UAE maternity and parental leave for the private sector under Articles 30 and 32 of the Labour Law: 60 days (45 full pay, 15 half pay), extra leave for illness or a child needing care, nursing breaks, dismissal protection and 5 days' parental leave.
Maternity and parental leave for UAE private-sector employees are set by Articles 30 and 32 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021. This guide is built from MOHRE's consolidated text of the law and from u.ae's Types of leaves page, both read on 25 October 2026.
How long is maternity leave in the UAE?
Quick answer: 60 days — the first 45 days on full wage and the next 15 days on half wage (Art. 30(1)).
| Leave | Days | Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Maternity leave | 45 | Full wage |
| Maternity leave (continued) | 15 | Half wage |
| Her illness or her child's illness resulting from pregnancy or childbirth, after maternity leave | Up to 45, continuous or intermittent | Unpaid |
| Child who is sick or a child of determination (with a disability) needing a constant companion | 30 | Full pay |
| Extension for that child | 30 | Unpaid |
| Parental leave (mother or father) | 5 working days, within six months of the birth | Paid (Art. 32(1)) |
The extra 45 days need a medical certificate showing the illness prevents a return to work, and they do not count towards end-of-service gratuity or pension contribution periods (Art. 30(2)). The leave for a sick child or child of determination needs a medical report that the child requires a constant companion (Art. 30(4)).
When maternity leave starts
The law says the employer grants maternity leave on the employee's request at any time from the last day of the month before the month in which she is expected to give birth, proven by a medical certificate (Art. 30(5)). u.ae summarises this as applying for it up to 30 days before the expected delivery date; the month-based rule in the law is the binding text.
Maternity leave also applies where the delivery happens six months or more into the pregnancy, whether the baby is stillborn or born alive and then dies (Art. 30(3)).
Nursing breaks after returning
For six months after the birth, a mother back at work is entitled to one or two breastfeeding breaks a day, totalling no more than an hour (Art. 30(9)). u.ae states the breaks are fully paid.
Protection from dismissal
An employer may not terminate a female employee, or give her notice, because of pregnancy, maternity leave or the absences above (Art. 30(8)). Being on maternity leave does not affect her right to other leave (Art. 30(6)).
If she works for another employer during her maternity leave, the original employer may withhold her pay for the leave or recover what it paid (Art. 30(7)).
Parental (paternity) leave
Either parent — father or mother — is entitled to 5 working days of parental leave to care for a newborn, taken continuously or intermittently within six months of the birth (Art. 32(1)(b)). Article 32(1) lists it as paid leave. Proof from the competent authority is needed (Art. 32(4)).
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ZETUP PRO handles the government side of employing staff in Dubai mainland — MOHRE contracts and work permits, WPS and visas, including dependants' visas for a newborn — on a published monthly retainer. For the other leave rules, see our annual leave guide and the UAE Labour Law guide.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many days of maternity leave are given in the UAE private sector? A: 60 days: 45 days on full wage and 15 days on half wage (Art. 30(1)).
Q: Is maternity leave paid in the UAE? A: Yes — the first 45 days at full wage and the next 15 at half wage. The optional extra 45 days for illness are unpaid (Art. 30).
Q: When can maternity leave start? A: On the employee's request, from the last day of the month before the month of the expected birth, with a medical certificate (Art. 30(5)). u.ae describes this as up to 30 days before the expected delivery date.
Q: Is there paternity leave in the UAE? A: Yes. Either parent gets 5 working days of paid parental leave, taken within six months of the birth (Art. 32(1)(b)).
Q: Can an employer dismiss an employee during maternity leave? A: Not because of the pregnancy, the maternity leave or the related absences (Art. 30(8)).
Q: Do nursing breaks continue after maternity leave? A: Yes. For six months after the birth, one or two breaks a day of no more than an hour in total (Art. 30(9)); u.ae says they are fully paid.
Q: What if the baby is sick or has a disability? A: The mother can take 30 more days on full pay after maternity leave, extendable by 30 unpaid days, with a medical report that the child needs a constant companion (Art. 30(4)).
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