UAE WORK GUIDE ยท Reviewed 15 October 2026
Understand the essentials of federal private-sector employment before you sign, resign or raise a concern.
This guide focuses on employment governed by Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, as amended. Government employment, domestic work and the DIFC and ADGM have separate frameworks. Check which authority governs your contract.
Your contract: start here
Keep your signed offer and employment contract. Compare the job title, work location, basic salary, allowances, working pattern, probation, leave and notice clauses. Ask for any discrepancy to be corrected in writing before accepting. The official government guide explains contract models and probation.
Probation and notice
Probation cannot exceed six months. Notice rules during probation differ according to whether an employer terminates employment, a worker changes employer within the UAE, or a worker leaves the country. Do not apply the usual post-probation notice rule to a probation case without checking the official guidance.
Outside probation, the contractual notice period generally falls between 30 and 90 days. Exceptional termination situations have separate rules. Read the official termination guidance before taking action.
Annual leave
For covered full-time employees, annual leave is 30 days with full pay after completing one year. Where service exceeds six months but is less than a year, the entitlement is two days per month. Part-time arrangements have different calculations. See the official annual leave guidance for scheduling and other conditions.
Pay and end-of-service benefits
Understand the basic-pay component separately from your total package. Keep payslips and bank records, and ask payroll to explain any deduction. Use our salary checklist to compare an offer and our gratuity calculator for an indicative end-of-service estimate.
If something goes wrong
- Write a clear timeline and collect your offer, contract, payslips and relevant correspondence.
- Raise the issue with HR or payroll in writing and keep the response.
- Use the appropriate official authority for your employment regime. Start with the UAE Government private-sector employment hub to locate current dispute guidance.
- Seek qualified advice promptly where a deadline or significant entitlement may be involved.
General information, not individual legal advice. Official legislation and the relevant authority take precedence. Report an outdated statement or explore our work permit guide.