An employee in Dubai resigns, begins preparing to join another company and discovers that their work permit cannot be processed. Their former employer has reported an unexplained absence from work. The employee believes the resignation was properly communicated, but the official employment record may tell a different story.
Situations like this make it essential to understand how to check absconding status online in the UAE. Whether you are an employee concerned about a report or an employer managing an unexplained absence, the first step is identifying the appropriate authority and verifying the complaint.
The process depends on your employment category, the authority responsible for your work permit and whether an immigration matter is also involved.
How to Check Absconding Status Online in UAE
To check absconding status online in the UAE, start with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) inquiry portal if you hold a MOHRE-regulated work permit. Select the absence-from-work complaint inquiry, enter the requested details and review the result. Contact MOHRE if the record remains unclear.
Step 1: Access the MOHRE inquiry portal
Visit the official MOHRE inquiry portal. This service provides several employment-related inquiry options, including application status and absence-from-work complaints. Select the relevant complaint inquiry. The available fields may differ depending on the type of record and the service selected.
Step 2: Enter the required information
Keep your Emirates ID, passport, work permit details and any MOHRE complaint reference available. Enter the identifiers requested by the portal. Do not assume that entering a passport number alone will retrieve every type of employment complaint.
Step 3: Review the complaint information
Check whether the system returns a record or requests further information. If a complaint appears, record its reference number and status. A pending complaint and an approved complaint should not be treated as equivalent. If no result appears, do not automatically assume that there is no complaint. Confirm the position directly with MOHRE when necessary.
Step 4: Confirm the result with MOHRE
MOHRE lists its website, mobile application, chatbot and contact centre as channels for following up on employment-related applications.
Call 600 590 000 if you cannot establish whether an absence complaint has been filed or approved.
The official MOHRE absence-from-work complaint service provides further procedural information.
Which UAE Authority Should You Check?
An employment complaint and an immigration record are not the same thing. The correct authority depends on what you need to verify.
MOHRE handles absence-from-work complaints relating to employment under its jurisdiction. Its inquiry services are therefore the starting point for many mainland private-sector employees.
The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs Dubai (GDRFA Dubai) provides visa status inquiries for relevant Dubai immigration records.
The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) also provides residency application tracking through its smart services.
Neither a valid residence visa nor an immigration application result necessarily proves that an employment complaint does not exist.
Employees working under different employment or immigration arrangements should verify which authority maintains their relevant records.
What Is an Absconding Case Under UAE Law?
An absconding case in UAE employment practice generally refers to an official complaint about an employee’s unexplained absence from work. The legal and administrative terminology includes absence from work and unexpected work abandonment.
For MOHRE-regulated private-sector employment, the principal legislation is Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 Concerning the Regulation of Labour Relations, together with Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022.
Article 28 of the Executive Regulations addresses reporting an employee’s absence exceeding seven consecutive days where the employer does not know the employee’s whereabouts or how to contact them.
Absence alone does not establish that every legal condition for a complaint has been satisfied. Approved leave, documented communication or another legitimate explanation may be relevant.
Domestic workers fall under a separate framework, including Federal Decree-Law No. 9 of 2022 Concerning Domestic Workers. Their reporting and cancellation procedures should not be confused with those governing ordinary private-sector employment.
How Employers File a MOHRE Absconding Complaint
Employers should establish the facts before submitting an absence complaint.
For the relevant MOHRE private-sector service, the employee must have been absent for more than seven days, be within the UAE and meet the applicable conditions concerning their whereabouts and the employer’s inability to contact them.
An employer should review attendance records, approved leave, correspondence and previous attempts to contact the employee.
The reporting process generally involves submitting the employee and establishment details through the designated MOHRE channels. The authority reviews the application and communicates its outcome.
MOHRE’s published private-sector service information lists no government service fee for filing this complaint and gives an indicative completion period of two working days. These are administrative service details, not assurances of an outcome.
Employers should also distinguish this service from domestic worker absence reporting, where different documentation, fees and procedures may apply.
An incorrect report can create a further dispute. Employers should therefore retain evidence supporting the complaint and correct inaccurate information through the relevant official procedure.
What to Do If an Absconding Complaint Is Filed Against You
An employee who discovers an absence complaint should first confirm whether it is pending or approved and obtain the available reference details.
Next, assemble documents explaining the circumstances. These may include resignation correspondence, approved leave requests, medical records where relevant, attendance information and messages with the employer.
Ministerial Resolution No. 47 of 2022 provides circumstances in which an unexpected work abandonment complaint may be cancelled.
These include situations where the required absence period was not completed, the absence had a legitimate reason, the employee was on legally permitted leave or the employment relationship ended by agreement.
MOHRE’s published guidance also recognises that an employee may request cancellation in circumstances permitted by the resolution.
An employee should use the appropriate MOHRE complaint or cancellation procedure, explain the disputed facts clearly and retain evidence of the submission.
Where an employer disagrees with the employee’s explanation, the merits of the complaint may require further administrative or legal examination.
Can an Absconding Case Affect Your Visa or Employment?
An approved absence complaint can have consequences for work permits and future employment.
MOHRE states that approval of its private-sector absence complaint normally results in cancellation of the relevant work permit, subject to specified exceptions.
The Executive Regulations also contain restrictions concerning new work permits following unjustified absence before a contract ends. However, statutory exceptions exist, and the application of a restriction depends on the individual’s circumstances.
A labour-related restriction should not automatically be described as a residence visa cancellation, immigration ban, criminal conviction or travel ban.
Those are different legal and administrative questions.
Employees facing an approved complaint should establish their work permit position and separately verify any immigration implications with the competent authority before making employment or travel decisions.
Common Problems When Checking Absconding Status
An unsuccessful online search does not always resolve the underlying question.
No complaint result appears: Verify that you selected the correct MOHRE inquiry and entered the required identifiers. Contact MOHRE if the result remains uncertain.
The reference number is missing: Request the reference from the submitting party where appropriate or ask MOHRE which details are needed to locate the record.
Employment and visa records differ: Determine whether the discrepancy relates to the work permit, the residence permit or a pending administrative process.
The employer disputes your explanation: Preserve relevant evidence and seek clarification through the official complaint procedure rather than relying exclusively on verbal assurances.
These steps help establish the facts before decisions are made about resignation, transferring employment or leaving the country.
Do the Same Rules Apply in DIFC and ADGM?
Not necessarily. Employment within the Dubai International Financial Centre is governed by its own employment framework, including DIFC Employment Law No. 2 of 2019, as amended.
Abu Dhabi Global Market employment is governed by the ADGM Employment Regulations 2024, effective from 1 April 2025.
The federal MOHRE absence-reporting process should therefore not be assumed to apply identically to every DIFC or ADGM employment relationship.
Where employment and immigration arrangements involve different authorities, both aspects may need examination.
Next Steps and Legal Guidance
If an absence complaint has affected your employment or visa arrangements, establish the official record first and preserve documents that explain the circumstances. Davidson & Co.’s employment team can review your situation and advise on the appropriate next steps. You can contact the firm for guidance.
This article is general information, not legal advice. For advice on your situation, speak to a qualified lawyer.
Schedule a consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I check my UAE absconding status using my passport number?
Your passport details may help identify an employment or immigration record, but they do not necessarily provide a complete absconding status check. Use the appropriate MOHRE inquiry service and enter the details it requests. If you cannot locate the record, contact MOHRE to establish which identifiers are required.
How do I know if my employer has filed an absconding complaint?
For MOHRE-regulated employment, use the official MOHRE inquiry portal to check for an absence-from-work complaint. If the available information does not establish whether a complaint has been filed or approved, contact MOHRE directly. Keep relevant correspondence and any complaint reference provided by your employer.
Can an absconding complaint be cancelled in the UAE?
Yes, an unexpected work abandonment complaint may be cancelled when the applicable legal conditions are satisfied. Ministerial Resolution No. 47 of 2022 identifies circumstances including legitimate absence, approved leave and certain agreed employment arrangements. Employees and employers should use the relevant official process rather than assume cancellation follows automatically.
What happens if an absconding complaint is filed incorrectly?
An employee can seek clarification and request cancellation where the circumstances meet the applicable requirements. Relevant evidence may include leave approval, resignation correspondence, attendance records or messages establishing contact with the employer. The competent authority considers the circumstances; cancellation and any related employment consequences depend on the findings.
Does an absconding complaint automatically result in a UAE labour ban?
Not every complaint automatically creates the same employment restriction. The Executive Regulations contain provisions concerning new work permits following unjustified absence, alongside exceptions. Whether a restriction applies requires consideration of the complaint’s status, the employee’s circumstances and the relevant legal provisions. Immigration restrictions are a separate matter.
