lang: en
Summary
In October and November 2007, over 4,500 migrant construction workers building the Burj Dubai skyscraper in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, went on strike demanding higher pay and improved housing. The strike spread to other labor camps, with some reports estimating up to 40,000 workers involved. The campaign ended with an agreement announced by management, but no concrete changes in wages or conditions were reported, and the UAE government only made public statements about reviewing wages.
Background
In 2006, the Persian Gulf region experienced an economic boom, with over $200 billion in new construction. About 10 million migrant laborers from South Asia worked in the region under poor conditions, including dangerous work, withheld wages, and cramped labor camps. In Dubai, construction of the Burj Dubai skyscraper employed about 700,000 migrant workers, and strike action and trade unions were illegal.
What happened
On October 27, 2007, over 4,500 workers building the Burj Dubai, most of them Indian, laid down their tools and walked out over pay and work conditions, demanding a 500 dirham (US$136) monthly increase and improved housing and transport [source: nv-database]. By October 28, the strike had spread to three other areas, but police moved in and returned strikers to their accommodations [source: nv-database]. On October 29, about 2,000 workers blocked the main highway to Abu Dhabi, and police violently removed them, with reports of injuries on both sides [source: nv-database]. By October 30, hundreds of laborers had been deported, and 4,000 faced expulsion [source: nv-database]. On November 1, the labor ministry hailed an end to the strike after visits from officials, but details were unknown [source: nv-database]. However, by November 7, Arabtec acknowledged only 1,500 staff had returned, and the strike had spread to 36 Arabtec labor camps across the UAE [source: nv-database]. Arabtec offered a 100 dirham raise, but most workers rejected it [source: nv-database]. On November 10, Arabtec announced workers had agreed to return to work, but no word came from strike leaders [source: nv-database].
Key people & organizations
- Arabtec
- Arabtec spokesman Ammar Tuqan
- Arabtec executive chairman Riad Kamal
- senior labor ministry official Humaid bin Deemas
Tactics used
The workers used an establishment strike (walkout) and nonviolent obstruction (blocking a highway) to disrupt construction and draw attention to their demands, leveraging their collective labor power. [source: nv-database]
Outcome
Verdict: partial.
The campaign achieved a score of 1 out of 6 for specific demands because the UAE made public statements about reviewing wages, but no concrete changes were reported and similar promises after a 2006 strike had little effect [source: nv-database]. The strike was possibly the largest labor action in the UAE up to that time, with reports of up to 40,000 strikers, indicating growth, but the end of the strike was announced by management without worker confirmation, leaving the outcome uncertain [source: nv-database].
Lessons
- Migrant workers in restrictive legal environments can still organize large-scale strikes despite illegality and threats of deportation.
- Public statements from authorities may be symbolic and not lead to concrete improvements, so campaigns should seek verifiable commitments.
- Spreading strike action across multiple sites can increase pressure on employers.
Sources
- Global Nonviolent Action Database —
[[nv-database]]
Disclaimer: Included as a teaching example of campaign craft, not as endorsement.
Sources & verification
nv-database— grounding: primary — license: link-only- Rewritten: 2026-06-25 via
worker_casestudies_v2.py