Freelancer unpaid by large agency in Dubai — has anyone navigated this?
I’m a freelance consultant who was brought in by a large multinational agency to support a client project here in Dubai. No formal contract was signed — the engagement ran on email approvals and verbal direction, which I know was a mistake in hindsight.
I delivered everything asked of me, including work on weekends when the project genuinely needed it. I submitted my invoices in February. A senior director confirmed in writing that all three were approved. Two were eventually paid after months of chasing. The third is now being disputed — the agency’s position is that their client won’t release additional budget, so they won’t pay me, despite the written confirmation I received at the time.
It’s now been nearly three months since submission with no resolution. I’ve sent a final email to the CEO appealing to fairness, so I’ve essentially exhausted the polite route.
Has anyone been in a similar situation here in Dubai? How did you handle it, and did you manage to get paid? Would really appreciate hearing from others who’ve navigated this as a freelance