Notice Period in the UAE: How Many Days, Notice Pay and Probation Rules (2026)

Short answer: after probation, the notice period in the UAE private sector is at least 30 days and no more than 90 days, and it's the same for whoever ends the contract. During probation it's shorter: 14 days if the employer ends it, 30 days if the employee is moving to another UAE employer, and 14 days if the employee is leaving the country.

Those rules come from Articles 9 and 43 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021. Below is what they mean in practice, for employees handing in a resignation and for employers who have to manage one.

Notice periods at a glance

Whatever your contract says is the number that applies, as long as it sits inside the 30–90 day range. A contract that says 60 days means 60 days. You can't give 30 just because the law's minimum is 30.

What if someone doesn't serve the notice?

The side that cuts the notice short pays the other side compensation equal to the employee's wage for the notice period, or for whatever part of it wasn't served. That's the full wage, allowances included, not just basic salary.

So an employer who wants someone out tomorrow can do it, but has to pay the notice. And an employee who walks out on day one of a 30-day notice can have a month's wage deducted from their final settlement.

Leaving during probation without notice carries an extra sting for expatriates. An employee who leaves the UAE without giving the 14 days can be barred from a new work permit for a year.

Can notice be waived or shortened?

Yes, by agreement. Both sides can agree in writing to shorten the notice or skip it completely. Get it in writing, and make sure the resignation or termination letter states the agreed last working day. That one line prevents most final-settlement disputes we see.

Do you have to work during your notice?

Yes. The contract stays live until the last day, so the employee keeps working and the employer keeps paying the full salary. Annual leave can be used during notice if the employer agrees.

When it's the employer who ends the contract, the employee can take one working day off per week during the notice period to look for a new job. That day is unpaid, and the employee should tell the employer at least three days in advance.

Leaving during probation for a new UAE job

Give 30 days' written notice. The new employer is then expected to compensate your current employer for the recruitment and contract costs they spent hiring you, unless the two companies agree otherwise. Employees tend not to know this rule. Employers often forget to claim it.

For employers: the paperwork that protects you

Most notice disputes come down to missing documents. Keep a signed resignation or termination letter with the date notice was given, a written record of any agreement to shorten notice, and a final-settlement sheet the employee signs showing notice pay, leave salary and gratuity. Pay everything within 14 days of the last working day.

Our UAE HR Master Pack includes ready-to-edit resignation acceptance, termination, notice-waiver and final-settlement templates written for the current law, plus an EOSB calculator in Excel. AED 999, instant download.

Working out the settlement? Our free gratuity calculator handles the end-of-service part.

Quick answers

Is the notice period the same for employer and employee?
Yes. The contract sets one notice period that applies to both sides.

Is notice pay calculated on basic or gross salary?
On the full wage the employee was receiving, which includes allowances.

Can my employer refuse my resignation?
No. They can ask you to serve the full notice, but they can't stop you leaving at the end of it.

Does resigning affect my gratuity?
Not under the current law. If you've completed a year, you get the full rate whether you resign or are terminated.

This guide is general information based on Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 and is not legal advice. The DIFC and ADGM have their own employment laws with different notice rules.