UAE Labor Disputes Guide: Resolution Process and Options 2025

Common disputes include wage disputes involving unpaid salary, overtime, or commissions. Benefit disputes cover gratuity and leave balance issues. Termination disputes involve wrongful dismissal and notice period claims. Contract disputes arise from terms, conditions, or unauthorized amendments. Workplace issues include safety violations, discrimination, and harassment.

Employers may file complaints for absconding when an employee disappears without notice. Breach of contract disputes involve violation of employment terms. Notice period disputes occur when employees leave without serving notice. Property damage claims address company assets that are damaged. Confidentiality disputes involve trade secret disclosure.

The company grievance process starts with the employee raising a concern. The immediate supervisor reviews the issue. HR investigates and proposes a resolution. Benefits include faster resolution (days vs months), no fees, confidentiality, preserved working relationship, and flexibility for creative solutions.

Go directly to MOHRE for serious violations like unpaid wages, when the employer is unresponsive to internal complaints, if you fear retaliation, or for urgent matters that cannot wait.

MOHRE handles disputes for mainland UAE employees. DIFC employees use DIFC Courts or DIFC-LCIA. ADGM employees use ADGM Courts. Free zone employees should check their specific zone regulations.

If mediation fails, cases go to Labor Court for the first instance. The Court of Appeal reviews decisions on facts and law. The Court of Cassation provides final appeal on legal matters only.

Filing a complaint takes 1 day. Initial review by MOHRE takes 1-3 days. Mediation scheduling occurs within 3-5 days. Mediation sessions continue for up to 14 days. Settlement or court referral happens at the end of mediation.

Both parties are required to attend. The mediator reviews all submitted documents. Each party explains their position. The mediator proposes potential solutions. Parties negotiate toward agreement. If no settlement, the case is referred to court.

Full settlement means the case is closed with a binding agreement. Partial settlement addresses some issues while remaining matters go to court. No settlement results in full referral to Labor Court.

Cases are referred when mediation fails to reach agreement, when the dispute is too complex for mediation, when significant amounts are involved, or when legal interpretation is needed for proper resolution.

Case registration takes 1-2 days. The first hearing is scheduled within 2-4 weeks. Evidence submission proceeds as directed by the court. Witness testimony is heard if needed. Both parties present arguments. Judgment is issued 2-4 weeks after the final hearing.

Court fees are based on claim value. Employees are often exempt from fees. Lawyer fees apply if you choose to hire legal representation. Translation costs may apply for documents. Expert witnesses are rare but may incur additional costs.

The Court of Appeal reviews decisions on both facts and law. The deadline to appeal is 30 days from judgment. The Court of Cassation is the final appeal level and reviews only legal matters, not facts. There is no further appeal after Cassation.

Essential documents include the employment contract showing terms of agreement, salary slips proving payment history, bank statements showing actual payments received, emails and messages documenting communication, performance reviews demonstrating work quality, warning letters showing discipline history, and the termination letter stating reason for end of employment.

Colleague testimony carries moderate weight. Manager testimony is more significant. HR records are considered strong evidence. Expert testimony may be relevant for specific technical issues.

Emails must be authenticated to be admissible. WhatsApp message screenshots are acceptable. CCTV footage can be used if relevant to the dispute. Phone records may raise privacy issues and require careful handling.

Filing on day 1, mediation within 2 weeks, settlement by week 3, and payment per the agreement terms. Total time is approximately 3-4 weeks.

MOHRE process takes 2-3 weeks. Court process takes an additional 2-3 months. Total time is approximately 3-4 months.

First instance takes 3-4 months. Appeal takes 2-3 months. Cassation, if pursued, takes another 2-3 months. Total time is approximately 8-10 months.