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Can my employer legally keep my passport?

Last updated: May 2026
Dubai Practical Editorial Team· Collaborative authorship

Signed by: Sarah Al Qasimi (Lead Editor). Fact-checked by the full editorial team.

No — passport confiscation by employers is illegal under Federal Decree-Law 9 of 2022 and prior labour law. Any employer retaining your passport commits a criminal offence. Report it to MOHRE immediately via the app, hotline 800 60, or in person. The practice is still occurring in some sectors; victims are protected and should report without fear.

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