On 22 January 2026, Mr Justice Lavender of the English High Court ordered the United Arab Emirates (“UAE”) to pay over GBP 262,000 to its diplomatic agent’s ex-employee for alleged actions of the diplomatic agent in the UK.  Neither the UAE nor the relevant diplomatic agent participated in the proceedings.

Background

The claimant brought civil proceedings against the UAE before the English courts alleging that she was held in domestic servitude, on grounds that the UAE was vicariously liable for its diplomatic agent’s actions.

The UAE did not respond to the claim and in 2022 the High Court gave default judgment against the UAE.  In 2024, the UAE’s lawyers wrote to the Court that the UAE “will not be engaging in these proceedings in any way for the duration of the proceedings”.  Accordingly, the UAE did not appear and was not represented at the hearing for the assessment of damages.

Court’s Decision

On 22 January 2026, the High Court assessed the damages payable to the claimant based on the factual case as put forward by the claimant.  The High Court’s 13-page judgment sets out in detail various allegations against the relevant diplomat that were left unchallenged.  The High Court awarded damages for, among other things, personal injury, injury to feelings and exemplary damages.  It also awarded further damages by an order of 22 January 2026, including for interest and loss of earnings, the claimant’s costs for bringing the claim and a penalty for ignoring the claimant’s settlement offer.