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Employment Rights in the UAE: What Every Worker Must Know
End-of-service gratuity, working hours, leave entitlements, wrongful termination, and how to file a labour complaint at MOHRE.
Legal Ledger Team
6 min read
Apr 26, 2026
Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 governs private-sector employment. Key entitlements:
Gratuity
- 21 days basic pay per year for the first 5 years.
- 30 days basic pay per year thereafter.
- Limited to 2 years total pay.
Annual leave
30 calendar days after 1 year of service, paid in basic salary.
Working hours
Max 8 hours/day, 48/week. Friday is the weekly rest day (with Saturday for many employers).
Filing complaints
File on the MOHRE app within 1 year of dispute. If unresolved in 14 days, MOHRE issues a referral letter to court.
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