Private sector employees in the UAE get 60 days of maternity leave, about two months, under Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 on Labour Relations. Government sector employees generally get more: 90 days at the federal level and in most emirates, sometimes longer. This guide sets out maternity leave in UAE for both private and government sector employees, what happens if you or your baby is unwell, how nursing breaks work, and what fathers are entitled to under UAE labour law.
Table of Contents
- How many days of maternity leave do you get in UAE?
- What does UAE labour law say about maternity leave?
- Extended Leave for Mother or Baby Health Needs
- Nursing breaks after you return to work
- Paternity and parental leave in the UAE private sector
- Maternity and paternity leave for UAE government sector employees
- When can you apply for maternity leave?
- Key Takeaways
- Frequently Asked Questions
How many days of maternity leave do you get in the UAE?
The answer depends on whether you work in the private or government sector, and in government, which emirate employs you. Here’s a quick comparison.
| Sector | Maternity leave | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Private sector (all emirates) | 60 days, paid | Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Article 30 |
| Federal government | 90 days, fully paid | Plus paid nursing breaks for up to 6 months |
| Abu Dhabi government | 3 months, fully paid | Plus paid nursing breaks for 1 year |
| Dubai government | 90 days, up to 120 days combined with annual and unpaid leave | Can start up to 30 days before the due date |
| Sharjah government | 90 days paid + 30 days unpaid (120 days total) | Plus paid nursing breaks for 6 months |
| Ras Al Khaimah government | 90 days, paid | Nursing period extends to 1 year |
If you’re asking how many months maternity leave in the UAE comes to, private sector leave works out to roughly two months, and government sector leave to roughly three.
What does UAE labour law say about maternity leave?
Maternity leave for the private sector is set out in Article 30 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 on Labour Relations in the Private Sector, the law most people mean when they search for UAE labour law on maternity leave. A female employee is entitled to 60 days of maternity leave and can apply for it up to 30 days before her expected delivery date.
Extended Leave for Mother or Baby Health Needs
UAE labour law also covers what happens if either you or your newborn needs more time to recover.
- If you develop an illness because of the pregnancy or childbirth and can’t return to work once your maternity leave ends, you can take a further 45 days of unpaid leave, backed by a medical certificate.
- If your baby is born sick or with a disability, you’re entitled to an additional 30 days of fully paid leave, and can extend that by another 30 days unpaid, again with a medical certificate.
Nursing breaks after you return to work
Once you’re back at work, UAE labour law entitles you to one or two paid breaks a day to nurse your baby, adding up to no more than an hour combined. These breaks run for 6 months from your delivery date.
Paternity and parental leave in the UAE private sector
Fathers in the UAE private sector don’t get a separate “paternity leave” as such. Instead, both parents are entitled to 5 working days of paid parental leave, which either the mother or father can take, consecutively or in separate days, any time from the child’s birth until the child turns 6 months old. The UAE introduced this under 2020 amendments to its labour law, becoming the first Arab country to give private sector employees paid parental leave.
Maternity and paternity leave for UAE government sector employees
Government sector maternity and paternity leave rules are set separately by the federal government and by each emirate, so they vary depending on who employs you.
Federal government
- Maternity leave: 90 days, fully paid.
- Nursing breaks: 2 hours a day, paid, for up to 6 months after the birth.
- Parental leave: 5 working days, paid, for either parent, taken consecutively or separately from the birth until the child turns 6 months.
Abu Dhabi government
- Maternity leave in Abu Dhabi : 3 months, fully paid.
- Nursing breaks: 2 hours a day for the first year after the birth.
- Paternity leave: 3 days, paid.
Dubai government
- Maternity leave: 90 days from the delivery date, and you can apply up to 30 days before your due date.
- Combined with annual and unpaid leave, total leave around the birth can reach 120 days.
- Nursing breaks: 2 hours a day for 1 year, taken at the start or end of your shift (breaks pause during Ramadan).
- Paternity leave: 3 days, fully paid, to be taken within a month of the birth.
- If your baby has special needs, childcare leave can extend until the child’s first birthday.
Sharjah government
- Maternity leave: 90 days paid plus 30 days unpaid, 120 days in total.
- Nursing breaks: 2 hours a day for 6 months.
Ras Al Khaimah government
- Maternity leave: 90 days, paid.
- Nursing breaks: extend to a full year from the birth.
| Employer | Maternity leave | Nursing breaks | Paternity leave |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal government | 90 days, fully paid | 2 hrs/day for 6 months | 5 working days shared parental leave |
| Abu Dhabi government | 3 months, fully paid | 2 hrs/day for 1 year | 3 days, paid |
| Dubai government | 90 days (up to 120 combined) | 2 hrs/day for 1 year | 3 days, fully paid, within 1 month of birth |
| Sharjah government | 120 days (90 paid + 30 unpaid) | 2 hrs/day for 6 months | Not specified |
| Ras Al Khaimah government | 90 days, paid | Extends to 1 year | Not specified |
When can you apply for maternity leave in UAE?
In the private sector, you can apply for your maternity leave up to 30 days before your expected delivery date. Dubai government employees have the same 30-day window. If you’re weighing up a job move while pregnant, it’s worth understanding how UAE labour law treats probation period and limited and unlimited contracts too, since they affect your notice period and entitlements.
Extra leave for illness or a sick newborn
| Situation | Extra leave | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| The mother has an illness from the pregnancy or birth | 45 days, unpaid | Medical certificate required |
| Baby is sick or has a disability | 30 days paid, then 30 days unpaid | Medical certificate required |
Key Takeaways
Maternity leave in UAE differs by sector. Private sector employees get 60 days, paid, under Article 30 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, with extra unpaid leave if they fall ill because of the pregnancy or birth, and extra paid and unpaid leave if their baby is sick or has a disability. Both parents can also take 5 days of paid parental leave in the first 6 months. Government sector employees generally get 90 days or more, with the exact figure, nursing-break length and paternity leave set separately by the federal government and each emirate. Knowing which set of rules applies to you makes it easier to plan your leave and your return to work.
FAQs
Private sector employees get 60 days of paid maternity leave. Government sector employees typically get 90 days, sometimes more depending on the emirate.
Yes. The 60-day private sector entitlement is paid. Extra leave for a mother’s own pregnancy-related illness is unpaid, while extra leave for a sick or disabled newborn is 30 days paid followed by 30 days unpaid.
Yes, in specific circumstances. If you develop an illness from the pregnancy or childbirth, you can take a further 45 days unpaid. If your baby is sick or has a disability, you can take 30 more days paid, then another 30 unpaid, with a medical certificate in both cases.
There’s no separate paternity leave in the private sector. Instead, both parents share 5 working days of paid parental leave, usable any time from the birth until the child turns 6 months.
It depends on the employer. Federal government employees get 90 days, Abu Dhabi government employees get 3 months, Dubai government employees get 90 days (up to 120 combined with other leave), Sharjah government employees get 120 days (90 paid, 30 unpaid), and Ras Al Khaimah government employees get 90 days.
