The UAE introduced many advanced legislations to protect workers, most notably the Domestic Labour Law, in addition to a package of decisions regarding approved contracts, changing jobs and terminating contracts. Find out more.
Check our pages Searching for a job which provide tips and useful links on how to land a job in the private and public sectors.
Employers have the right to decide a staff’s annual leave and also to ask employees to postpone a leave which is already approved and arranged. This is supposed to be done by agreement and compromise and on condition that the employee will not suffer any financial losses from this postponement, such as travel tickets and others.
Besides, U.ae page on jobs and employment, you can find information about employment policies and job opportunities in the websites of Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR), and Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation. Additionally, each local emirate has its government human resources department which regulates the employment.
Employees of a semi-government company may be subject to either the Labour law or to the respective human resources law of the local or the federal entity which owns the company. Those working in free zones are generally not governed by the Federal Labour Law. Each free zone authority has its own employment law and employees are subject to the rules and regulations of their respective free zone authority. Find more information related to jobs and employment in the UAE.
The UAE Federal Decree Law no. 33 of 2021 Regarding the Regulation of Employment Relationship sets out the provisions and policies related to employment in the private sector. The Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR) has its own laws and policies which apply to government employees in the federal sector. Each local emirate has its government human resources department which regulates the employment. Employees of a semi-government company may be subject to either the Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 or to the respective human resources law of the local or the federal entity which owns the company. Those working in free zones are generally not governed by the Federal Labour Law. Each free zone authority has its own employment law and employees are subject to the rules and regulations of their respective free zone authority. Find more information related to jobs and employment in the UAE.
You can subscribe to the newsletters of Ministry of Human Resources & Emiratisation and the monthly magazine of the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources in addition to other subscription channels mentioned in this page.
The UAE provides work to approximately 1 million new immigrants every year. For the vast majority of new residents, the opportunity to come to the UAE makes a dramatic and positive impact on their lives. The UAE has taken significant steps to strengthen workplace protections for immigrant workers. A coherent package of reforms were set in place to create greater flexibility for both employers and employees, to ensure that conditions of work and accommodation are of a high standard, and in particular to establish the domestic labour market as a bone fide labour market segment. Read more how the UAE protects the rights of immigrant workers.
You can find information about upcoming consultations which involve people in employment issues in our consultation page, under planned consultations.
You can find information of current consultations and results of closed consultations held to take people’s feedback about employment issues in our consultation page, under current and closed consultations.
Yes, you can find results of closed consultations held to take people’s feedback about employment issues in our consultation page. Look for the outcome of closed consultations.
The UAE has developed special programmes for developing future skills of its youth on different areas needed for knowledge–based economy and transformation into digital era. Find out more information about future skills for youth and trainimg and development programmes.
No, one cannot work while on a visit or tourist visa. Working without first obtaining the proper visa status is illegal and can lead to penalties and legal liability. The penalties apply to both the employer and the employee.Read our page 'Preparing to work' for more details.
You can find government expenditure on employment on the page about government budget and expenditure.
On this portal, you can find online directories of jobs and employment-related eServices provided by the respective authorities in the UAE.
Yes, fee zone employees can approach the Labour office for complaints. The Labour office will transfer the complaint to the Labour court for review and final adjudication.
An employer cannot reject an employee’s resignation, provided the employee gives due notice and obtains the employer’s signature on his/her resignation letter, or sends the resignation letter through acknowledged communication methods such as: fax, email or postal mail etc.
The employer may not prevent the worker from benefiting from his annual leave accrued for more than two years, unless the worker wishes to carry t forward or receive a cash compensation for it, in accordance with the regulations in force at the establishment.
An employee is paid his basic wage plus any other allowances which he receives in the normal working month.
Before taking his annual leave, the employee shall be paid his full wage, plus the wage of his leave days.
Employees are entitled for paid leave on the public holidays. See the list of public holidays in the UAE.
