More than 185,000 labour disputes settled without court intervention as Ministry strengthens dispute resolution and wage protection systems
Dubai: The UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) said it amicably resolved 185,793 labour disputes during the first half of 2026, representing 98.6% of all recorded cases, highlighting the effectiveness of the UAE’s labour dispute resolution framework.
According to the Ministry, only 2,481 disputes, equivalent to 1.4% of total cases, were referred to the courts during the period.
The results reflect continued improvements to the labour dispute management system and form part of the key achievements recorded by MoHRE’s Labour Market Services Sector.
A significant contributor to this progress has been the Ministry’s authority to adjudicate labour disputes involving claims of up to AED50,000, helping accelerate settlements, reduce pressure on the judicial system and enable employees to obtain their entitlements more quickly.
Ahmed Al Qara, Director of the Labour Relations Department at MoHRE, said the Ministry continues to enhance the efficiency of its labour dispute resolution mechanisms through proactive and effective solutions that protect the rights of all parties in the employment relationship.
“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.
He added that MoHRE remains committed to resolving complaints within the prescribed timelines while prioritising amicable settlements through strengthened complaint-handling procedures supported by specialised legal professionals.
Al Qara noted that the upgraded Wage Protection System (WPS) has played a key role in reducing labour disputes by improving the monitoring of employers’ compliance with wage payment obligations and identifying delays or violations at an early stage.
The Ministry said the labour dispute resolution framework and the Wage Protection System are integrated with its broader digital and regulatory infrastructure, enabling stronger compliance monitoring and supporting data-driven decision-making.
MoHRE also reminded employers and employees that labour complaints and advisory services are available through the Labour Claims and Advisory Call Centre (80084), as well as via the Ministry’s website and smart application.
