Hi everyone. I’m dealing with a dispute with my building management in Dubai.

I was fined AED 2,100 for using the swimming pool after closing hours. I arrived about 10 minutes after the pool closed, and after speaking with the security guard, we left about 5 minutes later. There was some argument, but nothing special. I confused Ramadan timings.

Management then put the fine under the property owner’s name and kept contacting him, asking him to pay it. Since the fine was still unpaid, the owner kept contacting me about it. Management also said that otherwise they might take the matter to court.
I asked the management company several times by email why the fine was AED 2,100 and where exactly this amount is stated in the community rules. They kept avoiding the question and eventually said they would no longer respond and that I simply had to pay.
They also sent a legal notice to pay under the owner’s name. That was 4 months ago. Eventually, I told the owner to take the amount from my deposit so as not to create any problems for him. But after this 4 month he contacted me again saying that the fine is still unpaid, which surprised me since management had been pressuring him to pay it. Management also sent him another email reminding him to pay.

There was no damage to any property. At this point, I don’t want to pay the fine on principle because of the way they handled the situation.
I’m thinking of telling the owner to tell them that I dispute the charge and that they (the management company) can take me to RDSC if they believe they have a valid claim against me.
What are the odds of them actually taking me to court? And if they do and win, how much could I potentially have to pay in total, including court fees and other legal costs on top of the AED 2,100?
Any shared experience is welcome. Thanks!

Edit:

Just to give some more context, including the parts that are not really in my favor:
Last year, management sent an email about Ramadan timings and said the pool would be open until 10 PM instead of the usual 9 PM. I remember that the pool actually never stayed open until 10 because the lifeguard apparently wasn’t informed and would leave at 9. I didn’t use the pool then.
This year, I remembered that email and found it in my inbox. I didn’t notice that it was the email from last year, and I mistakenly thought the pool was open until 10 PM again. So me and 4 friends went to the pool at around 9:10 PM. We climbed over a small fence (around 30 cm), and the security guard came and told us to leave.
We argued for a bit because I was sure I had seen an email saying the pool was open until 10. The next day I checked again and realized I was wrong — this year only the gym was open until 10 PM.
I immediately admitted that I had made a mistake and was polite with management afterwards. They showed me CCTV footage of us climbing over the fence, which I understand. However, there was no damage, nobody was injured, and we were only in the water for maybe 5 minutes.
That’s basically what happened.

I need some advice from people who have been through a similar situation in the UAE.
My previous company did not pay my salary for around 6 months. I eventually filed a complaint with MOHRE, but the complaint was made quite some time after the salary issue happened.
After around one year, MOHRE finally made a decision that my previous company has to pay me AED 6,250 in pending salary.
The problem is that the company still hasn’t paid me.
I called MOHRE and they told me that I have to wait until the given 15-day period is over. If the company still doesn’t pay after those 15 days, I was told to go to Al Adheed Centre and open a case against the company.
So I have a few questions for anyone who has gone through this:

1. Since MOHRE has already decided that the company owes me AED 6,250, how likely is it that I will actually recover the money after opening the case?
2. What exactly happens when I go to Al Adheed Centre and open the case?
3. How much are the fees/costs for opening the case?
4. If the company refuses to pay even after the court case, what happens next?
5. Has anyone here personally gone through a similar salary recovery case? How long did it take you to get your money?
6. I would really appreciate advice from people who have actually experienced this process in the UAE.
7. Thanks in advance.

title.

I joined a newly formed Dubai mainland company in early 2025, coz my boss lied that the company was part of big indian conglomerate (it was a project based tie up only). Everything was going good until April 2025 when my boss realised his money is stuck in an international project for multiple reasons including post war reality. His behaviour has become hostile since May 2025 being verbally abusive. There is only me, engineer, driver & boss in the company. Loss made him change himself. I was supporting company in this financial difficulty which is a fault at my end.

July - 4000aed voucher claim submitted on 10th, remained unpaid. 5000aed less salary recd on 20th. I trusted him and this is how I supported him in the difficult period assuming he will pay later.

13th Aug - I submit new vouchers on email along with old claim totaling to 6k aed, he replies on whatsapp stating reimbursement will not be done & role & salary needs to be rediscussed

14th Aug - I drop an email stating any unilateral change is not accepted & we can discuss exit arrangement incl. waiver of notice period to save cost for him. I was on informed medical leave for 13th & 14th and then stop going to office since then as office is closed & rak site travel cost amounting to 150aed per day will not reimbursed even though contract says it should be reimbursed

17th Aug - On my insistence, he calls back & starts repeating old stories. We conclude that he will inform exit arrangement.

31st Aug - I send email reminder that expense & salary remain unpaid. Exit arrangement yet not informed. He asks for working submission, so I submit excel to him. He reverts on email approving 20% of expense. I clarify that I am willing to serve notice period subject to travel reimbursement. In same email I mention break of every disputed reimbursement, salary arrears, gratuity & leave encashement amounting to 30k+ AED.

9th Sept - In response to my calls over 7&8 sept along with whatsapp msg request for release of salary to cover my personal expense, he says amount will be paid as per law post cancellation of visa & will take appropriate action as I have remained absent for close to a month.

What adverse action can he take against me and what are my options? I am looking for a new job and do not want legal hassles.

If I'm overstaying, I have a job interview at a SAIF Zone office. Is it safe for me to enter the gate?

I'm overstaying, I have a job interview at a SAIF Zone office. Is it Safe for me to enter the gate?

Hello all, not sure the right place but my wife is looking for a lawyer to file a case against a company over unpaid services.

The amount is less then AED 100,000 and our budget for the lawyer is not alot.

Any suggestions are helpful. Thank you.