Notice periods in the UAE: what the law requires

Under the UAE Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021), either party may end the employment with written notice of not less than 30 days and not more than 90 days, with the exact length set in the contract (Article 43). The same range applies whether it is the employer or the employee giving notice.

Pay during and in lieu of notice

The employment continues through the notice period and the employee is paid as normal. Either party can instead pay the other in lieu of notice, an amount equal to the wage for the notice period. During a worked notice period, an employee searching for a new role is entitled to time off to do so.

Probation has its own rules

Probation is capped at six months (Article 9) and carries shorter notice. An employer ending probation gives 14 days' written notice. An employee leaving during probation to join another UAE employer gives one month's notice; an employee leaving the country gives 14 days. These are distinct from the 30-to-90-day rule that applies once an employee is past probation.

What this means at offboarding

Notice is a planning input, not a gratuity input: it does not change the end-of-service figure, but it sets the date that figure crystallises and whether a buyout is in play. When modelling a departure, treat notice (or pay in lieu) as a separate, contract-driven line alongside accrued gratuity and leave.