UAE Probation Period Calculator
Based on Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Article 9 (probation and the notice during it) and Article 67 (a month counts as 30 days). Last reviewed: 2026-09-28.
Enter the first working day and the probation in the contract to get the last day of probation and the last day an employer can serve the 14-day notice inside it. Add the day a written notice is served to see when each of the three probation notices ends. The dates follow Article 9 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 and are worked out in your browser.
The Probation Rules in Article 9
An employer may appoint a worker on probation for no more than six months from the day work starts (Article 9(1)). A worker may be put on probation only once with the same employer; a worker who passes it and keeps working continues on the agreed terms, and the probation counts as service (Article 9(2)).
The employer may end the service during probation with at least 14 days’ written notice before the termination date (Article 9(1)). A worker who wants to move to another employer in the UAE gives at least one month’s written notice, and the new employer pays the original one the recruitment or contracting costs unless agreed otherwise (Article 9(3)). A foreign worker who wants to leave the UAE gives at least 14 days’ written notice (Article 9(4)).
A party that ends the contract without the notice pays the other the worker’s wage for the notice period or the part not served (Article 9(5)). A foreign worker who leaves the UAE without following Article 9 is not given a work permit for a year from leaving (Article 9(6)); the Ministry may exempt some categories (Article 9(7); Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022, Article 11, lists workers with skills the UAE needs, workers sponsored by their parents and golden residence holders).
During probation there is no paid sick leave; the employer may grant unpaid sick leave on a medical report (Article 31(2)). Annual leave may be granted during probation by agreement, and a worker who does not pass probation is paid for the rest of the leave balance (Article 29(3)).
How the Dates Are Counted
Last day of probation = the day before the same date N months after the first working day; where that month has no such date, its last day. A probation of 6 months from 1 March ends on 31 August; from 31 August it ends on 28 February (29 February in a leap year).
Last day of a notice = the day it is served + the notice in days: 14 for the employer, 30 for a worker moving to another UAE employer (Article 9(3) says one month; Article 67 counts a month as 30 days), 14 for a foreign worker leaving the UAE. Day 1 is the day after service, the Notice Period calculator’s rule. The employer’s last day to serve notice inside probation is the last day of probation minus 14 days.
Scope and Limits
A mainland private-sector employment under Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021. The DIFC and the ADGM have their own employment laws. The contract may give longer notice than the minimum.
Article 9 speaks of ending the contract during probation and does not say what applies when a notice served near its end runs past the last day of probation; the page flags that case and does not decide it. Dates are calendar dates: nothing is moved for a weekend or a public holiday.
Worked Examples
Dates the calculator produces:
Six months from 1 March 2026
1 March 2026 + 6 months − 1 day · minus 14 days for the employer’s notice
Probation ends on 31 August 2026 (184 days). The employer’s 14-day notice must be served by 17 August 2026.
Six months from 31 August 2026
February 2027 has no 31st, so the period ends on its last day
Probation ends on 28 February 2027.
Notice served on 10 May 2026, probation from 1 March 2026
10 May + 14 days · 10 May + 30 days · 10 May + 14 days
Employer: last day 24 May 2026. Worker moving to another UAE employer: 9 June 2026. Foreign worker leaving the UAE: 24 May 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum probation period in the UAE?
Six months from the first working day (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Article 9(1)). A worker may be put on probation only once with the same employer (Article 9(2)).
Can probation be extended beyond six months?
Article 9 sets six months from the first working day as the maximum and allows probation once with the same employer. The Decree-Law has no provision for extending it beyond that.
How much notice must an employer give to end probation?
At least 14 days’ written notice before the termination date (Article 9(1)). To end the service by the last day of probation, the notice must be served 14 days before it.
How much notice does an employee give to resign during probation?
At least one month (30 days) in writing to move to another employer in the UAE (Article 9(3)), and at least 14 days in writing for a foreign worker leaving the UAE (Article 9(4)).
What happens if the notice is not given?
The party that ends the contract without it pays the other the worker’s wage for the notice period or the part not served (Article 9(5)). A foreign worker who leaves the UAE without following Article 9 is not given a work permit for a year (Article 9(6)), unless the Ministry exempts the category.
Does probation count towards gratuity and leave?
A worker who passes probation keeps it as service (Article 9(2)); the gratuity of a foreign full-time worker needs a year of continuous service (Article 51(2)). There is no paid sick leave during probation (Article 31(2)), and annual leave during probation is by agreement (Article 29(3)).
Sources
Checked against the official texts on 2026-09-28.
Disclaimer
* General information, not legal advice. Dates are counted from the dates you enter under Article 9; your contract may give longer notice. Last reviewed: 2026-09-28. The employment contract, the law that actually applies (the DIFC and ADGM free zones have their own employment laws) and any decision or announcement of MOHRE, ICP or a court prevail over this guide — verify with the relevant authority before you rely on a date.