Opinion ID: 2447668
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Dubai/UAE Law Analysis

Text: The laws of Delaware, the United Arab Emirates, [19] and Dubai are similar if a worker is injured or killed during the course of his employment. In the UAE and Dubai, if an employee is killed or injured during the course of his employment, the law provides certain remedies. In the event of the death of an employee, UAE Labor Law requires that a certain amount be paid to the employee's family. The judge here found the release valid under UAE labor law based upon the expert declaration of Omar Al Shaikh, a Dubai attorney specializing in UAE labor law: [I]n order for [the general release] to be valid where an employee has died as a result of an accident at work[,] the employer is required to pay the employee's family (as defined in Article 149) a one time lump sum payment equal to his basic remuneration for 24 months, provided that the amount of the compensation is not less that AED 18,000 (USD $4,904.63) nor greater than AED 35,000 (USD $9,536.78). [20] UAE Labor Law enforces the waiver provision in the Officers' employment contract as long as it is more advantageous to the worker. [21] In the instant case, the Officers' estates were paid more than the amount required under the UAE Labor Law. The statutory amount owed to Deuley's estate was approximately $134,769.12 and the insurance policy paid a lump sum payment of $160,000. [22] The statutory amount owed to Gibson's estate was approximately $106,444.80 and the insurance policy paid a lump sum payment of $160,000. [23] The statutory amount owed to Dickinson for his injuries is $60,923.07 and to date he has received $237,951.15 in benefits under the contractually mandated insurance policy. [24] He received medical treatments for injuries at no cost to him and will continue to receive a temporary partial disability payment of $1,030.78 per week. [25] The judge also found the release valid under the UAE Civil Code. [26] Expert Hassan Arab, partner in a Dubai law firm, opined that the release is valid not only under UAE labor law, but also under the Civil Code. Article 296 of the Civil Code states that [a]ny condition purporting to provide exemption from liability for a harmful act shall be void. [27] According to one treatise on the subject, however, it is permissible for parties to limit compensation to a certain amount or to a specified remedy, provided that such agreement does not violate an existing law, regulation or public policy. [28] We agree with the judge that the release did not purport to provide an exemption from liability; it merely provided the Officers the stated benefits in lieu of their right to sue their employer in the event of death or injury during the course of their employment. Under Dubai law, the phrase any claim in this contract releases both contract and tort claims. Arab explained that any claim in the release would, by its plain meaning, include tort claims and contract claims. [29] He also said the contract provides for the amount the parties have agreed shall be the compensation for [the Officers] and [their Estates] in the event of [] death [or injury] as long as [they are employees] of DynCorp FZ. [30] Essentially, Arab said as long as the Officers' contract was in effect at the time of death or injury, then the release governs any claims in contract and tort. The Officers have put forth no arguments that the contract was not in effect at the time of the accident. In fact, the Officers or their respective estates have recognized the financial benefit of the bargain by accepting the benefits awarded under the coverage purchased in exchange for the release. [31]