in settlement of the dispute, the competent ministry, of its own motion or at a request, shall meditate to settle the dispute amicably.

The employee has the right to be notified of the termination of their job, of
at least 30 days.

Article 43 (3) – The party in breach of the notice period shall pay the other a compensation called pay instead of notice, even if no harm results from the failure of notification. The compensation shall be equal to the worker’s wage for the entire notice period or the remainder thereof.

You are also entitled to receive your gratuity, depending on the tenure you have served, and provided that you have completed at least one year of continuous service. As per Article 51(2) of the UAE Labour Law, here is how gratuity is calculated:

a. 21 working day’s wage for each of the first five years of service.

b. 30 working day’s wage for each subsequent year of service.

4. If an employee does not continue working in the UAE, they are owed a reparation ticket home

5. Encashing (not sure what this means – Cashing in?  annual leave not used, must be paid by the employer if not given

Receive an experience certificate

Article 13 (11) of the UAE Labour Law states that providing an experience certificate to a worker, is part of the obligation of an employer, in the private sector.

If you lost your job in the UAE for reasons other than resignation or disciplinary action, you may be able to receive financial help.

This help is available through the Involuntary Loss of Employment (ILOE) scheme.

ILOE is managed by the Ministry of Human Resources and Employment and provides temporary money support for people who lose their jobs.

How it works:
• You must subscribe to the ILOE scheme while you are still employed.
• If you lose your job and are eligible, you can receive a monthly payment from ILOE.

How much you can receive
• You will get 60% of your average basic salary from the last 6 months of work.
• Payments are made for up to 3 months in a row after losing your job.

Payment limits:
• Category A: If your monthly basic salary is 16,000 AED or less, you can receive up to 10,000 AED per month.
• Category B: If your monthly basic salary is more than 16,000 AED, you can receive up to 20,000 AED per month.

Important notes:
• You can make more than one claim under the ILOE scheme, but each claim lasts a maximum of 3 months.
• To claim again, you must subscribe to the ILOE scheme for at least 12 more months before making a new claim.

You can register and find more information on the official website: https://www.iloe.ae/

We recommend speaking with your embassy or consulate first. 

You can also visit any AMER center to discuss your options for fine reduction, where you may be eligible for an outpass. Along with the application, an individual must purchase their own air ticket to exit the UAE and fly back to their home country and present their original passport or EC (emergency certificate). It is important to mention that the applicant must exit within 10 days of getting the exit pass.

If you need to speak to the immigration department, visit:  Al Awir, Al Jafaliyah, and the office next to DXB Terminal 2.

If you received a police complaint notification, you will likely be contacted by the police to come for a visit to the police station. We recommend that you consult with Fellowship staff lawyers first before you make the visit, as anything that you say before the police will be used against you to verify the complaint. Also, be diligent in collecting all evidence that you may have (e.g. WhatsApp screenshots, photos, recordings, etc.) so that you may present them before the police on the first visit, as it may be the only time you can present your case fully. Once the police have completed their investigation, they will submit the case to the prosecution. You will likely have to engage a local law firm to file a counter submission on your behalf, the cost should be not more than AED 5,000. 

You can check the status of your case without visiting the police station through this portal using your UAE Pass: Prosecution Dubai – Home. There you can access all the files and documents. You can also enquire about cases here:  الاستعلام عن القضايا 

Yes. An automatic travel ban is imposed on the person if he is charged with a criminal offense or has violated any provision of the criminal law. It can also be imposed in civil or commercial transactions such as cheque bounce.

The travel ban will remain on you until the period of appeal has passed from the initial judgment (10 days). If the claimant chooses to appeal, then the travel ban will remain in place until the final conclusion of that trial and at the judge’s sole discretion. 

Dubai Police have an online, free-of-charge service, that enables residents in the UAE to check if they have a travel ban due to financial cases in the emirate of Dubai only. To use the service you need to enter your Emirates ID Card Number.

To avail the service, visit the Dubai Police website or download the Dubai Police app available on iTunes and Google Play. For further inquiries, call Dubai Police on 901.

The Judicial Department in Abu Dhabi has an online service called ‘Estafser’, which enables the residents of Abu Dhabi to check whether they are requested by the Public Prosecution for any claims against them. To use the service, the requester must enter his/her unified number.

In the UAE, there are many seemingly normal activities you or others may be engaged in, that could lead persons to file a valid police complaint against you. 

The few common ones are: 

  • Leaving a bad/negative review online. This is considered to be an illegal act, harming one’s business. 

  • Public arguments or confrontations. This is considered to be disturbing public order. 

  • Insulting someone in public. This is considered to be defamation. 

  • Recording or filming someone without their consent. This is considered to be an invasion of privacy, even if they were filmed in a public place.  

  • Proselytism is strictly prohibited. We recommend that you be wise and respectful when sharing your faith with others. We further strongly advise you to not speak negatively about Islam or the Prophet.

  • Criticizing the UAE government or the rulers even through subtle social critique. We recommend that you remain careful with your social media posts and conversations with your coworkers at work. 

  • Sharing unverified facts/defamatory rumors online through any digital or online means (e.g. WhatsApp communication included). There is a strict cybercrime law that imposes hefty fines. 

  • Organizing or engaging in any demonstrations whether political, social, or religious. 

  • Suicide attempts are illegal and violators are subject to imprisonment. 

If you work in the private sector or for the Federal government in the UAE, you can join the Involuntary Loss of Employment (ILOE) scheme.

This scheme is managed by Dubai Insurance Company and helps provide financial support if you lose your job.

When you join the ILOE scheme, you can receive monthly payments for up to 3 months if you lose your employment.

Who can join the ILOE scheme?
You can join if you are an employed UAE resident in the private or Federal government sector.

Who cannot join?
The scheme does not apply to:
• Domestic workers
• Temporary or part-time workers
• Workers under 18 years old
• Retirees who already receive a pension and start a new job
• Business owners or investors who work in their own companies

How much does it cost?
There are two fee categories based on your basic monthly salary:
• Category A:
• If your basic salary is 16,000 AED or less
• You pay 5 AED per month (or 60 AED per year)
• Category B:
• If your basic salary is more than 16,000 AED
• You pay 10 AED per month (or 120 AED per year)

How can I join or learn more?
You can register and find more information on the official website:

https://www.iloe.ae/

FAQ 2: (Additional section added to ‘What should I do if I lost my job?’)

If you lost your job in the UAE for reasons other than resignation or disciplinary action, you may be able to receive financial help.

This help is available through the Involuntary Loss of Employment (ILOE) scheme.

ILOE is managed by the Ministry of Human Resources and Employment and provides temporary money support for people who lose their jobs.

How it works:

• You must subscribe to the ILOE scheme while you are still employed.

• If you lose your job and are eligible, you can receive a monthly payment from ILOE.

How much you can receive

• You will get 60% of your average basic salary from the last 6 months of work.

• Payments are made for up to 3 months in a row after losing your job.

Payment limits:

• Category A: If your monthly basic salary is 16,000 AED or less, you can receive up to 10,000 AED per month.

• Category B: If your monthly basic salary is more than 16,000 AED, you can receive up to 20,000 AED per month.

Important notes:

• You can make more than one claim under the ILOE scheme, but each claim lasts a maximum of 3 months.

• To claim again, you must subscribe to the ILOE scheme for at least 12 more months before making a new claim.

You can register and find more information on the official website:

 

https://www.iloe.ae/