However, the 2024 ruling demonstrated a significant shift in the court’s earliest approach.

This time, the court recognized cryptocurrency’s validity as a form of payment and enforced the payment of the agreed-upon salary in EcoWatt tokens without requiring conversion to fiat.

The court’s decision was grounded in Article 912 of the UAE Civil Transactions Law, which states that wages are a worker’s right against the employer and that the employer must pay wages on due dates.

The court ruled,

“As the respondent did not provide evidence of payment in EcoWatt tokens, the court orders the respondent to pay the claimant the value of her wages in EcoWatt tokens.”

The court’s decision is expected to encourage further integration of digital currencies in everyday financial transactions in the UAE, potentially paving the way for broader adoption of cryptocurrencies in various sectors.

With over 3,000 cryptocurrency companies operating in the UAE and employing tens of thousands of people, this ruling provides employees a much-needed layer of protection.