Abu Dhabi court orders company to pay AED 472,999 in employee dues

The Abu Dhabi Labour Court of First Instance ruled that a company must pay a former employee AED 472,999 in financial entitlements for more than eight years of service, including back pay, leave salary, end-of-service gratuity, profits and commissions. The ruling is immediately enforceable without bond. The employee filed a lawsuit against the company, claiming AED 62,333 in unpaid wages for one month and 25 days, AED 27,200 in leave salary for two years, AED 93,386 in end-of-service gratuity for about eight years and three months, and AED 534,000 in profits and commissions for two years and eight months. He also sought fees and expenses and requested immediate enforcement of the judgment. The plaintiff said he joined the company under a fixed-term contract on March 13, 2017, and submitted his resignation on June 21, 2025. He stated that he received a total monthly salary of AED 34,000, including a basic salary of AED 13,600. In response, the company's representative submitted a memorandum arguing that the plaintiff had received his full salary and taken his annual leave. The company requested that the claim for end-of-service gratuity be rejected, the lawsuit dismissed, and the plaintiff ordered to pay fees and expenses. The court-appointed labour expert concluded that the plaintiff was entitled to the claimed unpaid wages because the case file contained no evidence that they had been paid. The expert also confirmed the plaintiff's entitlement to AED 27,200 in leave salary, calculated on the basis of his basic salary of AED 13,600. The court said it was satisfied with the expert's report and accepted its findings because they were based on sound accounting principles. It noted that the company had not provided proof that the claimed amounts had been paid through legally recognised methods of evidence. Regarding the end-of-service gratuity, the court said the expert calculated the plaintiff's entitlements based on his length of service and basic salary and concluded that he was entitled to AED 93,386. The expert also found that he was entitled to AED 290,080 in profits and commissions. The court accepted these findings and ruled in the presence of both parties that the company must pay the plaintiff AED 472,999. The judgment is immediately enforceable without bond, and the company was ordered to pay the fees and expenses up to the amount awarded.