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UAE (Dubai) Employment Guide

UAE (Dubai) Employment Guide

Legal Framework

Employment in mainland UAE is governed by Federal Decree‑Law No.33 of 2021 (UAE Labour Law)البوا…. Most free zones adopt the federal labour law; DIFC and ADGM operate under independent employment regulations. All expatriate staff require a valid work permit and residence visa sponsored by the employer. Unauthorised work without a work permit constitutes illegal employment and triggers heavy penalties for both parties.

1. Employment Contract & Probation

  • Only fixed‑term contracts (maximum 3 years) are permitted; renewals are allowed multiple timesالبوا….
  • Contracts must be bilingual (Arabic + English), registered with MOHRE within 14 days after the employee arrives or changes statusالبوا….
  • Probation period: maximum 6 months, one probation per employee with the same employer.
    • Probation termination: minimum 14 days’ written notice.
  • WPS (Wage Protection System) mandatory: salaries must be remitted via approved banking channels; cash or offshore private transfer is prohibited. There is no universal minimum wage for expatriates; Emirati nationals have statutory minimum pay standardsd-x.ae.

2. Working Hours & Overtime

  • Standard working time: 8 hours per day / 48 hours per weekd-x.ae.
  • Friday is the weekly rest day for most industries.
  • Overtime: basic rate ×1.25 for regular extra hours; ×1.5 for weekend/public holiday overtime.

3. Leave Entitlements

Annual Leave

  • 2 calendar days per month after completing 6 months’ service; 30 days per year after 1 full year of employment. Unused leave must be financially settled upon termination.

Sick Leave (after 3 months post‑probation)

  • Total 90 days per year: first 15 days full pay, days 16–45 half pay, remaining 45 days unpaid.

Maternity Leave

  • 60 calendar days paid maternity leave for female employees.

Public Holidays

Official UAE national holidays as announced annually, fully paid.

4. Termination, Notice Period & End‑of‑Service Gratuity

  • Minimum notice period: 30 days; maximum 90 days, agreed in writing within the legal rangeالبوا….
  • Immediate dismissal without notice applies only for serious misconduct (absence, fraud, workplace violence, unauthorised secondary employment etc.).
  • End‑of‑Service Gratuity (EOSG) compulsory for expatriates: calculated based on basic salary and tenure. Employees completing less than 1 year get no gratuity.
  • Unlawful dismissal compensation cap: equivalent to 3 months’ latest total remunerationالبوا….

5. Visa & Sponsorship Compliance

  • The employer bears all costs for work permits, medical tests, Emirates ID and residence visas. Deduction of visa fees from staff salary is illegal.
  • Employees cannot work for any third party without formal MOHRE approval.
  • After contract termination: standard grace period to exit or transfer sponsorship; overstay incurs fines.
  • Types of visas: standard employer‑sponsored work visa, Green Visa, Golden Visa for qualified talent.

6. Emiratisation (Localisation Policy)

  • Mainland companies must meet Emirati national hiring quotas with progressive targets.
  • Most free zone entities are currently exempt from mandatory Emiratisation quotas; fake paper‑only local hires attract severe fines中国国际贸….

7. Critical Compliance Risks for Overseas Enterprises

  1. Do not use tourist / visit visas to conduct formal paid work in UAE (illegal employment).
  2. Avoid informal side agreements diverting salary outside the WPS system.
  3. Distinction between mainland, regular free zones and DIFC/ADGM – different dispute tribunals and labour rules apply.
  4. Medical insurance: employers are generally required to provide health coverage for expatriate staff.
  5. Independent contractor arrangements must be genuine; sham outsourcing will be reclassified as employment by authorities, triggering back pay, social contributions and penalties.

Gonex UAE Human Resource Solutions

Gonex delivers compliant localised HR and talent solutions for Chinese companies expanding into the UAE and the Middle East. Whether your firm holds a local UAE entity or not, we provide integrated services including EOR, HRO, Global Payroll, overseas assignment visa support, helping enterprises mitigate labour dispute risks, streamline payroll administration and achieve full labour compliance in Dubai and across the UAE.

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Why Gonex?

Experienced Management Team: each member in the team has 10+ years experiences in Overseas Human Resources Management, composed of seasoned HR professionals.

Powerful connection: Gonex has established over 10 entities worldwide, along with more than 30 stable partners, together offering the most comprehensive overseas human resource services to our clients.

Strict compliance with laws and regulations: At every step in our service process, Gonex strictly adheres to local laws and regulations, ensuring our clients completely avoid any legal disputes.

Competitive price: Gonex’s services are 20% more affordable compared to other companies in the industry, allowing our clients to allocate more resources to their core business.

 

What Gonex offer?

Employment of Record: This service helps clients legally hire employees in countries or regions where they do not have a legal entity established.

Payroll BPO service: This includes payroll project implementation plan development, project deployment, payroll calculation, payment of funds, administration of statutory and supplementary benefits, customized reporting, and other comprehensive payroll services.

Global Mobility: Based on the company’s internationalization strategy, the company assigns employees to overseas branches/subsidiaries and handles visa and tax matters in accordance with local policies, while assisting in the compliance management of employees throughout their international assignment life cycle.

 

GONEX One-Stop Solution: Your strategic partner

Compliance and Legal Adherence: GONEX’s Employer of Record (EOR) service ensures legal compliance in employing local staff.

Cross-Border Payroll and Tax Management: Streamlined payroll services simplify cross-border management.

Flexible Employment Solutions: Adaptable employment services cater to changing business needs.

International Talent Dispatch: Support services facilitate the dispatch of key talent to overseas.

Digital HR Management Platform: Technology-driven solutions enhance management efficiency and cultural integration.

 

Who do we serve?

Gonex served 70+ clients to expand overseas. The incomes of our clients like Mengniu, Kuaishou and CHINT are up to 192.4 billion.

 

Let Gonex assist you and your company with handling such complex overseas hiring processes! To access more information on corporate international expansion cases, global employment guidelines, worldwide compensation management, regulations for various regional countries, and factory establishment manuals in different nations, you are welcome to visit the GONEX official website at www.letsgonex.com to download these resources or view our company’s business introduction in PDF format (https://letsgonex.com/in.pdf).

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