Abu Dhabi Labour Court Recovers Dh7.8 Million for 948 Workers

The Abu Dhabi Labour Court recovered Dh7,811,933 in financial dues for 948 workers across three collective labour cases resolved within three months. The payments came through a combination of judicial deposits and direct payments under amicable settlements, against total claims of Dh12.3 million.

The recovery involved coordination between the court, the UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE), and the parties involved in enforcement.

How The Payments Broke Down

Of the 948 workers, 457 received their financial entitlements in full, while 491 received partial payments. The remaining amounts were placed on regular instalment plans so collection could continue after the initial settlement.

The settlements therefore did not require every outstanding amount to be paid in one lump sum. They combined immediate payments for some workers with scheduled payments for the remaining balances.

Khaleej Times also reported that the settlement mechanism allowed the workers to retain their jobs with the companies concerned.

How This Fits Into The UAE Labour Dispute Process

The Abu Dhabi Labour Court is based in Mussafah Industrial Area and handles labour disputes within its jurisdiction. Abu Dhabi Judicial Department says the location was chosen for its proximity to court users.

Separately, for individual labour disputes covered by the federal labour law, MoHRE can issue an executable decision when the value of the claim does not exceed Dh50,000. Under the current Article 54, either party may bring the dispute before the competent Court of First Instance within 15 working days of being notified of MoHRE's decision. The court must set a hearing within three working days and decide the case within 30 working days of filing.

This is different from the earlier process introduced in January 2024, which initially directed challenges to the Court of Appeals. Federal Decree-Law No. 9 of 2024 later changed that route to the Court of First Instance.

The three Abu Dhabi collective cases also sit alongside a broader national pattern of disputes being resolved before reaching court. MoHRE reported that 185,793 labour disputes were settled amicably during the first half of 2026, representing 98.6 per cent of recorded cases. Another 2,481 disputes, or 1.4 per cent, were referred to the judiciary.

What The Settlements Show

The published figures show that settlement and full payment do not always happen at the same time. Some workers received their full entitlements, while others received partial payments with the remaining balances scheduled through instalments.

The available reporting does not publish the detailed terms agreed in each of the three cases, so it would be difficult to draw broader conclusions from the payment arrangements alone. What is confirmed is that the recovery used both judicial deposits and direct payments following amicable settlements, while the affected workers were able to remain in their jobs.

For workers facing wage or entitlement disputes, the appropriate route and timeline can depend on the type and value of the claim. MoHRE and the relevant court provide the formal channels for resolving disputes, while official guidance or qualified legal advice should be checked for individual circumstances.

For employers, unresolved wage and entitlement disputes can progress from administrative resolution to judicial proceedings and enforcement. Keeping payment records accurate and addressing disputes early can help reduce the risk of escalation.

The Dh7.8 million recovery represents these three collective cases rather than the overall scale of labour disputes in Abu Dhabi. Broader conclusions should be based on MoHRE and judicial statistics covering a longer period.

Key Takeaways

• Abu Dhabi Labour Court recovered Dh7.8 million for 948 workers across three collective labour cases, against total claims of Dh12.3 million.
• 457 workers received their entitlements in full, while 491 received partial payments with remaining balances scheduled through instalments.
• The settlements used judicial deposits and direct payments, and the workers were able to retain their jobs with the companies concerned.
• MoHRE reported that 98.6 per cent of recorded labour disputes in the first half of 2026 were settled amicably, while 1.4 per cent were referred to the judiciary.

Sources: Khaleej Times, Gulf News, Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, UAE Legislation.

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