Notice Period in the UAE (2026): 30–90 Days, Pay in Lieu, and When No Notice Is Needed

The notice period for UAE private-sector employment is set by Article 43 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, with probation rules in Article 9 and no-notice cases in Articles 44 and 45. This guide is built from MOHRE's consolidated text of the law, read on 25 October 2026.

How long is the notice period?

Quick answer: Whatever the contract says, as long as it is not less than 30 days and not more than 90 days, given in writing. Either party can end the contract for a legitimate reason with that notice, and the employee works during it if the employer asks (Art. 43(1)–(2)).

The notice period has to be the same for both sides, unless a difference serves the employee's interest. The parties can agree to waive or shorten it, but the employee keeps all their rights for the notice period in the contract (Art. 43(2)).

Pay during notice, and pay in lieu

• The contract stays in force until the notice period ends, and the employee is paid their full wage for it, at the last wage they received (Art. 43(2)).
• A party that does not respect the notice period pays the other a notice-period allowance, equal to the employee's wage for the whole notice period or what remains of it — even if skipping notice caused no harm (Art. 43(3)).
• The allowance uses the last wage for monthly, weekly, daily or hourly pay, and the average daily wage for piecework (Art. 43(4)).

The weekly job-search day

When the employer ends the contract, the employee may take one unpaid working day off a week during the notice period to look for another job, choosing the day and telling the employer at least three days before (Art. 43(5)).

Notice during probation

Probation has its own, shorter rules (Art. 9):

See our probation period guide for the compensation rules and the one-year work-permit ban.

When the employer can dismiss without notice (Art. 44)

After a written investigation, and with a written, reasoned decision handed to the employee, the employer may dismiss without notice in these cases:

1. The employee impersonated someone or submitted forged certificates or documents.
2. A mistake by the employee caused gross physical losses to the employer, or they deliberately damaged the employer's property and admitted it — the employer must inform MOHRE within 7 working days of learning of it.
3. The employee broke written, posted safety instructions for work, workers or the workplace that they had been told about.
4. The employee kept failing their basic duties despite a written investigation and two warnings of dismissal.
5. The employee disclosed a work secret on industrial or intellectual property, causing loss, a missed opportunity or personal gain.
6. The employee was drunk or under the influence of narcotics at work, or breached public morals at the workplace.
7. The employee assaulted the employer, a manager, a superior or a colleague at work — by word, action or any assault punishable under UAE law.
8. The employee was absent without a legitimate reason for more than 20 non-consecutive days in a year or more than 7 consecutive days.
9. The employee illegally exploited their position for personal gain.
10. The employee joined another establishment without following the required rules and procedures.

When the employee can leave without notice (Art. 45)

The employee may quit without notice and keep their end-of-service rights if:

1. The employer breaches its obligations under the contract or the law, the employee notifies MOHRE 14 working days before leaving, and the employer does not put it right after MOHRE notifies it.
2. The employer or its representative assaulted, used violence against or harassed the employee at work, and the employee reports it to the authorities and MOHRE within 5 working days of being able to.
3. There is a grave danger at the workplace that the employer knows about and does not act to remove.
4. The employer told the employee to do work fundamentally different from the contract without their written consent, except in cases of necessity.

After the notice period

Final dues — wages and all other entitlements — are paid within 14 days of the contract ending (Art. 53), including end-of-service gratuity and unused annual leave. Work them out with the gratuity calculator and the leave salary calculator, and see the visa cancellation guide for the visa side.

How ZETUP PRO helps

ZETUP PRO handles work-permit and visa cancellations and the MOHRE side of an exit for mainland companies, on a published monthly retainer. For a disputed dismissal, use a licensed lawyer.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the notice period in the UAE? A: The period in the employment contract, which must be at least 30 days and no more than 90 days, given in writing (Art. 43(1)).

Q: Is the employee paid during the notice period? A: Yes, their full wage at the last wage they received, and the contract stays in force until the notice period ends (Art. 43(2)).

Q: What happens if notice is not served? A: The party that skipped it pays the other a notice-period allowance equal to the employee's wage for the full notice period or the part not served (Art. 43(3)).

Q: Can the notice period be waived? A: The parties can agree to waive or shorten it, but the employee keeps all their rights for the notice period in the contract (Art. 43(2)).

Q: What is the notice period during probation? A: 14 days if the employer ends it, one month if the employee moves to another UAE employer, and 14 days if a foreign employee leaves the UAE — all in writing (Art. 9).

Q: Can an employer terminate without notice? A: Only in the cases listed in Article 44 — such as forged documents, serious misconduct or more than 7 consecutive days' unexcused absence — after a written investigation and with a written, reasoned decision.

Q: Can an employee resign without notice? A: Only in the cases in Article 45, such as the employer breaching its obligations and not putting it right after the employee notifies MOHRE 14 working days ahead.