🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates · Employment & Labor
Hiring rules, employment contracts, payroll, social insurance, and EOR options.
Quick answer
UAE mainland employment follows the federal labour law administered by MoHRE: written fixed-term contracts, a 48-hour week, 30 days' annual leave after a year, and an end-of-service gratuity instead of a pension for expatriates. Free zones such as DIFC and ADGM have their own employment laws; there is no personal income tax.
Mainland employment is governed by the federal labour law administered by MOHRE; the DIFC and ADGM financial free zones apply their own employment laws.
- Mainland employment requires a written contract registered with MOHRE.
- End-of-service gratuity is payable to eligible employees on termination.
- The DIFC and ADGM operate separate employment regimes within their zones.
Step-by-step
- 1
Get a MoHRE (or free-zone) contract
Mainland employees have a registered MoHRE fixed-term contract; free-zone staff follow their zone's employment law (e.g. DIFC, ADGM).
- 2
Know your pay and hours rights
There is no general minimum wage for expatriates; the standard is 8 hours a day / 48 a week, with overtime pay and reduced Ramadan hours.
- 3
Understand leave entitlements
You get 30 calendar days’ paid annual leave after a year (2 days a month between six months and a year), plus sick leave and public holidays.
- 4
Note the tax and gratuity position
There is no personal income tax; instead of a pension, expatriates accrue an end-of-service gratuity based on years of service.
- 5
Know termination and notice rules
Fixed-term contracts end by notice (usually 30-90 days) or for cause; unpaid wages and gratuity must be settled on exit.
- 6
Resolve disputes with MoHRE or the courts
Raise disputes with MoHRE (or the free-zone authority / DIFC-ADGM courts), which can refer unresolved claims to court.
Checklist
- MoHRE (or free-zone) registered contract
- Working hours (48/week) + overtime + Ramadan hours
- 30 days' annual leave (after a year) + sick leave + holidays
- No personal income tax
- End-of-service gratuity accrual
- Notice/termination rules + final settlement
- Anti-discrimination protections
- Dispute route (MoHRE / free-zone authority / DIFC-ADGM courts)
Official authorities
- Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE)
Labour relations and employment standards.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an end-of-service gratuity?
Yes — expatriate employees accrue a gratuity payable on leaving, based on basic salary and years of service, in place of a pension.
Is there a minimum wage in the UAE?
There is no general statutory minimum wage for private-sector expatriates; salaries are set by contract.
Do free zones follow the same law?
No — free zones like DIFC and ADGM have their own employment laws separate from the federal MoHRE regime.
Official-information aggregation, not legal advice. Always verify on the authority's own site.
Government portals
- The UAE Government Portal — Official UAE government portal — services, visas, residency
- Federal Authority for Identity & Citizenship (ICP) — Entry permits, residence visas, Golden Visa, Emirates ID
- Federal Tax Authority (FTA) — VAT and corporate-tax registration and filing
- Ministry of Economy — Company registration, business licensing, foreign investment