An Abu Dhabi employee has won a major legal battle after the Court of Cassation ruled in her favor, ordering her former employer to pay AED 434,884, including full vacation pay for the entire length of her service.
According to a report by Khaleej Times, the woman worked for the company from January 2018 until June 2024, with a basic salary of AED 36,000 and a total monthly package of AED 60,000 including profit-sharing. When her employment ended, she sought unpaid wages, vacation leave, gratuity, notice pay, commissions, and interest.
The Court of First Instance initially awarded her AED 323,400, granting only partial vacation pay for the last two years of service. On appeal, the award was raised to AED 379,400, but her request for full vacation pay covering her entire employment was rejected.
Challenging the decision before the Court of Cassation, the employee argued that under UAE Federal Labor Law No. 33 of 2021, workers are entitled to payment for any unused leave days upon leaving a job, regardless of how long those days span.
The higher court agreed, ruling that vacation pay must cover the full duration of employment, not just a portion. The employer was therefore ordered to pay AED 434,884, which included wages, gratuity, and vacation pay for six years, five months, and 26 days of service. The court also directed the employer to shoulder court fees, including AED 1,000 in legal costs for the employee’s attorney.
