Dubai: In his capacity as the Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister, has issued Decree No. (5) of 2026 concerning the Central Grievances Committee for Dubai Government employees. This initiative aims to fortify justice, transparency, and governance within Dubai's government framework, while promoting job security and encouraging employee performance and innovation.
According to Emirates News Agency, the Decree sets forth the establishment of a Grievance Adjudication Committee to review appeals submitted to the Central Grievances Committee. This Committee, chaired by a designated Chairman, includes a Deputy Chair and members with legal and human resources expertise, appointed by the Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai. It is essential for the Committee to incorporate representatives from the General Secretariat of The Executive Council, the Supreme Legislative Committee, and the Dubai Government HR Department. The Decree elucidates the mandates, duties, and responsibilities of the Grievance Adjudication Committee, its chairman, and its members.
Employees are empowered to submit grievances within 14 working days upon receiving written notice of the Committee's decision or after the Committee's decision deadline. Late submissions are accepted only with a valid excuse. Grounds for submitting grievances to the Central Grievances Committee include lack of jurisdiction, violation or misapplication of the law, failure to adhere to essential procedures, abuse of authority, decisions against the public interest, excessive discipline, or actions taken without a valid reason.
The Decree also outlines the grievance submission process and identifies reasons a grievance may be rejected. These include instances where the grievance falls outside the Committee's jurisdiction, is submitted after the deadline, has already been decided by the Committee or the courts, or if the employee lacks the right or legitimate interest to file the grievance. All decisions made by the Grievance Adjudication Committee are final and binding on the government entity, though employees may still appeal to the courts.
Furthermore, the Decree mandates strict confidentiality for the Chairman, members, staff, and any experts of the Committee regarding all information, documents, and decisions, even after their tenure with the Committee concludes. Additionally, it requires the return of any documents, papers, or evidence related to a grievance that should not be disclosed to others, to the Central Grievances Committee for proper archiving or handling as per approved procedures. All related materials must be preserved and archived in line with applicable regulations to prevent unauthorized access.
The Chairman of the Committee is tasked with issuing internal decisions on the disposal of grievance-related documents. Notably, this Decree annuls Executive Council Resolution No. (41) of 2015 concerning the Central Grievances Committee for Employees of the Government of Dubai. Any conflicting provisions in other legislation are also repealed. Regulations and decisions under Resolution No. 41 of 2015 remain effective to the extent they do not conflict with this Decree, until they are replaced. This Decree takes effect from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.