All about maternity leave in the UAE
Expectant moms who work full-time jobs are entitled to maternity leave in the UAE. Maternity leaves may vary from one emirate to another and have different stipulations for private and public sectors. If you’re an expectant mother due in the near future, here’s everything you need to know about the maternity leaves in the UAE.
MATERNITY LEAVE IN THE UAE PUBLIC SECTOR
Women working for the federal government or the respective governments of each emirate generally get a longer maternity leave than those working in the private sector. Let’s look at the different variations of maternity leave in the UAE for public sector employees.
MATERNITY LEAVE IN THE UAE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
Maternity leave in the UAE is regulated by Article 53 of Federal Law No. 11 of 2008. According to that, permanent female employees of the UAE Federal Government can avail:
- 60-day maternity leave with full pay
- Daily 2 hours of nursing leave (fully-paid) for 4 months after the employee resumes work
The same law allows men working for the federal government, three days of paid paternity leave in the UAE on the birth of their child. The paternity leave can be availed only if:
- It is applied for in the month of delivery
- The child birth takes place in the UAE
MATERNITY LEAVE IN ABU DHABI
All pregnant employees of the Abu Dhabi government sector will receive:
- 90 days of maternity leave with full pay
- Daily 2 hours of nursing leave for one year after child birth
Men in Abu Dhabi are entitled to three days of paid paternity leave on the birth of their child.
MATERNITY LEAVE IN DUBAI
The Dubai Government Human Resources Management Law No. 27 of 2006 governs the maternity leave in Dubai. Female employees of the Dubai Government are entitled to a:
- 90-day fully-paid maternity leave
- 2-hour reduction in working hours for nursing the child for up to one year after childbirth.
There are additional considerations to the above-mentioned maternity leave policy in Dubai.
- Women can add annual leave and unpaid days to extend their 90-day maternity leave
- The extended maternity leave should not exceed 120 days in total
- Nursing hours can be availed at the start or the end of the working day
- During Ramadan, the nursing hours are reduced to an hour a day
The Dubai Government maternity leave guidelines also include separate provisions for miscarriage, stillbirth and childcare. Leaves granted in these cases vary according to different situations.
SHARJAH GOVERNMENT MATERNITY LEAVE
A local decree issued in 2016 entitles women working in government organisations of Sharjah to:
- A total of 120 days of maternity leaves that comprise paid leave of 90 days and unpaid leave of 30 days
- Two hours of nursing breaks every day for six months after the birth of their child
Unlike UAE maternity leave stipulations implemented in other emirates, Sharjah Government also allows pregnant female employees to combine their annual leaves with their maternity leaves for a longer break.
RAS AL KHAIMAH MATERNITY LEAVE POLICY
Female employees of the Ras Al Khaimah Government are entitled to:
- 90 days of paid maternity leaves
- One year of nursing period starting from the day the baby is born
MATERNITY LEAVE IN UAE FOR PRIVATE SECTOR
Women working in the UAE private sector are also entitled to maternity leaves. However, the duration of private sector maternity leaves in the UAE is different from the government sector. According to the new UAE Labour Law, pregnant women in the private sector are allowed:
- 60 days of maternity leave, divided into:
- 45-day fully paid maternity leave
- Extended 15-day half paid leave
- Additional 45-day unpaid leave allowed in case of illness of mother and/or child, given supporting documents are provided as proof.
- Additional 30-day fully-paid leave for mothers with babies born with disabilities. This can be extended to another 30 days without pay.
This maternity leave in the UAE includes time taken off before and after the delivery. In addition to the basic maternity leaves, women working in the private sector are allowed two nursing breaks every day for 18 months from the date of her delivery. Please know that:
- The nursing break should not exceed 30 minutes at a time
- The woman is entitled to full pay throughout this time duration
The UAE Labour Law also allows a paternity leave of 5 working days for men working in the private sector. Paternity leave in the UAE can be taken any time up to six months after child birth.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Women have several questions related to their rights and entitlements when it comes to maternity leave in the UAE. We have answered a few of those concerns through the frequently asked questions listed below.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR MATERNITY LEAVE?
Expectant female employees who deliver their babies any time after 6 months of pregnancy are entitled to maternity leaves.
WHEN CAN I TAKE MATERNITY LEAVES?
You can take maternity leaves any time starting from the last day of the month preceding the delivery month, till after the baby is born.
ARE WEEKENDS COUNTED AS PART OF THE MATERNITY LEAVE?
Yes. Maternity leave in the UAE ranges between 45 and 90 calendar days, which includes weekends. Had it been working days, the weekends would not have been part of it.
DOES FULL PAY MEAN GROSS SALARY?
Yes, a UAE maternity leave with full pay entitles you to your gross salary that includes both – your basic salary and the allowances you’re entitled to. In the case of half-pay, you will get half of your gross salary, allowances included.
WHEN CAN I APPLY FOR MY MATERNITY LEAVE IN THE UAE?
You can avail your maternity leave both before and after childbirth. However, if you choose to use your leaves before delivery, you may not get to spend the much-needed time with your little one after they are born.
CAN THE EMPLOYER TERMINATE ME FOR BEING PREGNANT?
No, pregnancy alone is not a reason good enough for dismissal. Recent amendments to the UAE labour law explicitly prohibit employers from dismissing or giving a termination notice to a female employee on the basis of her pregnancy or maternity leave.
With that, we wrap up this post on maternity leave in the UAE. Whether you live in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or any of the other emirates, it is important to know the laws that regulate your rights and responsibilities as a resident of UAE.
Everyone working permanent or part-time jobs in the country should be aware of Tasheel – a government-backed system that streamlines and fast-tracks the labour-related processes in the UAE. This also includes employer-employee disputes that may require third-party interventions for resolutions.
It also pays to know how to calculate gratuity in the UAE. End of service benefits can add up to a substantial amount. You should have a know-how of what you should receive and what to do if you don’t receive that.
Lastly, there were changes made to the UAE debt law, which make paying off debt easier for those riddled with it. Knowing the law can help you steer clear off tricky situations.
For more on rules and regulations applicable in the UAE, follow us on MyBayut.
