United Arab Emirates Employment Guide

United Arab Emirates Employment Guide

The UAE is in eastern Arabian Peninsula, bordering the Persian Gulf (north), Oman and Saudi Arabia (south). It has ~10 million people, with most being foreign workers; Arabic is official, Abu Dhabi is the capital, and major cities include Dubai and Sharjah. Its economy is pillar-supported by oil and gas, while finance, real estate, tourism and aviation develop rapidly as a key Middle East economic hub. Labor laws (per UAE Labour Law) protect wages, hours, leave and social security. Standard workweek: 48 hours (overtime needs extra pay). Salaries are usually monthly (avg. AED 12,000-15,000 pre-tax, varying by industry/position). Laws cover paid leave and protect contract/temp workers, balancing interests for a flexible, sustainable labor market.

Check recruitment costs

Currency

United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED)

Capital

Abu Dhabi

Official language

Arabic

Salary Cycle

Monthly

Our Employment Guide in United Arab Emirates

Browse the following tags to learn all about hiring employees in United Arab Emirates

Maternity Leave Entitlements

Expectant employees are entitled to 45 days of fully paid maternity leave. During this period, the employer bears full responsibility for providing 100% of the employee's regular salary.

Paternity Leave Regulations

Current legislation does not mandate paternity leave provisions for new fathers.

Parental Leave Options

Eligible employees can access 5 working days of paid parental leave within six months following childbirth. Subsequently, they may take up to 45 days of unpaid leave. Documentation such as medical certificates must be submitted through SailGlobal's platform when requesting this leave.

Sick Leave Provisions

Employees qualify for up to 90 days of paid sick leave after completing their probation period and maintaining three months of continuous service. Compensation follows a tiered structure:

DurationSalary CoverageResponsible Party
Days 0-15100% of base salaryEmployer
Days 15-4550% of base salaryEmployer
Days 45-90UnpaidNot applicable

International Comparison: Best Practices

While this framework provides basic protections, multinational companies like SailGlobal often enhance these benefits. For instance, Scandinavian countries typically offer shared parental leave exceeding 12 months, demonstrating how progressive policies can improve workforce retention.

Implementation Considerations

HR professionals should ensure clear communication of these entitlements through employee handbooks and SailGlobal's digital platforms. Proper documentation processes prevent disputes and maintain compliance with local labor regulations.

Hire easily in United Arab Emirates

Compare employee hiring costs across over 100 countries worldwide, helping you accurately calculate labor costs. Try it now

Cost Calculator

Please select the country/region you wish to recruit from, and the calculation can be done with just a few clicks.