Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation handled nearly 186,000 workplace claims out of court through expanded adjudication powers and proactive digital monitoring.
ABU DHABI:The United Arab Emirates settled 185,793 labour disputes amicably during the first six months of 2026, resolving 98.6 per cent of all recorded workplace complaints without requiring court intervention.
Figures released by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) reveal that only 2,481 disputes—representing just 1.4 per cent of total cases—were referred to the judiciary between January and June.
The high rate of out-of-court settlements stems largely from regulatory reforms empowering MoHRE to issue final, binding decisions on labour claims valued up to AED 50,000. The mechanism allows employees and employers to resolve disputes over unpaid wages, end-of-service benefits, and contractual disagreements within a mandatory 14-day window.
Ahmed Al Qara, Director of the Labour Relations Department at MoHRE, attributed the performance to enhanced digital compliance tools and specialised legal mediation teams.
“The ministry continues to enhance the efficiency of its labour dispute resolution system through an integrated approach based on proactive solutions and effective resolution mechanisms that protect the rights of all parties to the employment relationship,” Al Qara said.
Upgrades to the federal Wage Protection System (WPS) have further reduced friction by automatically detecting salary delays and non-compliance before disputes escalate. For cases exceeding the AED 50,000 limit, MoHRE continues to offer formal mediation; unresolved claims are passed directly to the Court of First Instance alongside an official ministry summary and legal recommendation.
