The UAE labour law is pretty straightforward when it comes to paternity leave. This law states that expectant fathers are entitled to five days of paid parental leave after the birth of their child. You can either take this leave continuously, or you can use it intermittently within the six months from the date of birth of the child.
The UAE Labour Law 2026 uses the term parental leave instead of paternity leave when laying down the rules for the employees. The purpose of this terminology is to highlight that this leave entitlement is for both the mother and the father who are about to become parents.
If you are an expecting father with a full-time job and you want to know how paternity leave works in the UAE this blog is all you need. This article covers every major rule or law that governs this specific leave in the region to help you plan this exciting period of your life better.
- What Is Paternity Leave in the UAE?
- How Many Days of Paternity Leave Are Available in 2026?
- Paternity Leave Rules in the UAE According to Labour Laws 2026
What Is Paternity Leave in the UAE?
Paternity leave refers to a mandatory time-off that an employer must give to an employee who is about to have a child. In the UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 for the Regulation of Labour Relations, as amended, specifically Article 32(1)(b) establishes rules for paternity leave in the region.
This law states that every employee is entitled to 5 working days of paid parental leave following the birth of their child. This law doesn’t specify this leave for fathers only. Instead, it establishes that this leave entitlement is available to both the father and the mother of the newborn.
It is important to note that paternity or parental leave does not come under the annual leave policy in the UAE. Instead, it is a separate statutory leave entitlement that new parents can use after the birth of a child.
How Many Days of Paternity Leave Are Available in 2026?
The statutory paternity leave entitlement for fathers in the UAE is 5 working days. Bear in mind that this entitlement doesn’t include calendar days. This means employees can enjoy extra holidays if the birth of a child falls around public holidays or the weekends.
It is also important to remember that parents can use this leave any time from the birth of their child to the first six months after the birth.
Paternity Leave Rules in the UAE According to Labour Laws 2026
Here are some common questions that most new fathers ask about paternity leave rules or regulations in the UAE.
Who is Covered by the UAE Paternity Labour Laws?
The Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 in the UAE mainly deals with employment regulations in the private sector. However, the paternity law generally applies to both nationals and expats who are about to become parents.
You also need to keep in mind that this law doesn’t cover every category of workers in the region.
This law doesn’t apply to:
- Federal or local government employees
- Security, armed forces, or police officials
- Employees who work in certain financial free zones with independent regulations
As an employee, you need to understand your own employment framework before you can apply for five-day parental leave in the UAE.
Is the Parental Leave Paid?
Every employee who is covered by UAE employment laws and regulations gets the five-day parental leave with full pay. Article 32 of the law expressly describes parental leave as paid leave.
And not just that, but the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization (MOHRE) also lists this leave among the paid leave entitlements available under the Labour Law 2026.
This means employers cannot deduct this leave from the annual leave balance of their employees. On the other hand, employers may of course provide more generous benefits as per their own company policy, provided these benefits comply with the applicable employment laws.
When can Fathers Take Paternity Leave?
As a father of a newborn in the UAE, you can utilize your five-day paternity leave from the day your child is born to the first six months as per your convenience or needs. The legislation expressly states that parents can take this leave either continuously or intermittently.
This flexibility allows parents to better manage their time between work and home while they adjust to this new lifestyle.
When applying for this leave, however, employees still have to adhere to the internal leave request procedures set forth by the company’s HR and recruitment services in Dubai. You need to make sure your company’s HR or leave management system records the split leave arrangement properly to avoid conflicts.
Paternity Leave Laws for Government Employees
Individuals who serve in government institutions in the UAE are subject to different regulations when it comes to paternity leave. The leave for federal government employees is governed by the Federal Decree-Law No. 49 of 2022 on Human Resources Law.
This law also makes employees entitled to five working days of fully paid paternity leave. These employees can either take these leaves consecutively or within the six months after the child’s birth.
The rules can vary in different Emirates for government officials. Abu Dhabi, for example, makes you entitled to three days of paternity leave. Dubai government, on the other hand, also offers 3 days of paternity leave that you can take within 30 days of the birth of the child.
This is why, as a government employee, you need to look into specific emirate-based paternity leave regulations to know how much leave you get.
Paternity Leave Laws for Employees in UAE Free Zones
The paternity leave for employees who work in free zones is subject to regulations of the relevant free-zone authorities as well as the federal labor law. There are some financial free zones such as DIFC and ADGM that have their own independent employment frameworks and thus different paternity leave rules.
So if you work in a specific free zone it is not right to assume that the federal or private-sector provisions are applicable to you when it comes to paternity leave.
Does the Law Apply to Expats?
Nationality plays no role in the paternity leave decision for employees who work in the private or public sector. The labour law of the UAE expressly states that all the provisions apply to both Emirati and non-Emirati workers, or expats.
This is why eligible expatriate employees can avail of a paid statutory parental leave of five days, just like UAE nationals. However, if the expats work for government entities or free-zone entities, they need to look at their own employment framework or HR policies and procedures in the UAE to get a better idea about the paternity leave entitlements.
Conclusion
The UAE Labour Law 2026 makes every private sector employee eligible for a paid five-day paternity leave after the birth of their child. This leave is available to both the father and the mother, who can use it either consecutively or split it into different days as per their convenience.
It is important to keep in mind that the Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 addresses paternity leave for private sector employees specifically. Workers who are associated with government entities or financial free zones must consider separate federal or free-zone legislation to understand their paternity leave entitlements.
Furthermore, every employee must look into their company’s HR or leave procedures to make sure they apply for the paternity leave through proper channels. This can make it easier for you to navigate your paternity leave approval in a way that doesn’t result in conflicts down the line.
Get in touch with our experts at HRSG right now to learn all there is to know about UAE labour laws for paternity leave. Our dedicated teams also offer the best recruitment, HR, accounting, and other people management solutions for businesses of all sizes in the UAE and beyond.
