H.H. Sheikh Mohammed issues decree on government employee grievances

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, issued a decree, on Monday, establishing a central committee to handle grievances for Dubai government employees.

Decree No. (5) of 2026 creates a framework allowing government staff to appeal certain administrative decisions affecting their employment.

Officials say the move aims to strengthen transparency, fairness and governance within Dubai government, while supporting job security and encouraging employee performance.

Under the decree, employees may challenge final administrative decisions affecting their legal or employment status, job roles or working conditions by submitting grievances to the Central Grievances Committee.

A separate Grievance Adjudication Committee will review appeals submitted to the body. The panel will include a chairman, deputy chairman and members with legal and human resources expertise, appointed by the chairman of Dubai’s Executive Council.

The committee must include representatives from the General Secretariat of the Executive Council, the Supreme Legislative Committee and the Dubai Government Human Resources Department.

Employees have 14 working days to submit a grievance after receiving written notification of a decision, although late submissions may be accepted if there is a valid reason.

Appeals may be filed on several grounds, including misapplication of the law, failure to follow required procedures, abuse of authority, excessive disciplinary action or decisions taken without proper justification.

The decree also sets out circumstances under which complaints may be rejected, including if they fall outside the committee’s jurisdiction, are submitted after the deadline, have already been decided by the courts, or if the employee lacks a legal interest in the case.

Decisions issued by the Grievance Adjudication Committee will be final and binding on government entities, although employees may still pursue challenges through the courts.

The decree requires committee members, staff and any external experts to maintain strict confidentiality regarding documents and decisions handled during the grievance process.

The measure replaces Executive Council Resolution No. (41) of 2015, which previously governed the grievances committee for Dubai government employees. Existing regulations under that resolution will remain in force unless they conflict with the new decree.

The decree will take effect once it is published in the Official Gazette.