Labor & Employment Law in the UAE

Labor and employment work in the UAE

The firm covers UAE matters in cooperation with an announced partner office in the United Arab Emirates. That partner office is not a branch owned by the firm, and the firm does not itself hold a UAE law practice license; local licensing and representation are assessed for each matter in the Emirates. We advise on UAE employment matters: employment contracts, probation, notice and termination, end-of-service entitlements, workplace policies and the position of both employer and employee when a complaint is filed.

The UAE labor law framework

Private-sector employment in the UAE is regulated by Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 on the regulation of labour relations, amended by Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2023, with Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022 as its implementing regulation. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) is the competent ministry. Employers in some free zones can be subject to separate employment rules, so the applicable regime is confirmed first.

Labor disputes and procedure

For an individual labor dispute, the starting point is an application to MOHRE, which tries to settle it amicably. Under Article 54 of the Decree-Law, MOHRE decides the dispute itself if the claim is not more than AED 50,000, or if a party does not comply with an amicable settlement decision; otherwise the dispute is referred to the competent court. Collective labor disputes go to the Collective Labor Disputes Committee formed under Cabinet Resolution No. 46 of 2022.

Working with us

Before a dismissal or a complaint, the contract, the notice given and the payments made are lined up so the position is clear to both sides. For a dispute that is already running, see our dispute resolution practice, read the General Commercial & Corporate overview, or contact our team.

MENA coordination

The firm was founded in Kuwait in 1986 and has a branch in Cairo. It covers MENA matters in cooperation with partner offices in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman, and partner offices in Turkey and the United States. Those partner offices are not branches owned by the firm; local licensing and advice are assessed in the relevant jurisdiction.

This page is general information, not advice for a particular entity or transaction.

Frequently asked questions

Which law governs employment in the UAE private sector?

Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 on the regulation of labour relations, as amended by Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2023, with Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022 as its implementing regulation.

Where does an employee file a labor complaint in the UAE?

With the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE), which first tries an amicable settlement. It decides the dispute itself if the claim is not more than AED 50,000 or if a party does not comply with an amicable settlement decision; otherwise the matter goes to the competent court.

Does the firm have an office in the UAE?

The firm covers UAE matters in cooperation with an announced partner office in the United Arab Emirates. That partner office is not a branch owned by the firm, and the firm does not itself hold a UAE law practice license; local licensing and representation are assessed for each matter in the Emirates.

Other markets

Corporate & Commercial Law in the UAELabor & Employment Law in EgyptLabor & Employment Law in Saudi ArabiaLabor & Employment Law in QatarLabor & Employment Law in OmanLabor & Employment Law in Bahrain