UAE Labor-Law Guides
Plain-language explainers for the questions employers and employees actually ask. Every claim links back to the exact article in our indexed corpus of UAE labor documents — no hand-waving.
15 guides
- OtherUpdated Jul 1, 2026
Employment contract requirements
The 10+ mandatory contract elements under Article 8 — parties, place, term, wage, hours, probation, notice, EOSB — plus the MOHRE filing rule and language authority.
contractonboardingmohrecomplianceRead guide - CompensationUpdated Jul 1, 2026
ILOE unemployment insurance
The mandatory unemployment-insurance scheme — who subscribes, monthly premium (AED 5 or 10), benefit rate (60% of basic salary for 3 months), and the 30-day claim window after termination.
iloeunemploymentinsurancebenefitsRead guide - OtherUpdated Jul 1, 2026
Domestic worker rights
The 2022 domestic-workers law — 30 days annual leave, 8-hour day, EOSB, Tadbeer centers, health insurance, and the strict prohibition on passport retention and abuse.
domestic-workershousemaidtadbeergratuityRead guide - OtherUpdated Jul 1, 2026
Passport withholding
Passport retention is prohibited under UAE law — a personal-property + human-trafficking issue, not a labor-law one. What legitimate visa processing looks like and how to escalate if your passport is withheld.
passportrightssponsorshipmohreRead guide - OtherUpdated Jul 1, 2026
Working hours & Ramadan
Standard 8-hour day and 48-hour week under Article 17, the 2-hour Ramadan reduction, meal and prayer breaks, and how remote/hybrid work changes the accounting.
working-hoursramadanbreaksRead guide - CompensationUpdated Jul 1, 2026
Overtime pay
Article 19 overtime rates — 125% for normal overtime, 150% for night hours (22:00–04:00) and rest days — the 2-hour daily cap, and which roles are exempt.
overtimewagesworking-hoursRead guide - LeaveUpdated Jul 1, 2026
Sick leave
The 90-day sick-leave entitlement under Article 31 — 15 days full pay, 30 days half pay, 45 days unpaid — the medical-certificate rule, and termination protection.
sick-leavemedicalterminationRead guide - LeaveUpdated Jul 1, 2026
Maternity leave
60 days of maternity leave (45 full pay + 15 half pay) under Article 30, the optional 45 extra unpaid days, nursing hours, and protection from termination.
maternityleavefamilyparentalRead guide - LeaveUpdated Jul 1, 2026
Annual leave carry-over
The 30-day annual leave rule under Article 29, when unused days can be carried forward, when they must be cashed out, and what happens on termination.
annual-leavevacationcarry-overcash-outRead guide - Termination & NoticeUpdated Jul 1, 2026
Termination compensation
The five buckets of money owed when employment ends — gratuity, notice/pay-in-lieu, accrued leave, arbitrary-dismissal compensation, and unpaid wages — with the exact articles.
terminationcompensationarbitrary-dismissalgratuityRead guide - Free ZonesUpdated May 25, 2026
ADGM · DIFC · Mainland
The three parallel employment-law regimes in the UAE, when each applies, and the practical differences for probation, gratuity, notice, and dispute resolution.
adgmdifcmainlandjurisdictionRead guide - CompensationUpdated May 25, 2026
Wage Protection System (WPS)
How WPS enforces salary payment via approved banks and exchange houses, the deadlines that trigger penalties, and what employees can do if a salary is late.
wpswagessalarypenaltiesRead guide - ProbationUpdated May 25, 2026
Probation period
The six-month cap under Article 9, the 14-day notice from an employer, and the different rules when a worker resigns to change employers vs leave the UAE.
probationnoticeterminationRead guide - Termination & NoticeUpdated May 25, 2026
Notice period
Article 43 notice rules: the 30-to-90-day range, payment in lieu, garden leave, and how notice differs for resignation vs employer-led termination.
noticeterminationresignationpayment-in-lieuRead guide - CompensationUpdated May 25, 2026
End-of-service gratuity
How gratuity is calculated under Article 51: 21 days per year for the first five years, 30 days after, capped at two years of basic pay — plus who qualifies and when.
gratuityeosbterminationcompensationRead guide