A recent decision of the Abu Dhabi Global Market Court of First Instance provides useful guidance on how employment disputes may be treated when an employment contract contains an arbitration clause. In Mathonnet v Modus Operations LLC and Ayotte v Modus Operations LLC [2025] ADGMCFI 0005, the Court of First Instance confirmed that employment claims can in principle be referred to arbitration, even where the ADGM courts would otherwise have jurisdiction over the dispute.
Shifting Sands of Labor Law
YOUR SOURCE FOR MIDDLE EAST HR AND EMPLOYMENT LAW UPDATES
The ongoing geopolitical events in the Middle East are creating significant operational and workforce challenges for employers across the region. While the legal framework in jurisdictions such as the UAE, KSA, and other GCC countries has not fundamentally changed in response to the current crisis, the application of existing employment laws in a crisis context raises a number of important considerations.
The Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) Court has issued a detailed costs judgment that doubles as a practical guide for lawyers on the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) in litigation.
A recent judgment of the Abu Dhabi Family, Civil and Administrative Claims Court provides a timely reminder to employers operating in the UAE of the importance of having clear disciplinary policies in place and adhering to them carefully prior to terminating an employee’s employment.
Our latest Navigating Employment Law in the Middle East webinar—Part 1 of the UAE edition—kicked off the fourth installment of this multipart series. The session focused on the UAE private sector employment framework—excluding the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) and Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)—and explored what employers need to know about the law, Emiratization, employment contracts, onboarding, and Golden Visa considerations.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Ministry) is rolling out a new enforceable version of the standard form employment contract issued via the Ministry’s Qiwa portal. The roll out integrates the wages clause contained in the Qiwa contract with the Ministry of Justice’s legal services portal, Najiz, enabling an employee to directly enforce the payment terms without having to initiate a claim through the Labour Courts.
The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) published a Practice Direction on October 9, 2025, which will have a significant impact on employment disputes in the DIFC with immediate effect. The Practice Direction noted a desire to enhance access to justice in employment-related disputes and to create a proportionate, fair, and efficient procedural framework within the DIFC courts.
The Abu Dhabi Court of Cassation has ruled that an employer must compensate a former employee for 13 years of unused annual leave, departing from the two-year limit typically applied by lower courts.