Know your rights at work

For employees in the UAE private sector: what the Labour Law gives you, in short sentences. Each point names its article and links to the official text.

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My salary is late or not paid

What the law says

Your employer must pay your wage on its due date, in the way MOHRE approves. Labour Law, Art. 22(2)
The wage for one month is due on the 1st day of the next month. Payment after that day is late. This rule applies from 1 June 2026. WPS Resolution 340/2026, Arts. 1(1), 8
Companies registered with MOHRE must pay wages through the Wage Protection System (WPS). WPS Resolution 340/2026, Art. 1(2)
Your wage is paid in UAE dirhams, unless your contract says another currency. Labour Law, Art. 22(3)
If you receive at least 85% of your wage and the rest is a lawful deduction, WPS counts you as paid. You can still claim any money you are owed. WPS Resolution 340/2026, Art. 2(2)
When a company pays late, MOHRE acts against the company: alerts from the second day after the due date, a stop on its new work permits from the fifth day, and more steps after that. WPS Resolution 340/2026, Art. 3 u.ae

How to complain to MOHRE

You can register a labour complaint on the MOHRE website or in the MOHRE app. MOHRE MOHRE
MOHRE charges no fee to register a labour complaint. MOHRE
You can also call the MOHRE call centre on 600590000. It is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. MOHRE
For free advice, call the MOHRE Labour Claims and Advisory Centre on 80084. u.ae
MOHRE’s channels work in more than 22 languages, and you can report with complete confidentiality. MOHRE
Do not wait. MOHRE’s guide for workers says you can complain within 30 days of the employer’s breach. MOHRE
Your employer may not dismiss you because you made a genuine complaint to MOHRE or filed a case that is proven valid. If it does, the court can award you up to 3 months’ wage. Labour Law, Arts. 47(1), 47(2)

If MOHRE cannot settle it

MOHRE first tries to settle the dispute between you and your employer. Labour Law, Art. 54(1)
If the claim is AED 50,000 or less, MOHRE decides it. Either side can take the decision to the Court of First Instance within 15 working days. Labour Law, Arts. 54(2), 54(3)MOHRE
Other disputes that cannot be settled are sent by MOHRE to the court. Labour Law, Art. 54(4)u.ae
A worker’s labour claim of up to AED 100,000 has no court fees. Labour Law, Art. 55(1)
A court will not hear a claim under the Labour Law more than 2 years after the job ended. Labour Law, Art. 54(9)

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Official pages

My final settlement

What it must include, and when

When your job ends, your employer must pay your wages and all other money owed to you within 14 days. Labour Law, Art. 53
That includes your wage up to the last day, and anything your contract or the company rules give you. Labour Law, Art. 53
Annual leave days you did not take are paid, based on your basic wage. Labour Law, Art. 29(9)
If the notice period was not given or not worked, the side that broke it pays notice pay. Labour Law, Art. 43(3)
Your employer pays your return to the place you were recruited from — unless you already joined another employer, or the contract ended for a reason caused by you. Labour Law, Art. 13(12)

End-of-service gratuity

A full-time foreign worker gets a gratuity after at least 1 year of continuous service. Labour Law, Art. 51(2)
It is 21 days of basic wage for each of the first 5 years, and 30 days for each year after that. Labour Law, Art. 51(2)
After the first full year, parts of a year count in proportion. Labour Law, Art. 51(3)
Days of unpaid absence do not count as service. Labour Law, Art. 51(4)
The total gratuity cannot be more than 2 years’ wage. Labour Law, Art. 51(6)
The employer may deduct from the gratuity only money you owe under the law or a court judgment. Labour Law, Art. 51(7)
UAE nationals get their end-of-service benefit under the pensions law instead. Labour Law, Art. 51(1)

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Working hours, overtime, rest day and public holidays

What the law says

Normal working time is at most 8 hours a day or 48 hours a week. Labour Law, Art. 17(1)
You may not work more than 5 hours in a row without a break. Breaks add up to at least 1 hour and do not count as working time. Labour Law, Art. 18
Overtime is normally at most 2 hours a day. All working time together may not be more than 144 hours in 3 weeks. Labour Law, Art. 19(1)
An overtime hour is paid at the normal hourly wage plus at least 25%, counted on the basic wage. Labour Law, Art. 19(2)
Overtime between 10 pm and 4 am is paid at the normal hourly wage plus at least 50%. This does not apply to shift workers. Labour Law, Art. 19(3)
You get at least 1 paid rest day a week. Labour Law, Art. 21
If you work on your rest day, you get another day off, or that day’s wage plus at least 50% of the basic wage. Labour Law, Art. 19(4)
You may not be asked to work more than 2 rest days in a row, unless you are a day worker. Labour Law, Art. 19(5)
Public holidays are days off with full pay. The Cabinet sets the list of holidays. Labour Law, Art. 28(1)
If you work on a public holiday, you get another day off for each day worked, or that day’s wage plus at least 50% of the basic wage. Labour Law, Art. 28(2)
Some job categories are excluded from the working-hours rules. The Implementing Regulation names them. Labour Law, Art. 20

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Overtime Pay

Leave: annual, sick, maternity, parental and more

What the law says

Annual leave is on full pay: at least 30 days for each year of service, or 2 days for each month if you have worked more than 6 months but less than 1 year. Labour Law, Art. 29(1)
Your employer sets the leave dates by the needs of the work and in agreement with you, and must tell you the date at least 1 month before. Labour Law, Art. 29(4)
After probation, sick leave is up to 90 days a year: the first 15 days on full pay, the next 30 days on half pay, the rest unpaid. Labour Law, Art. 31(3)
Tell your employer within 3 working days and give a medical report. Labour Law, Art. 31(1)
During probation there is no paid sick leave. The employer may give unpaid sick leave with a medical report. Labour Law, Art. 31(2)
Maternity leave is 60 days: 45 days on full pay and 15 days on half pay. Labour Law, Art. 30(1)
You may not be dismissed, or given notice, because you are pregnant or on maternity leave. Labour Law, Art. 30(8)
For 6 months after the birth, a mother gets 1 or 2 nursing breaks a day, up to 1 hour in total. Labour Law, Art. 30(9)
Parental leave is 5 paid working days for the father or the mother, taken within 6 months of the birth. Labour Law, Art. 32(1)(b)
Bereavement leave is paid: 5 days for a husband or wife; 3 days for a mother, father, son, brother, sister, grandson, grandfather or grandmother. Labour Law, Art. 32(1)(a)
Study leave is 10 working days a year to sit exams at an approved school or university in the UAE, after 2 years with the employer. Labour Law, Art. 32(2)

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Deductions from my salary

The only reasons the law allows

Your employer may take money from your wage only for the reasons below. Labour Law, Art. 25(1)
To repay a loan from the employer — with your written consent and without interest. Labour Law, Art. 25(1)(a)
To take back money paid to you by mistake — at most 20% of the wage. Labour Law, Art. 25(1)(b)
Pension and insurance contributions required by law. Labour Law, Art. 25(1)(c)
Payments to a savings fund, or loans from it, approved by the Ministry. Labour Law, Art. 25(1)(d)
Instalments for a social project or another benefit from the employer, approved by the Ministry, if you agreed in writing. Labour Law, Art. 25(1)(e)
Fines under the company’s penalty rules approved by the Ministry — at most 5% of the wage. Labour Law, Art. 25(1)(f)
Debts ordered by a court — at most a quarter of the wage, except alimony. Labour Law, Art. 25(1)(g)
Damage to the employer’s tools or materials caused by your mistake — at most 5 days’ wage a month. More needs a court’s approval. Labour Law, Art. 25(1)(h)
All deductions together may not be more than 50% of your wage. Labour Law, Art. 25(2)

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Salary Calculator

My passport, contract and certificates

What the law says

Your employer may not keep your passport or your other official documents. Labour Law, Art. 13(2)u.ae
Your employer may not force you to leave the UAE when the job ends. Labour Law, Art. 13(2)
You do not need your employer’s permission to leave the country. u.ae
Your contract is made in 2 copies. One copy is for you. Labour Law, Art. 8(1)
You can prove your contract, your wage and your rights by any means. Labour Law, Art. 8(2)
When the contract ends, your employer must give you an experience certificate for free if you ask. It shows your start and end dates, your job, your last wage and why the contract ended, and nothing that could harm your reputation or your chances of a new job. Labour Law, Art. 13(11)
Your employer may not make you pay recruitment or employment fees and costs, directly or indirectly. Labour Law, Art. 6(4)u.ae
Your employer pays for your recruitment, your travel to the UAE and your residence permit. u.ae

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Experience certificate (template)

Official pages

u.ae — Protection of workers’ rights

Ending the job

Notice

Either side can end the contract for a legitimate reason with written notice. The notice period is in your contract: at least 30 days and at most 90 days. Labour Law, Art. 43(1)
During the notice period you keep your full wage. Labour Law, Art. 43(2)
The side that does not give notice pays the other side the wage for the notice period, or for the part that was missing. Labour Law, Art. 43(3)
If your employer ends the contract, you may take 1 unpaid day a week during the notice to look for a new job. Tell your employer at least 3 days before. Labour Law, Art. 43(5)
You can leave without notice, and keep your end-of-service rights, if your employer breaks its duties to you and does not fix it after MOHRE tells it to. Inform MOHRE 14 working days before you leave. Labour Law, Art. 45(1)
You can also leave without notice if your employer assaulted or harassed you at work. Report it to the authorities and MOHRE within 5 working days. Labour Law, Art. 45(2)

Probation

Probation is at most 6 months, and only once with the same employer. Labour Law, Arts. 9(1), 9(2)
During probation, your employer must tell you in writing at least 14 days before ending your job. Labour Law, Art. 9(1)
To move to another employer in the UAE during probation, tell your employer in writing at least 1 month before. Labour Law, Art. 9(3)
To leave the UAE during probation, tell your employer in writing at least 14 days before. Labour Law, Art. 9(4)

Unemployment insurance (ILOE)

Workers in the private sector and the federal government must join the ILOE scheme. Investors, domestic workers, temporary-contract workers, people under 18 and some retirees are excluded. ILOE Law, Art. 3 Cabinet Resolution 97/2022, Art. 2
You pay the premium yourself. It is the worker’s obligation, not the employer’s. Cabinet Resolution 97/2022, Art. 7 ILOE Law, Art. 1
Not joining costs a fine of AED 400. Not paying the premium for more than 3 months costs AED 200. Cabinet Resolution 97/2022, Art. 8
If you lose your job, the scheme pays 60% of your basic salary for up to 3 months, at most AED 10,000 or AED 20,000 a month depending on your category. ILOE Law, Art. 6 Cabinet Resolution 97/2022, Art. 10
To claim: at least 12 months in a row in the scheme, you did not resign, you were not dismissed for disciplinary reasons, and you claim within 30 days of the job ending or of the court decision on your labour case. ILOE Law, Art. 5 Cabinet Resolution 97/2022, Art. 9
Join and claim on the official ILOE website. ILOE u.ae

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Official pages

DIFC, ADGM, government and domestic work

Which law applies to you

The federal Labour Law covers workers in the UAE private sector. This page follows it. Labour Law, Art. 3(1)
It does not cover government employees, the armed forces, police and security, or domestic workers. Labour Law, Art. 3(2)
Domestic workers have their own law, Federal Decree-Law No. 9 of 2022. Domestic Workers Law
In the DIFC, the DIFC Employment Law applies to employees who are based in, or normally work in or from, the DIFC. DIFC Employment Law, Art. 4
The DIFC Courts’ Small Claims Tribunal hears claims of up to AED 500,000, and larger employment claims if both sides agree in writing. DIFC Courts
ADGM is exempt from the federal Labour Law. The ADGM Employment Regulations 2024 apply to ADGM companies and their employees. ADGM Employment Regulations ADGM
Employment claims in ADGM go to the Employment Division of the ADGM Courts. ADGM Courts
On this site, the End of Service calculator has DIFC and ADGM options. The other calculators follow the federal Labour Law.

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End of Service (gratuity)

Official pages

Common questions

When must my salary be paid?

The wage for one month is due on the 1st day of the next month; payment after that day is late (Ministerial Resolution No. 340 of 2026, Art. 1, in force from 1 June 2026). Companies registered with MOHRE pay through the Wage Protection System.

How do I complain to MOHRE about unpaid salary?

Register a labour complaint on the MOHRE website or in the MOHRE app; MOHRE lists no fee for it. You can also call the MOHRE call centre on 600590000, and the Labour Claims and Advisory Centre on 80084 for free advice.

How long does my employer have to pay my final settlement?

Within 14 days of the end of the contract: your wages and all other money owed under the law, your contract or the company rules (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Art. 53).

Can my employer keep my passport?

No. The employer may not withhold your official documents (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Art. 13(2)). The UAE government portal states that confiscating workers’ passports is prohibited.

Can my employer make me pay recruitment fees?

No. The employer may not charge you the fees and costs of recruitment and employment, directly or indirectly (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Art. 6(4)).

Who pays the ILOE unemployment insurance premium?

The worker. Cabinet Resolution No. 97 of 2022, Art. 7, makes paying the premium the insured’s obligation. Not joining costs a fine of AED 400 (Art. 8).

Does this page apply in the DIFC or ADGM?

No. The DIFC and ADGM have their own employment laws and their own courts. This page follows the federal Labour Law, which covers the rest of the UAE private sector.

Sources

Law texts and official pages checked on 23 September 2026.

Legal basis

Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations — Arts. 3, 6, 8, 9, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 25, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 43, 45, 47, 51, 53, 54, 55
Ministerial Resolution No. 340 of 2026 Concerning the Wage Protection System — Arts. 1, 2, 3, 8
Federal Decree-Law No. 13 of 2022 on Unemployment Insurance (ILOE) — Arts. 1, 3, 5, 6
Cabinet Resolution No. 97 of 2022 on the Unemployment Insurance Scheme — Arts. 2, 7, 8, 9, 10
Federal Decree-Law No. 9 of 2022 on Domestic Workers
DIFC Employment Law, DIFC Law No. 2 of 2019 — Art. 4
ADGM Employment Regulations 2024

Last reviewed: 2026-09-23

* This page is general information about the federal Labour Law, written in plain words. It is not legal advice. Your employment contract, the law that actually applies to you (the DIFC and ADGM free zones have their own employment laws) and any decision of MOHRE or a court prevail over this general information — for your own case, contact MOHRE or a licensed legal consultant.