Abu Dhabi Court Orders Employer to Pay Dh1.54 Million in Salary Dispute

Abu Dhabi Court Orders Employer to Pay Dh1.54 Million in Salary Dispute

 

Top court rejects employer’s appeal, citing valid contract and lack of proof for forgery claims.

The Abu Dhabi Court of Cassation has ruled in favour of an employee, ordering his former employer to pay more than Dh1.54 million in unpaid salaries and allowance.

 

The dispute began when the employee filed a labour lawsuit claiming Dh1,595,000 in outstanding wages and Dh130,000 in annual leave benefits. He said he worked under a three-year contract dated December 26, 2022, with a basic salary of Dh55,000 and a total monthly package of Dh75,000, including allowances.

 

The company denied the claim, alleging that the contract was forged and that the actual salary was Dh54,000. It relied on an email purportedly showing the employee’s admission and requested the court to dismiss the lawsuit.

 

After reviewing the case, the Court of First Instance appointed a financial expert, who confirmed the employee’s entitlement. In April, the court ordered the employer to pay Dh1,412,537 in unpaid salaries and Dh130,000 for leave, totalling Dh1,542,537.

 

The employer appealed, but the Court of Appeal upheld the ruling in June. A further challenge before the Cassation Court also failed.

 

The highest court dismissed all four arguments raised by the company:

• The expert’s report was valid, as both parties were allowed to respond.
• The written contract specifying Dh75,000 prevailed over an email; the court noted that contracts have the “force of law” between parties.
• No evidence was provided to support the forgery claim.
• The employment relationship continued under the valid three-year contract despite the company’s trade licence expiring in August 2023.

 

The court upheld the lower rulings in full, ordering the employer to pay legal costs, Dh1,000 in lawyer’s fees, and forfeiting its deposit. The employee prevailed at every stage of the case and will receive more than Dh1.54 million.

 

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