Termination Strategy & Execution

Business-focused legal support for termination strategy & execution in the UAE, helping companies reduce risk and move forward with

Termination Strategy and Execution (one or multiple employees)

We design and execute legally ironclad termination strategies. We manage the process from proactive case-building to final exit, protecting your business from legal claims and ensuring a controlled separation for one or multiple employees.

In-depth description

Managing the departure of an employee, or group of employees, is one of the most legally sensitive challenges a business faces.

  • Our service provides a bespoke, proactive approach to navigate these situations while rigorously protecting your business interests.
  • Our process begins long before a notice is issued; we work with you to fine-tune a pre-termination strategy, reviewing contracts and performance history.
  • Where grounds are not yet clear-cut, we guide you in implementing structured performance management plans and formal warnings.
  • This legally sound process creates an objective record of conduct, which serves to either improve performance or establish an irrefutable, lawful basis for termination for cause.
  • When the decision is made, we manage the execution phase with precision—drafting all notices, calculating final settlements, and advising on communication to ensure a controlled, low-conflict exit and safeguard you from future claims.

Scope of work

  • Provide a bespoke, proactive strategy to navigate a legally sensitive employee termination.
  • Our process includes reviewing contracts and performance history to establish a lawful basis for termination.
  • We guide the implementation of performance management plans to create an objective record.
  • We then manage the execution phase: drafting all notices, calculating final settlements, and advising on communication to ensure a controlled, low-risk exit.

Price range

AED 25,000 – AED 250,000
Cumulative assessment – billed Hourly.

Primary Determinants of Pricing
Complexity of termination.
Employee role/salary/bonus/incentive/seniority level/business impact.
Existing contract, cause of termination, acceptance/refusal by employee, subsequent actions, litigation steps if necessary.

Deliverables

  • A formal Termination Strategy Memorandum.
  • Management of the full execution process.

Are you managing a high-risk employee termination?

Are you considering terminating a senior employee or executive?

Executive terminations carry the highest legal risk. Strategy and documentation must be in place before any notice is given.

Does the employee have a strong potential unfair dismissal claim?

Weak termination grounds lead to costly settlements. We build a legally defensible record before the decision is executed.

Are you making multiple employees redundant at the same time?

Collective terminations require a consistent, documented process. Inconsistency across cases multiplies your legal exposure.

Has poor employee performance never been formally recorded?

Undocumented performance problems cannot support a lawful termination. We implement a compliant management plan first.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, but with proper notice. UAE labour law distinguishes between termination for serious fault (where specific grounds must be documented) and termination for a legitimate reason (where notice and full entitlements must be paid). For-legitimate reason termination is lawful and the employee may no longer bring arbitrary dismissal claims even if the grounds seem unfair; only specific without-notice termination or termination while a case has been filed by the employee can lead to arbitrary dismissal compensation.
Arbitrary dismissal under UAE Labour Law does no longer exist. A termination can however be unlawful if the employer fires the employee as a direct reaction to the employee exercising their legal rights. Specifically, it is a violation if the termination is triggered because: the employee filed a formal, non-malicious complaint with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE); or if the employee initiated a valid lawsuit against the employer; a termination for discriminatory reason (pregnancy, race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, or social origin). Courts can award up to 3 months’ wages as additional compensation on top of regular entitlements.
 
A defensible performance-based termination does not require what is required under other jurisdictions and a mere unsatisfaction over the employee’s behavior may suffice. However, well documented performance issues over time, formal warnings, a performance improvement plan with clear targets and a reasonable timeframe, consistent application of the policy across employees, and a final review before any termination decision does put an Employer’s position in a stronger position.
On termination, employers must pay: all accrued salary and allowances, any unused annual leave at the daily salary rate, end-of-service gratuity calculated on basic salary, and notice pay if notice is not served. Free zone employees have slightly different rules. Settlement should be documented in a final clearance letter.

Yes. UAE law requires MOHRE notification for collective dismissals with specific redundancy procedures. Reasons must be genuine economic or structural. Individual entitlements apply to each employee. A mass layoff handled without proper notification can expose the employer to significant fines and reputational risk.

Key contacts:

Romain Astruc

Managing Partner – Generalist, Advisory & Litigation

David Dutruc-Rosset

Associate – Family, Individuals & Litigation

Mehdi Al Ghafari

Associate – Corporate, Commercial & Litigation

Other services you might need

A well-executed termination requires compliant documentation, proper financial settlement and careful management of visa cancellation.

HR & Employment Contracts for UAE Businesses

Strong contracts reduce termination risk. We review and redraft your employment framework before problems arise.

Workplace Policies & Compliance for Employers

A defensible dismissal depends on documented and communicated policies. We build the policy framework that protects you.

Business Disputes, Arbitration & Litigation

Employment terminations sometimes lead to disputes. We represent employers and employees through the full process.

WHAT SET US APART

Why ASTRUC & Co

A defensible termination requires the right process, the right documentation and the right timing. We manage all three.

1.

Commercial outlook

We design termination strategies that achieve your business objective – managing cost, speed, risk and reputation simultaneously. Termination is a business decision

2.

Senior counsel only

Wrongful dismissal claims and labour authority proceedings are costly. Senior lawyers manage every termination – from strategy through to final payment

3.

End-to-end execution

We handle the full process: strategy, notice letters, settlement negotiations, final settlement calculation, MOHRE procedure and visa cancellation. You execute cleanly with

More than legal counsel

With you, all the way

Life in the UAE brings extraordinary opportunities — and equally complex legal realities. Whether you’re relocating your family, navigating a divorce across jurisdictions, or structuring an inheritance that spans continents, you deserve a legal partner who understands both the technicalities and the human side of what you’re going through. At ASTRUC & Co, we treat every client’s situation as if it were our own.

From our offices in Dubai to our network spanning Riyadh, Paris, and Luxembourg, we bring senior-level attention to every matter — personal or financial. We believe the best legal advice is honest, clear, and delivered by someone who genuinely cares about the outcome. That’s why our clients stay with us, and why they come back when life presents its next chapter.

Ready to move forward?

Book a consultation with our team to discuss your situation and explore the right legal and strategic approach for your business.

One hour consultation

30-minute consultation

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