A former employee in Al Ain has been ordered by the Court of First Instance to pay Dh30,000 to his previous employer after he refused to return a company vehicle following his dismissal. The company initiated the lawsuit after the individual kept the car at his home, using it as a form of leverage to secure his end-of-service benefits. While the defendant argued that holding the vehicle was justified until his financial dues were settled, the court dismissed this defense, noting that seizing corporate assets is an unlawful way to resolve labor disputes.

The presiding judge emphasized that employees do not have the right to take matters into their own hands or withhold company property during a conflict. Instead, the court clarified that the appropriate course of action is to file an official grievance through the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation. Because the worker’s actions deprived the business of its asset and hindered daily operations, the court ruled that he must compensate the company for the damages caused, in addition to covering all associated legal and litigation fees.