Leave entitlements
| Leave type | Entitlement |
|---|---|
| Annual Leave | 30 calendar days per year |
| Sick Leave | Up to 90 days per year (post-probation) |
| Maternity Leave | 60 days |
| Paternity Leave | 5 working days |
| Study Leave | 10 unpaid working days/year (requires 2+ years' service and enrollment at an accredited institution) |
Employment conditions
Working Hours
The standard working week is 48 hours (8 hours per day, 6 days). During Ramadan, working hours are reduced by 2 hours per day for all employees. Hours in excess of the standard constitute overtime and must be compensated accordingly.
Probation
Probation periods are common and must be specified in the employment contract. The notice period during probation is 14 days. Post-probation, notice ranges from 30 to 90 days depending on the contract.
Payments
End of employment in United Arab Emirates
Employment contracts in the UAE cannot be terminated at will — statutory procedures must be followed. Termination for gross misconduct may proceed without notice. In all other cases, notice periods apply: 14 days during probation, and 30–90 days post-probation depending on the contract.
Employees who complete at least one year of continuous service are entitled to end-of-service gratuity. Repatriation costs back to the employee's home country are also a statutory employer obligation unless the employee moves directly to a new employer-sponsored visa.
Unfair dismissal claims may arise where termination is linked to discrimination, pregnancy/maternity, or retaliation for a complaint. Compensation for unfair dismissal can reach up to three months' wages.
Frequently asked questions
There are four approaches: running payroll from your home-country entity (not viable — employees need UAE visas and registered contracts), engaging independent contractors (poorly recognized under UAE labour law), setting up a UAE legal entity (significant overhead), or using Remote& as your Employer of Record. For most international companies, the EOR route is the fastest, most compliant, and most cost-effective path to hiring in the UAE.