United Arab Emirates: Employee Rights/ Labour Relations

If an employee in the UAE resigns after several years with a company and starts his own business in the same field, the clients he dealt with while employed may follow him to the new business, and the company’s revenue from those clients may fall as a result.

Recruitment in the UAE is governed by Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, which establishes a comprehensive legal framework covering hiring practices, candidate selection, and employer obligations. This detailed analysis examines the principles of good faith recruitment, non-discrimination requirements, prohibition of forced labour, and the strict allocation of recruitment costs to employers, while exploring practical compliance challenges and risk points throughout the hiring process.

In a ruling that could reshape how employers in the UAE manage leave entitlements, the Abu Dhabi Court of Cassation has awarded an employee compensation for 13 years' worth of unused annual leave...