Business
UAE — Business: Hiring Employees
Under current UAE labour law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021), unlimited contracts have been abolished and only limited (fixed-term) contracts are permitted. Employees receive 30 days of fully paid annual leave after one year of service, and female workers are entitled to 60 days of maternity leave (45 fully paid, 15 half paid). Employers cannot hire informally: every worker must be engaged through a locally registered entity or a licensed intermediary (e.g. an Employer of Record). Check the full law text on mohre.gov.ae for working hours, notice, gratuity and minimum-wage rules before drafting a contract.
VerifiedGovernment / official sourceUAE Government portal (u.ae) / Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 (MOHRE)Last reviewed: 2026-10-23
Key facts
- Unlimited contracts have been abolished; only limited (fixed-term) contracts are permitted under the 2021 law.
- 30 days of fully paid annual leave after one year of service (two days per month for service between six months and one year).
- Maternity leave is 60 days: 45 fully paid and 15 half paid.
- Informal hiring is prohibited — every worker must go through a registered entity or licensed intermediary (EOR).
Timelines
- Standard annual leave: 30 days (after one year of service)
- Maternity leave: 60 days (45 full pay, 15 half pay)
Required documents
- Written employment contract (MOHRE / free-zone registered)
Common mistakes
- Assuming unlimited contracts are still available — only fixed-term contracts are issued under current law.
- Hiring informally without a registered entity or licensed intermediary, which is prohibited.