ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — The Abu Dhabi Labour Court settled and disbursed more than 309 million UAE dirhams (about $84 million) in financial entitlements to 12,536 workers in 2025, the court announced Thursday on International Workers’ Day.
The figures reflect the court’s swift adjudication of claims under an enforcement system that officials say protects worker rights while supporting business competitiveness. The announcement was made as part of the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department’s annual observance of May 1, which marks International Workers’ Day.
The court said its performance is underpinned by a judicial and technological infrastructure that enables rapid resolution of disputes, aiming to protect both workers and employers through transparent enforcement of labor law.
Alongside its judicial function, the court operates a Labour Awareness Office that reaches thousands of workers annually in multiple languages, promoting legal literacy around rights and obligations — an initiative officials say helps reduce disputes before they reach litigation.
YEAR-OVER-YEAR CONTEXT
In 2024, the court disbursed 230 million dirhams in financial dues to 18,597 employees, and recorded a 99% adjudication rate on preliminary cases, reflecting the speed with which labour disputes were resolved. The 2025 disbursement total represents a 34% increase in funds recovered compared to 2024, though the number of workers who received payments declined.
Counselor Abdullah Faris Al Nuaimi, president of the Abu Dhabi Labour Court, has said that speedy adjudication and ensuring that rights are preserved for their holders is a fundamental goal of the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, in line with directives of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.
BACKGROUND
The Abu Dhabi Labour Court operates under the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department and handles disputes between private-sector employees and employers. The UAE’s federal labor framework — governed primarily by Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 — covers individual and collective disputes, wage claims, wrongful termination and contract breaches.
In 2023, the court announced updated procedures and new mechanisms to ensure the settlement and delivery of workers’ entitlements through simpler and more practical steps, part of a broader sustainable development approach applied across all judicial proceedings, from case registration through remote hearings to final enforcement.
The court’s reach has expanded significantly over recent years. In the first quarter of 2022 alone, the court registered 1,932 cases at the Court of First Instance, adjudicating 98% of them, while handling 506 appellate cases with a 97% settlement rate and processing more than 24,600 electronic requests.
Officials said the court’s work supports Abu Dhabi’s broader goal of positioning the emirate as a global destination for business and investment, underpinned by a labor environment that balances worker protections with employer stability.