The Abu Dhabi Family and Civil Administrative Court has ruled that two former colleagues must jointly pay Dh50,000 in compensation to their ex-employer after determining they breached trust by leaking sensitive proprietary data to a competing company.
Court records cited by Al Khaleej newspaper indicate the case stemmed from internal suspicions rather than an immediate lawsuit. The company detected that confidential business details, intended to remain internal, had appeared with a rival in the same industry.
An internal probe initially identified one employee, who admitted to transmitting the information to the competitor. The individual’s employment was terminated following the discovery.
Further investigation revealed a second employee had assisted by providing additional internal data, which was also forwarded externally. Both men reportedly acknowledged their involvement when questioned.
The employer filed a civil suit seeking Dh150,000 in damages, claiming the leaks resulted in financial losses, diminished competitive edge and missed business opportunities.
Criminal charges were additionally pursued against the first employee for unlawfully disclosing job-related confidential information, and against the second for aiding by supplying and transmitting the data.
The court’s decision underscores the legal protections afforded to proprietary information in the UAE workplace, where breaches of confidentiality can lead to both civil compensation and potential criminal penalties.
The ruling aligns with broader judicial trends in Abu Dhabi emphasizing accountability for insider disclosures that harm employers. No further details on the nature of the leaked information or the companies involved were disclosed in available records.
The case highlights ongoing concerns over data security and employee fidelity in competitive sectors, with companies increasingly relying on non-disclosure agreements and internal safeguards to mitigate such risks.
