The Abu Dhabi Labour Court has successfully facilitated the recovery of over Dh7.8 million in outstanding wages for 948 employees over a three-month period. Working in collaboration with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE), the court resolved three major collective disputes, ensuring that 457 workers received their full entitlements while 491 were granted partial payments. For the remaining balances, structured installment plans have been put in place to guarantee that all employees eventually receive their due compensation. Beyond the financial recovery, this initiative played a crucial role in job preservation, allowing these workers to remain employed at their respective companies and maintaining overall business continuity.

This effort aligns with the UAE’s broader strategy of promoting amicable dispute resolution to maintain a stable labor market. Data from the first half of 2026 highlights the success of this approach, with the MoHRE resolving 98.6% of labor disputes through its own specialized system, leaving only a tiny fraction of cases to be handled by the judiciary. A key driver of this efficiency is the ministry’s authority to adjudicate claims under Dh50,000 directly. By streamlining these processes, the UAE has significantly reduced the legal burden on its courts and ensured that workers can access their financial rights with much greater speed and ease.