Workers' Rights
Employment protections under Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, including wages, working hours, leave, end-of-service gratuity, and workplace safety.
Minimum Wage & Wage Protection
The UAE does not have a single national minimum wage that applies to all workers. Instead, the government sets sector-specific and skill-level minimums through ministerial decisions. However, every em...
Working Hours & Overtime
UAE labour law sets clear limits on how many hours you can work and requires extra pay for overtime:Standard hours: 8 hours per day or 48 hours per week. Your employer can increase daily hours to 9 fo...
Annual Leave & Public Holidays
Every worker in the UAE private sector is entitled to paid annual leave and public holidays:First year: You earn 2 days of leave per month after completing 6 months of service (totalling about 12 days...
End-of-Service Gratuity
When you leave a job in the UAE, you are entitled to an end-of-service gratuity payment based on your length of service. This is one of the most important financial rights for workers in the UAE:First...
Workplace Safety & Midday Break
Employers in the UAE must provide a safe working environment. There are also special rules to protect workers from extreme heat:Midday work ban: From June 15 to September 15, outdoor work is banned be...
Termination & Notice Period
The 2021 UAE Labour Law replaced the old system of limited and unlimited contracts with a single type: fixed-term contracts of up to 3 years (renewable). Here is how termination works:Notice period: E...
Anti-Discrimination & Equal Pay
UAE law prohibits workplace discrimination and mandates equal pay for equal work:Equal pay: Women must receive the same pay as men for the same work or work of equal value. This was strengthened by Fe...
Maternity & Parental Leave
UAE law provides maternity, paternity, and parental leave for private-sector workers:Maternity leave: Female employees get 60 days — the first 45 days at full pay and the next 15 days at half pay.Exte...