mohre complaint status

How to Check Your MOHRE Complaint Status in the UAE

If you've filed a labour complaint and you're refreshing your phone wondering what happens next, here's the straight answer on how to check your MOHRE complaint status, what each stage means, and when to escalate.

Quick answer

You can check your MOHRE complaint status through the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) app, the MOHRE website (mohre.gov.ae), or by calling 600 590 000. You'll need your complaint reference number or Emirates ID. Most complaints move through three stages: registration, mediation at MOHRE, and referral to the Labour Court if unresolved. Mediation usually wraps within 14 days. If MOHRE can't settle it, you get a referral letter to file at court within 14 days.

Where to check your MOHRE complaint status

Three official channels, all free.

MOHRE smart app (iOS and Android). Log in with UAE Pass or your Emirates ID, open "My Complaints," and the current stage shows on the dashboard. This is the fastest option.

MOHRE website. Go to mohre.gov.ae, choose Services, then "Complaints and Reports," then "Inquire about a complaint." Enter the reference number you received by SMS when you filed.

Call centre. Dial 600 590 000. Have your Emirates ID and complaint number ready. Useful if the app is glitching or your reference number didn't come through.

One thing people miss: MOHRE sends status updates by SMS in Arabic and English to the phone number registered with your work permit. If you changed your number and didn't update it, you're flying blind. Update it through the app before you do anything else.

What each status actually means

MOHRE doesn't always explain the labels clearly, so here's the translation.

"Under review" / "New." Your complaint was logged but not assigned. Usually 1-3 working days.

"Assigned to legal researcher" (sometimes shown as "with the specialist"). A MOHRE officer is contacting both sides for documents and a mediation session. This is the longest stage. Expect 1-3 weeks.

"Settlement reached." Both parties agreed. MOHRE issues a settlement document and the case closes. If money is owed, the employer typically has a fixed deadline to pay.

"Referred to court" (or "Transferred to judiciary"). MOHRE couldn't mediate a settlement. Under Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (the UAE Labour Law) and its 2023 amendments, you have 14 days from receiving the referral letter to file your case with the competent Labour Court, or the claim can lapse ^[1][2].

"Closed." Either settled, withdrawn, or you missed a step. If it closed without your knowledge, call 600 590 000 the same day.

Honestly, the status names are the easy part. The harder question is whether the timeline is normal — and mostly, it is. Mediation that drags past 30 days usually means the employer is dodging calls.

When to escalate and what to do next

If your MOHRE complaint status hasn't moved in more than 14 days, push.

First, message the officer assigned to your file through the app's chat function. Second, call 600 590 000 and ask for a supervisor review. Third, if the dispute is over AED 50,000 or involves a clear breach (unpaid wages flagged through the Wage Protection System, the WPS payroll-monitoring regime, arbitrary dismissal, end-of-service gratuity), ask MOHRE to issue the court referral letter so you can move to litigation.

Once you have the referral letter, the Court of First Instance handles labour claims. Claims up to AED 50,000 are exempt from court fees under the labour law framework ^[2]. You file at the court in the emirate where you worked — Dubai Courts, Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, or the relevant local court.

A quick reality check. MOHRE mediation works in maybe half of cases. Employers who know they owe money often settle here to avoid court costs and a public judgment. Employers who think they're right will let it go to court. Either outcome is fine — what you don't want is a complaint sitting in limbo for two months because nobody followed up.

Watch out: The 14-day window to file at court after MOHRE referral is strict. Miss it and you may need to file a fresh claim with a justification for the delay. Don't wait for the referral letter to arrive by post — collect it from MOHRE in person the day your status changes to "referred."

For free-zone employees in DIFC or ADGM, MOHRE doesn't have jurisdiction — your complaint route is the DIFC Employment Tribunal or ADGM Courts respectively, not the channels above.

Need this checked for your situation? Talk to a UAE-licensed lawyer →

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Citations

^[1] Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations, as amended by Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2023 — Articles 54-55 (dispute resolution and time limits). U.A.E. Ministry of Justice / MOHRE. ^[2] MOHRE — Labour Complaints and Disputes service page, mohre.gov.ae/en/services/services-for-individuals/labour-complaints-and-disputes.aspx. ^[3] MOHRE Call Centre and Smart Services — 600 590 000, mohre.gov.ae.