A construction injury in the UAE can give an injured private-sector worker rights to medical treatment, paid wages during treatment and statutory compensation under Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations and Cabinet Resolution No. 33 of 2022 on Work Injuries and Occupational Diseases.
The employer must generally cover treatment until recovery or confirmed disability. If the injury prevents the worker from working, the worker may receive full wages for up to six months, followed by half wages for up to another six months where treatment continues. Permanent disability or death can also result in separate statutory compensation.
Where the accident was caused by negligence or another harmful act, a separate civil compensation claim may also need to be considered.
This article focuses on private-sector workers covered by the federal Labour Law. Different rules may apply to government employees, domestic workers and workers subject to special employment legislation.
Al Ramsy Advocates advises workers and employers on matters involving UAE labour and employment law and construction-related legal disputes.
What Counts as a Construction Injury Under UAE Law?
The UAE Labour Law defines a work injury broadly.
A work injury includes:
- an occupational disease covered by the applicable statutory schedule;
- an injury occurring while the worker is performing work;
- an injury caused by the worker’s employment; and
- certain accidents occurring while travelling directly to or from work, provided there was no interruption or deviation from the normal route.
For construction workers, this can include injuries caused by:
- falls from scaffolding or heights;
- falling materials;
- cranes or lifting equipment;
- excavation or trench collapses;
- machinery;
- electrical hazards;
- fires or explosions;
- unsafe equipment; and
- other construction-site accidents.
The important question is not simply where the accident happened, but whether the construction injury arose during work or because of the work.
An injured worker does not first have to prove employer negligence simply to fall within the statutory work-injury system. However, fault and causation become much more important if a separate civil damages claim is being considered.
What Must an Employer Do After a Construction Accident?
A construction accident triggers specific reporting and protection obligations.
Under Cabinet Resolution No. 33 of 2022, the employer or its legal representative must report a qualifying work injury to the relevant medical authority and competent police station and report the matter to the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation through the designated channels.
MOHRE reporting must generally take place within 48 hours.
The employer must also arrange the worker’s medical treatment and bear the applicable treatment expenses until the worker:
- recovers and can return to work; or
- is medically confirmed to have a disability.
Covered treatment can include hospital care, surgery, medical examinations, medicines, rehabilitation, prosthetic or orthopaedic devices and necessary transport for treatment.
UAE Labour Law also requires employers to provide a safe and appropriate working environment.
For construction businesses, safety responsibilities should therefore be considered alongside wider construction law requirements in the UAE.
How Is Construction Injury Compensation Calculated?
The amount depends on the medical outcome of the injury.
| Construction Injury Outcome | Main Statutory Entitlement |
|---|---|
| Treatment required | Employer bears applicable medical treatment expenses until recovery or confirmed disability |
| Unable to work during treatment | Full wage for up to 6 months |
| Treatment continues beyond 6 months | Half wage for up to a further 6 months, subject to the statutory conditions |
| Permanent total disability | 24 months of basic wage, subject to the statutory minimum and maximum |
| Permanent partial disability | Calculated using the statutory disability percentage |
| Death from work injury | 24 months of basic wage payable to the eligible family, subject to the statutory minimum and maximum |
For permanent total disability and death, the compensation is based on 24 months of basic wage, with a minimum of AED 18,000 and maximum of AED 200,000.
Permanent partial disability is calculated using the percentage assigned to the disability under the schedules attached to Cabinet Resolution No. 33 of 2022.
For example, the medical assessment of a permanent partial disability directly affects the statutory calculation.
The employer must generally pay compensation within 10 days after receiving the final medical report establishing the injury or percentage of disability.
Can a Worker Lose the Right to Work Injury Compensation?
In specified circumstances, yes.
Under Article 38 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, statutory work-injury compensation may be denied where the competent investigation proves circumstances such as:
- the worker deliberately injuring themselves;
- injury while under the influence of alcohol, narcotics or psychotropic substances;
- intentional violation of clearly displayed safety instructions;
- wilful misconduct; or
- unjustified refusal to undergo the required medical examination or treatment.
These exclusions require proof through the competent authorities. An employer should not simply assume that compensation is lost because the worker may have made a mistake.
Who Can Be Responsible for a Construction Site Injury?
The employer’s obligations under Labour Law are only one part of the legal analysis.
Construction sites commonly involve several parties, including:
- the injured worker’s employer;
- the main contractor;
- subcontractors;
- engineering or supervisory parties;
- equipment operators;
- equipment owners or suppliers; and
- other entities responsible for the activity that caused the injury.
Not every party on the project becomes liable simply because an accident occurred.
Responsibility depends on matters such as:
- who controlled the relevant work;
- what caused the accident;
- whether a safety obligation was breached;
- whether equipment or machinery was defective;
- whether proper supervision was provided; and
- whether the breach caused or contributed to the injury.
Under Article 253 of Federal Decree-Law No. 25 of 2025, the current UAE Civil Transactions Law, where several persons are responsible for the same harm, liability may be allocated according to their respective contribution, and the court may in appropriate circumstances order equal or joint and several liability.
This is why a serious construction accident UAE claim may require review of the whole site structure rather than only the worker’s employment contract.
Can an Injured Worker Claim Additional Civil Compensation?
Potentially, but it is not automatic.
The statutory compensation available under UAE Labour Law and a civil claim based on a harmful act are legally different issues.
A separate civil claim may need to be considered where the facts establish that another person’s harmful act caused additional compensable damage.
Under the current Federal Decree-Law No. 25 of 2025 Promulgating the Civil Transactions Law, compensation for a harmful act may include the loss actually suffered and loss of profit where they are a natural consequence of the harmful act.
The law also recognises compensation for qualifying moral harm.
This can become important in a serious construction injury involving matters such as:
- permanent disability;
- future loss of earnings;
- long-term medical consequences;
- loss of ability to work;
- substantial financial loss; or
- other proven damage.
However, a worker should not assume that receiving statutory work-injury compensation automatically creates an additional civil damages award.
The civil claim requires its own legal basis, evidence of responsibility, causation and proof of damage.
Where multiple parties may be responsible, the claim also requires analysis of each party’s role.
Al Ramsy’s civil litigation lawyers in the UAE advise on compensation claims and civil liability where serious injury or financial loss has occurred.
Is There a Time Limit for a Civil Injury Claim?
Yes.
For harmful acts governed by the current Civil Transactions Law, Article 258 generally prevents a compensation claim from being heard after three years from the date the injured person became aware of both:
- the damage; and
- the person responsible.
Where the compensation claim arises from a criminal offence and the criminal case remains legally actionable for longer, Article 258 contains a separate rule linking the civil limitation period to the end of the criminal proceedings.
Accidents occurring before the current Civil Transactions Law took effect on 1 June 2026 may require separate analysis under the applicable transitional and former-law rules.
Construction Injury Dubai: What Safety Rules Apply?
A construction injury in Dubai can also engage Dubai-specific construction safety rules.
Dubai Decree No. 19 of 2025 Concerning Safety in Construction Works in the Emirate of Dubai created a specific framework for the Code of Construction Safety Practice.
The Decree applies across Dubai, including:
- Special Development Zones; and
- free zones, including the Dubai International Financial Centre.
Contractors and engineering consultancy firms carrying out construction work must comply with the applicable safety rules, standards, guidelines and obligations contained in the Construction Safety Code.
The framework is intended to protect workers inside and outside construction sites and reduce:
- accidents;
- injuries;
- occupational diseases;
- risks to life;
- property damage; and
- equipment-related risks.
For a serious construction accident Dubai case, compliance with applicable safety requirements may therefore become relevant when investigating how the accident occurred and whether legal duties were breached.
The Dubai safety framework does not itself replace the applicable employment compensation or civil liability rules. The different legal regimes may need to be considered together.
What Should You Do After a Construction Injury?
The immediate priority should always be medical treatment and safety.
After that, the injured worker or family should try to preserve the official and factual record of the accident.
Important steps can include:
- Obtain medical treatment immediately.
Make sure the medical record accurately describes how the injury occurred. - Report the accident to the employer.
The employer has separate obligations to notify the relevant authorities. - Confirm that the work injury has been officially reported.
For workers covered by the federal regime, this can include the medical authority, police and MOHRE procedures. - Keep copies of medical documents.
Retain reports, scans, prescriptions, hospital records, rehabilitation records and the final disability assessment. - Preserve evidence from the site.
Photos, videos, witness details and documents can become important later. - Keep employment and wage records.
The employment contract, wage records and basic salary information may be required when compensation is calculated. - Do not assume the statutory payment is the only possible claim.
Serious accidents may require separate assessment of civil liability and other responsible parties.
What Evidence Can Support a Construction Injury Claim?
Evidence should be preserved as early as possible because construction sites change quickly after an accident.
Useful records may include:
- police and accident reports;
- MOHRE work-injury records;
- medical reports;
- disability assessments;
- photographs and videos;
- CCTV where available;
- witness information;
- employment contract;
- wage records;
- site access records;
- toolbox talks and safety instructions;
- PPE records;
- risk assessments;
- equipment inspection records;
- crane, scaffold or machinery records;
- site diaries and incident reports; and
- communications relating to the accident.
For a civil claim, evidence showing how the construction injury happened and who controlled the relevant work can be as important as evidence showing the extent of the injury itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much compensation can I receive for a construction injury in the UAE?
The amount depends on the medical outcome. Permanent total disability generally attracts compensation equal to 24 months of basic wage, subject to a minimum of AED 18,000 and maximum of AED 200,000. Permanent partial disability is calculated according to the applicable statutory disability percentage.
Does my employer have to pay my salary after a construction accident?
Where a covered work injury prevents the worker from working, the employer generally pays full wages during treatment for up to six months. If treatment continues, half wages may be payable for up to a further six months, subject to the statutory conditions.
How long does an employer have to report a construction injury?
A covered work injury must generally be reported to MOHRE within 48 hours, together with the other reporting requirements applicable to the medical authority and police.
Can I claim compensation from someone other than my employer?
Potentially. Where another contractor, subcontractor, operator or other party caused or contributed to the injury through a legally actionable harmful act, a separate civil claim may need to be considered. Liability depends on the evidence and each party’s role in causing the accident.
