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.
Shifting Sands of Labor Law
YOUR SOURCE FOR MIDDLE EAST HR AND EMPLOYMENT LAW UPDATES
Whether you are scheduling work projects, planning leave for your workforce, or simply looking forward to a long weekend, public holidays play an important role for employers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Back in April 2024, the UAE issued a Cabinet Decision (Cabinet Decision No. 27/2024 on Official Holidays in the State), which came into force on January 1, 2025 and sets out the applicable public holidays in the UAE.
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.