Can my employer change my contract terms with an addendum without my consent in the UAE?

Generally no. Under the UAE Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021), the employment contract is a mutual agreement, so a material change to your terms, such as cutting salary, removing allowances, or altering your role, normally requires your consent through a signed addendum. An employer cannot unilaterally impose worse terms simply by issuing a document and demanding you sign it. If you sign under genuine agreement, the change becomes binding; if you refuse, the original registered MOHRE contract continues to govern. Pressure tactics, or treating refusal as grounds for punishment, can themselves give rise to a complaint. Importantly, no addendum can drop your entitlements below the minimum protections the law guarantees, even if you sign it. Before signing anything that reduces your pay or benefits, ask for the change in writing and keep the original contract for comparison. If you feel coerced, you can raise the matter with MOHRE, which handles private-sector labour disputes. To understand your options before signing a disadvantageous addendum, you can compare verified UAE legal professionals on LEXAI.