Official Reference
UAE Labor Law at a Glance
The key numbers, rights, and obligations under the UAE Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021), the complete quick reference for HR teams and companies operating in the United Arab Emirates.
Legislation: Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021Regulator: Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE)Last updated: 2026
| Period | Daily Limit | Weekly Limit | Notes |
|---|
| Regular | 8 hours | 48 hours | All private sector employees |
| Ramadan | 6 hours | 36 hours | Reduced by 2 hours/day for all employees |
| Rest break | Required after 5 consecutive hours of work | Minimum 1 hour total, unpaid |
| Overtime cap | Maximum 2 extra hours/day | Unless work is needed to prevent major loss |
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Annual Leave Entitlement
| Length of Service | Annual Leave | Notes |
|---|
| 1 year or more | 30 calendar days/year | Full entitlement |
| 6 months to 1 year | 2 days/month | Accrued monthly |
| Unused leave | Payable on termination | Based on basic salary |
Employees may carry leave forward or be compensated for it according to company policy and mutual agreement.
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Sick Leave (per year, after probation)
| Stage | Duration | Pay |
|---|
| First stage | 15 days | Full pay (100%) |
| Second stage | 30 days | Half pay (50%) |
| Third stage | 45 days | Unpaid |
| Total per year | 90 days | Declining pay scale |
A medical certificate is required. No paid sick leave during probation. The employer may not dismiss an employee during valid sick leave.
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Maternity, Paternity and Family Leave
| Type | Duration | Pay | Notes |
|---|
| Maternity leave | 60 days | 45 days full + 15 days half pay | No minimum service requirement |
| Maternity extension | Up to 45 days | Unpaid | For illness related to pregnancy or childbirth, with medical certificate |
| Sick or disabled child | 30 extra days | Full pay | Extendable by 30 more days unpaid |
| Paternity (parental) leave | 5 working days | Full pay | Within 6 months of the child's birth |
| Nursing breaks | 2 hours/day | Paid | For 6 months after returning from maternity leave |
| Bereavement leave | 5 days (spouse), 3 days (close family) | Paid | Parent, child, sibling, grandparent or grandchild |
| Study leave | 10 working days/year | Paid | After 2 years of service, UAE-accredited institution |
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Probation, Contracts and Notice Periods
| Item | Duration | Notes |
|---|
| Probation period | Maximum 6 months | Cannot be extended or repeated with the same employer |
| Termination by employer during probation | 14 days written notice | Any legitimate reason |
| Employee joining another UAE employer during probation | 30 days written notice | New employer may owe recruitment cost compensation |
| Employee leaving the UAE during probation | 14 days written notice | If leaving the country for good |
| Notice after probation | 30 to 90 days | Either party, as agreed in the contract |
| Employment contracts | Fixed-term, up to 3 years | Renewable. Unlimited contracts were abolished by the 2021 law |
| Situation | Rate | Notes |
|---|
| Hours beyond normal schedule | Basic hourly wage + 25% | Maximum 2 overtime hours/day |
| Night overtime (10 PM to 4 AM) | Basic hourly wage + 50% | Does not apply to shift-based work |
| Work on the rest day | Substitute rest day or wage + 50% | Employee may not work 2 consecutive rest days |
| Work on a public holiday | Substitute day + 50%, or 150% of wage | If no substitute day is granted |
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End-of-Service Gratuity (EOSB)
| Length of Service | Gratuity | Notes |
|---|
| Less than 1 year | No gratuity | Minimum 1 year of continuous service required |
| 1 to 5 years | 21 days' basic salary per year | Calculated on last basic salary |
| More than 5 years | 30 days' basic salary per year | For each year beyond the fifth |
| Resignation | Full gratuity | No reduction for resignation under the 2021 law |
| Maximum | 2 years' total salary | Statutory cap |
Calculated on the last basic salary, excluding allowances. Use ZenHR's UAE Gratuity Calculator for an exact figure.
| Holiday | Duration | Notes |
|---|
| New Year's Day | 1 day | January 1 |
| Eid Al Fitr | 4 days | End of Ramadan, dates follow the Hijri calendar |
| Arafat Day + Eid Al Adha | 4 days | Dates follow the Hijri calendar |
| Islamic New Year | 1 day | 1 Muharram |
| Prophet Muhammad's Birthday | 1 day | 12 Rabi Al Awwal |
| Commemoration Day | 1 day | December 1 |
| National Day | 2 days | December 2 and 3 |
Islamic holiday dates are subject to official moon sighting confirmation. The Cabinet may move some holidays to the start or end of the week.
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Key Employee Protections
| Protection | Details |
|---|
| Wage payment | Must be paid on time through the Wage Protection System (WPS) |
| Dismissal during pregnancy or maternity | Prohibited: an employee may not be dismissed due to pregnancy or maternity leave |
| Non-discrimination | Discrimination based on race, colour, sex, religion, national origin or disability is prohibited |
| Passports and fees | Employers may not confiscate official documents or charge workers recruitment fees |
| Emiratisation (NAFIS) | Private companies with 50+ employees must meet Emirati hiring quotas, rising 2% per year in skilled roles |
| Minimum working age | 15 years, with special rules for juveniles aged 15 to 18 |
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Source: UAE Labour Law, Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 and its amendments. Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (mohre.gov.ae). For reference only, not legal advice.
