Your rights at work
UAE employment law sets the minimums for private-sector jobs on the mainland. Your contract can give you more, not less.
In 30 seconds
- Normal hours are up to 8 a day and 48 a week; annual leave is 30 days after a year
- Probation can last up to 6 months, and notice is 30 to 90 days
- After a year you earn an end-of-service gratuity, based on your basic salary
Hours48 a weekUp to 8 a day
Annual leave30 daysAfter one year
ProbationUp to 6 months
Gratuity21 daysOf basic pay per year, for years 1–5
Hours and overtime
- Up to 8 hours a day and 48 a week
- Overtime is paid at least 25% extra, or 50% between 10pm and 4am
- Managers are often exempt from overtime rules: check your contract
- During Ramadan, private-sector hours are cut by 2 hours a day
- From 15 June to 15 September, outdoor work in direct sun is banned from 12:30 to 3pm
Leave
| Type | What you get |
|---|---|
| Annual | 30 days a year after one year; 2 days a month between 6 and 12 months |
| Sick | Up to 90 days a year after probation: 15 on full pay, 30 on half pay, then unpaid |
| Maternity | 60 days: 45 on full pay, 15 on half pay |
| Parental | 5 working days within 6 months of the birth |
| Public holidays | Set each year; Eid dates follow the moon |
Probation and notice
- Probation lasts up to 6 months. Your employer can end it with 14 days’ notice
- If you leave during probation for another UAE job, give at least a month’s notice
- After probation, notice is 30 to 90 days, as your contract says
- A non-compete clause can last up to 2 years, and must be limited by place and type of work
End-of-service gratuity
This is a lump sum paid when you leave, instead of a UK-style workplace pension. It is based on your basic salary only.
| Years worked | Gratuity |
|---|---|
| Under 1 year | Nothing |
| Years 1–5 | 21 days of basic pay for each year |
| After 5 years | 30 days of basic pay for each extra year |
| Maximum | Two years’ pay |
Some employers use an approved savings scheme instead. In DIFC and ADGM, employers pay into a savings plan.
If something goes wrong
Complain to the Ministry of Human Resources (MOHRE). It can decide claims up to AED 50,000; larger claims go to the labour courts, with no court fees. Claim within 2 years of the job ending. These rules cover the mainland private sector. DIFC and ADGM have their own laws.
What to do next
- Check your contract’s notice period and non-compete
- Estimate your gratuity with the calculator
- Keep copies of your contract and payslips
End-of-service gratuity calculatorOpen →
Sources
- Federal Decree-Law 33 of 2021 (MOHRE)
- u.ae: working hours and overtime
- GOV.UK: tax if you leave the UK
- u.ae: gratuity calculations
- MOHRE: alternative end-of-service scheme
- MOHRE: Ramadan 2026 working hours