United Arab Emirates: Employee Benefits & Compensation

Employing GCC nationals across the Gulf can create specific pension and social insurance obligations that are often misunderstood by employers. Across the GCC, there are approximately 24,500 GCC nationals employed in the private sector of another GCC member state. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE) alone, GCC nationals in the private sector has increased by over 3,000% since 2007.

The rules governing salary payment in the UAE private sector have changed. Ministerial Resolution No. 340 of 2026, issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization (MOHRE) and in force from 1 June 2026...

A Dubai Court of Cassation ruling confirms that UAE employers cannot escape labour law obligations simply because formal MOHRE employment contracts were never executed. In a dispute involving AED 688,000 in claims, the court held that employment relationships may be proven through all legally recognised evidence, and that regulatory non-compliance by employers does not eliminate employee rights under UAE labour law.

The UAE leads the GCC region with its robust framework of employee leave entitlements, provided for under Articles 28 to 32 of the UAE Federal Labour Law (Decree Law No. 33 of 2021) and it's 2022 Executive Regulations, which govern the labour rights of employees in the private sector.

End of Service Gratuity is one of the most important statutory rights under UAE Labour Law, yet it is often misunderstood in practice.

The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Employment Law No. 2 of 2019 ("DIFC Employment Law" or "the Law"), as consolidated and amended up to July 2025...

The relationship between employers and employees in the UAE is governed by a variety of laws and regulatory authorities, which differ based on the employer's jurisdiction and the employee's classification.

Dubai: In the UAE, workers have the right to switch jobs as long as they follow the regulations outlined in the country's Labour Law. A current employer cannot prevent...

The Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) has recently issued the Employment Regulations 2024 ("2024 Regulations"), which will come into force on April 1, 2025.