QFC 0007/2022, [2023] QIC (A) 1 on 17 May 2023

Arwa Zakaria Ahmed Abu Hamdieh v Lesha Bank LLC

This case involved an consolidated appeal of rulings which had involved which had required a former employer to take steps that were no longer legally required which it was said the authorities were requiring to facilitate their ex employee's sponsorship transfer to their new employer. A second judgment had involved damages due to the employee for loss as a result of the delay in their transfer caused by a breach of the obligations by the former employer. Also considered were whether the court had been biased.

Background

This appeal involved two decisions of the court of first instance which related to an employer's duty towards a former employee who was an expatriate and who sought to change employment and transfer sponsorship to a new employer which was outside the QFC and not a QFC entity. The respondent was employed by the bank as the head of legal and compliance and a board secretary. They were a Jordanian national who lived in Qatar. The bank was established in the QFC and its name had changed.