🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
Employment Law
Key employment obligations for United Arab Emirates — leave entitlements, notice periods, working hours, termination rules, and HR compliance for employers hiring in-country.
Employment Rules at a Glance
Minimum Wage
—
Annual Leave
30 days
Sick Leave
15 days
Notice Period
30 days
Probation Period
6 days
Maternity Leave
60 weeks
Paternity Leave
5 weeks
Overtime Rate
1.25x standard rate
Max Working Hours
48 hrs/week
13th Month Pay
Not required
Working Hours
Standard Hours
48hrs/week
Overtime Rate
1.25x rate
Daily OT Threshold
8hrs/day
Weekly OT Threshold
48hrs/week
48 hour standard Ramadan reduced to 36 hours Friday rest day
Official source ↗Termination & Redundancy
Min Notice Period
30days
Max Probation
6months
Severance
Mandatory
Garden Leave
Permitted
Notice Period Formula
Minimum 30 days; up to 90 days depending on contract per UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021
Severance Calculation
21 calendar days per year for first 5 years; 30 days per year thereafter
Redundancy Rules
No specific collective redundancy law; individual termination for operational reasons permitted with notice and gratuity.
Important Notes
End of service gratuity (EOSB) is calculated on last basic salary only, not total package. Capped at 2 years total salary.
EOR Intelligence
Outsource employment law compliance in United Arab Emirates.
An Employer of Record handles all local obligations — contracts, leave, termination, and more.
Payroll Calculator
Calculate the real cost of employment in United Arab Emirates.
Net salary, income tax, employer social security, and total cost of hire.
Employment law data is sourced from official government publications and updated monthly. This information is for guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. Always consult a qualified employment lawyer for United Arab Emirates-specific obligations.
About This Data
- ✓ Sourced from official government publications
- ✓ Updated monthly — always current rules
- ✓ For guidance only — not legal advice
More for United Arab Emirates
EOR Intelligence
Hiring in United Arab Emirates without a local entity?
An Employer of Record handles local employment law compliance on your behalf.
Explore EOR for United Arab EmiratesFree Tool
Compare employment law across countries.
Side-by-side employment rule analysis — leave, notice periods, and obligations across all active countries.
Compare countries