UAE Law and Practice Contributed by: Alain Zahlan de Cayetti and Anna Sedova, De Cayetti Law
6. Dispute Resolution 6.1 Role of National Court Systems
Mediation is also used as an ADR mechanism in sports disputes. Where ADR mechanisms are used, UAE courts may still play a role in enforcing arbi - tral awards, recognising arbitration agreements and reviewing limited challenges to arbitration awards. 6.3 Sanctions, Remedies and Challenges Pursuant to the provisions of the UAE Sports Law, federations and leagues are the disciplinary and regu - latory authorities that can impose sanctions (discipli - nary and financial). Parties that want to challenge a decision can appeal it before a higher disciplinary or appeal committee within the federation. Where disputes remain unre - solved, parties may appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the jurisdiction of which is generally recognised by the relevant federation. That being said, national courts, in particular, in the UAE retain jurisdiction in several matters involving the review and enforcement of arbitral awards. National courts retain competence if the parties’ dispute is referred to them, specifically, in matters involving employment agreements or penal matters. 7. Employment Contracts and Rights 7.1 Sports-Related Employment Contracts Federal Decree-Law No 33 of 2021 Regulating Labor Relations as further amended by Federal Decree-Law No 9 of 2024 (the “UAE Labour Law”) and the UAE Sports Law regulate the relationship between sports entities and athletes in the UAE. Athletes in the UAE are typically employed by their clubs under standard employment contracts that provide for sport-specific rules issued by the club or federation. Unlike certain other jurisdictions, central national player contracts are not a dominant feature in UAE sports, and ath - letes who represent national teams may be subject to a separate participation agreement with the national federation rather than employed under a centralised employment contract. Salary caps generally do not exist. That said, certain sport entities have introduced financial rules aimed at maintaining a competitive balance, such as budg -
In the UAE, national courts play a residual and super - visory role in sports disputes. Most disputes arising in sport are first handled through internal disciplinary or arbitration mechanisms within sports federations or leagues. UAE courts retain jurisdiction in criminal matters (match-fixing, fraud, corruption), civil dis - putes (employment, sponsorships) and on ruling on the annulment procedures of arbitral awards. Most sports federations in the UAE have their own internal disciplinary and dispute resolution bodies, including appeals committees, and typically cover disciplinary, eligibility, anti-doping and competition matters. Parties are required to exhaust internal remedies before resorting to external judicial proceedings, such as sports arbitration bodies (eg, CAS) or UAE courts (in particular, where an award must be recognised and enforced or if a party challenges an award under UAE arbitration law). 6.2 ADR Mechanisms Arbitration in the UAE is governed by Federal Law No 6 of 2018 on Arbitration, aligning with the UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration, and concerns disputes on player contracts, sponsor - ship agreements, commercial rights and disciplinary appeals. The UAE Sports Arbitration Centre (UAESAC), estab - lished by virtue of Federal Law No 16 of 2016, has its own arbitration rules which deal with national sports arbitration proceedings. Where certain issues are not covered by the UAESAC’s arbitration rules, they are governed by Federal Law No 6 of 2018. According - ly, the UAESAC provides for a fair, transparent and enforceable mechanism for sports disputes in the UAE, while promoting participation, equality and good governance. Many UAE sports federations recognise the jurisdic - tion of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) – in particular, concerning doping appeals, eligibility and disciplinary sanctions.
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