The guidelines for maternity leave in the UAE differ for private or federal government entities. However, in most cases, female workers in the region get at least a 60-day maternity leave. Out of these leaves, about 45 days are fully paid, while 15 days are at half pay.
The UAE Labor Law 2026 also establishes clear guidelines for additional leave in case of medical emergencies after childbirth. This law also imposes certain obligations that every employer has to fulfil when it comes to maternity leave.
For employers or HR services in Dubai who need to plan or approve maternity leave, it is extremely important to know the duration, pay rules, and other important responsibilities they have towards expecting employees. This is the only way to make sure there are no violations of the local labor laws when it comes to maternity leave policies in your organization.
- What Is the UAE Maternity Leave Law in 2026?
- Additional 45 Days of Unpaid Leave for Pregnancy or Childbirth-Related Illness
- Protection Against Termination Because of Pregnancy or Maternity Leave
- Breastfeeding Breaks After Maternity Leave
- How Much Is Maternity Leave Pay in the UAE?
- Is There a Minimum Service Requirement for Maternity Leave?
- Employer Obligations for Maternity Leave in the UAE
What Is the UAE Maternity Leave Law in 2026?
The main law that governs maternity leave in the UAE is the Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labor Relations. This law states that private sector female employees get 60 days of statutory maternity leave where 45 days are with full pay and 12 days are with half pay. Women can start this leave up to 30 days before the date of delivery.
This law mainly applies to private sector employees. However it is subject to exclusions and special regimes that the law specifies.
Female employees who work at permanent positions in the federal government get 90 days of maternity leave with full pay. One key thing to remember is that this entitlement does not depend on the completion of a certain service duration. And not just that even employees who are on probation can also get maternity leave as per MOHRE’s guidelines.
This law also states that every employer has the obligation to grant the leave upon request that is supported by a medical certificate. It is also worth noting that the Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 generally governs the private sector. This law doesn’t regulate maternity leave for federal or local government employees.
UAE employment laws and regulations for federal government employees state that female workers in this sector get 90 days of fully paid maternity leave entitlement.
The guidelines for maternity leave are also different for employees in free zones. Businesses in these zones follow their own maternity leave policies. This is why as a business you need to consider your type and jurisdiction to ensure better maternity leave management for your employees.
Additional 45 Days of Unpaid Leave for Pregnancy or Childbirth-Related Illness
For private sector employees, maternity leave is not limited to 60 days. New mothers can also get an additional 45 days of unpaid leave either continuously or intermittently in case of complications after the pregnancy that interfere with their ability to work.
To apply for this leave you simply have to present a medical certificate to the employer as per HR policies and procedures in the UAE. The law also specifies that this additional 45 days of leave is not a part of the service period, retirement-contribution, or end of service benefit calculations.
This is why your leave management system or personnel who handle strategic HR consulting solutions should not treat every leave request after the maternity leave as ordinary leave, annual leave, or unauthorized absence, especially when the employee follows all statutory conditions and presents you with verified medical documents.
Maternity law of the UAE also makes you entitled to 30 days of paid leave and another 30 days of unpaid leave if you give birth to a baby who is sick or suffers from disabilities and needs constant attention.
Understanding these provisions can help you better plan your employee’s return-to-work dates. This results not only in better HR planning but also prevents unintentional labor law violations.
Protection Against Termination Because of Pregnancy or Maternity Leave
Every employer in the UAE has an obligation to offer protection against termination in case of pregnancy-related absences under Article 30. Employers do not have the authority to fire an employee on the sole basis of their maternity leave of absence after the approval of leave. They are also not allowed to issue a termination notice when the employee is on paid maternity leave.
This provision aims to give employees who qualify for maternity leaves a specific statutory protection against wrongful termination at this important time of their life.
Breastfeeding Breaks After Maternity Leave
UAE’s laws also support new mothers after their maternity leave. New mothers are allowed one or two breastfeeding breaks each day for up to 6 months from the date of delivery.
The duration of these nursing breaks should not be more than one hour per day. Employers are also not allowed to deduct the pay of the employees for these breaks. This statutory workplace accommodation for breastfeeding after maternity leave ensures both the mother and the newborn are able to get the care they need at this important time.
How Much Is Maternity Leave Pay in the UAE?
Employees in the private sector of the UAE are entitled to a maternity leave of 45 days with full pay. For the next 15 days the organization they work for has to pay them half of their wage.
One key thing here is that the law specifically uses the term wage instead of basic salary or pay. This distinction is crucial. The wage in the UAE labor laws refers to basic salary plus applicable cash allowances and benefits in kind allocated to the employee as per the employment contract. Basic wage or salary on the other hand excludes the additional benefits.
This means when calculating payment for these types of leaves in the UAE, employers have to take both the basic salary along with additional cash or benefits into account. This is possible if you review the contractual composition of the employee’s wage when you do these calculations.
Is There a Minimum Service Requirement for Maternity Leave?
There is no minimum service period requirement for employees to become eligible for maternity leave in the private sector in the UAE as per the Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021. This means employees who have just become part of a private company or are on a probation period are still eligible for a maternity leave of 60 days. Moreover, this law also applies to both local and expat female workers with less than one year of service.
Employer Obligations for Maternity Leave in the UAE
As an employer, you need to have a clear idea about your obligations when it comes to granting maternity leave to eligible employees. This is a must for streamlining your HR processes and showing compliance with the labor laws in the UAE.
Here are some key things you need to pay attention to.
- Grant the Statutory Maternity Leave
It is your main obligation to grant every eligible employee a 60-day maternity leave if they apply through the proper channels and follow your internal HR guidelines to the letter under Article 30 of the Federal Decree.
- Apply the Correct Pay Structure
When calculating pay you need to apply an accurate pay structure. This means you are not allowed to cut any pay for the first 45 days of the maternity leave. For the next 15 days you must ensure the employee gets half of their wage for this time. You also need to ensure you add both the basic salary and additional benefits to the maternity leave pay calculation.
- Protect the Employee from Pregnancy-Based Termination
It is also your obligation to safeguard the job of the employee while they are on maternity leave. You need to refrain from hiring new staff in their place or giving them a notice of termination while the leave continues.
- Process Additional Medical Leave Correctly
Employers also have to recognize or grant additional unpaid leave if the employee presents them with medical evidence that indicates health complications or child health issues after the delivery.
- Provide Breastfeeding Breaks
Once the employee is back to work, it is also your obligation as an employer to grant them one or two statutory one hour paid breaks to breastfeed their newborn.
- Maintain Accurate HR and Payroll Records
And finally it is your obligation to keep an accurate and updated record of maternity leaves and the salary calculations for these leaves. Make sure to keep the medical certificates and other relevant documentation safe both in physical and digital formats.
You also need to record the exact delivery date, paid/unpaid leaves, and return-to-work dates to make sure there are no confusion about the statutory leave entitlements.
Conclusion
As per the UAE’s 2026 maternity leave framework every female employee is eligible for a statutory 60 days of maternity leave. Employees are entitled to 45 days of leave with full pay and 15 days of leave with half pay. Apart from these 60 days employees can also get an additional 30 days of paid and 30 days of unpaid leave if the pregnancy results in complications for the mother or the child.
Apart from this the law also has provisions that prevent employers from terminating employees who are on maternity leave. Employers also have to grant breaks for breastfeeding to new mothers for up to 6 months and pay attention to accurate documentation and payroll calculations for this duration. This ensures expecting mothers receive all the support they need in this important time to take care of themselves and of the newborn while also retaining their professional status in the UAE’s competitive business market.
Visit our website, HRSG, today to get useful insights into maternity leave policies in the UAE from our experts in the industry. We also specialize in human resources, accounting, bookkeeping, staff augmentation, and integrated facility management services for businesses of all sizes and types.
