The Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court has ordered a woman to pay Dh200,000 in damages after she was found liable for assaulting a colleague at work, leaving the victim with both physical injuries and psychological harm, according to a report by Emarat Al Youm.
The case stemmed from a violent workplace altercation in which the defendant attacked her colleague, causing what court filings described as “significant bodily harm.”
The incident first led to a criminal trial, where the Abu Dhabi Criminal Court convicted the defendant of assault. Following that ruling, the injured employee filed a civil lawsuit seeking Dh300,000 in compensation for material and moral damages. The Court partly upheld the claim, awarding two-thirds of the amount sought. In its judgment, the court cited provisions of the UAE Civil Transactions Law, which stipulate that anyone who causes harm to another person is obligated to provide compensation, regardless of full legal competence.
The judges relied on the criminal conviction and medical reports to establish the extent of harm.
The awarded damages cover both physical injuries and emotional suffering, including “sadness and pain.” The defendant was also ordered to pay court fees and legal expenses.
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In a separate ruling, the Court ordered a company to compensate an employee Dh200,000 after a workplace accident, which caused the employee a permanent vision loss in his left eye. The incident occurred while the worker was repairing a machinery, when a brake mechanism malfunctioned due to newly installed bolts failing, resulting in a violent recoil that struck his eye.
Upon medical examination of the workers, it was confirmed he was left in a “foggy, near-blind state,” causing long-term physical and psychological suffering.
To compensate for the workplace injury, the Court ordered the employer to pay Dh150,000 for physical damages and Dh50,000 for moral distress, and also required it to cover court expenses. Authorities had previously fined the company for negligence in safety protocols, underscoring its liability.
Together, these rulings highlight the courts’ fair approach to both individual misconduct and employer negligence in the workplace, ensuring victims receive financial redress for physical and emotional harm caused.