The UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) resolved 98.6% of labour disputes amicably during the first half of 2026, with the ministry’s Labour Market Services Sector settling 185,793 cases without court intervention.
A further 2,481 disputes, representing 1.4% of all cases recorded during the period, were referred to the courts, according to figures released by MoHRE on August 5.
The ministry said the results reflect continued improvements to the UAE’s labour dispute resolution system, including measures aimed at speeding up settlements and ensuring workers and employers can access their rights more efficiently.
A key development has been MoHRE’s authority to adjudicate labour disputes involving claims of up to AED50,000. The measure is designed to accelerate the resolution of employment-related claims, reduce pressure on the courts and enable workers and other claimants to receive their entitlements more quickly.
Ahmed Al Qara, Director of the Labour Relations Department at MoHRE, said the ministry is continuing to improve the dispute resolution system through proactive measures and strengthened settlement mechanisms.
“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 said MoHRE remains focused on resolving complaints within prescribed timeframes while prioritising amicable settlements through enhanced complaint-handling processes supported by specialised legal professionals.
MoHRE also attributed part of the progress to enhancements to the UAE’s Wage Protection System (WPS), which it said has helped reduce the causes of labour disputes by strengthening proactive monitoring of employers’ compliance with wage payment requirements.
The upgraded system can identify payment delays and other violations at an early stage, allowing potential issues to be addressed before they develop into wider labour disputes.
MoHRE said its labour dispute resolution framework and WPS are integrated with broader digital and regulatory systems. The integration is intended to strengthen employer compliance monitoring and support data-driven decision-making across the labour market.
The ministry’s approach places greater emphasis on preventing disputes as well as resolving them after complaints are filed, with wage monitoring and digital systems being used to identify potential compliance issues earlier.
Employers and employees can submit labour complaints or seek employment-related advice through MoHRE’s Labour Claims and Advisory Call Centre on 80084, as well as through the ministry’s website and smart application.