The UAE provides 5 days of paid parental leave to both mothers and fathers following the birth of a child — a right established under the Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 regulating Labour Relations. This leave is in addition to the mother’s maternity leave and applies across the private sector, DIFC, and ADGM.
This guide covers UAE parental leave in 2026: the 5-day entitlement, maternity leave for mothers, employer obligations, and the interaction between the Federal Labour Law and the DIFC/ADGM employment regimes.
Key takeaways
- Both mothers and fathers are entitled to 5 working days of paid parental leave within 6 months of the child’s birth, under article 32 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021.
- The leave is paid at the employee’s normal salary and is funded entirely by the employer.
- Mothers are also entitled to 60 days of maternity leave — 45 days fully paid + 15 days at half pay.
- Parental leave can be taken within 6 months of the child’s birth — it cannot be deferred beyond that window.
- The leave applies to all private sector employees regardless of gender, nationality, or tenure.
Parental leave under the Federal Labour Law
The 5-day parental leave was introduced by Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, which replaced the previous Federal Labour Law No. 8 of 1980. It applies to all private sector employees in the UAE.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Duration | 5 working days |
| Pay | Full salary, paid by employer |
| Eligibility | All private sector employees (regardless of gender) |
| Timing | Within 6 months of the child’s birth |
| Proof required | Birth certificate or official documentation |
| Notice | As soon as reasonably practicable |
The leave is a one-time entitlement per birth — it does not reset for subsequent children, but rather applies once per birth event. An employee who has a second child within 6 months of the first does not get 10 days — they get 5 days for each birth, taken within the applicable window.
Example: An employee’s child is born on Monday, 14 July. The employee takes 5 working days of parental leave from 14–18 July, returning to work on Monday, 21 July. The leave must be used within 6 months — by 14 January 2027 at the latest.
Maternity leave for mothers
In addition to the 5-day parental leave, mothers in the UAE are entitled to 60 days of maternity leave under article 30 of the Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Duration | 60 days |
| Pay (first 45 days) | Full salary |
| Pay (days 46–60) | Half salary |
| Timing | Starts 30 days before expected delivery |
| Extension | 30 additional days (unpaid) for medical reasons |
The maternity leave is in addition to the 5-day parental leave — both parents can take the parental leave, and the mother additionally takes the 60-day maternity leave.
Example of a mother’s total leave:
- 60 days of maternity leave (45 days full pay + 15 days half pay)
- 5 days of parental leave (full pay)
- Total: 65 days of paid leave
The father’s entitlement is the 5-day parental leave only.
DIFC and ADGM specific provisions
The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) have their own employment laws that apply within their respective free zones:
DIFC
The DIFC Employment Law No. 2 of 2019 provides:
- Parental leave: 5 working days (same as federal law)
- Maternity leave: 65 working days (longer than the federal 60 days), fully paid for the first 33 working days, half pay for the remaining 32
ADGM
The ADGM Employment Regulations 2019 provide:
- Parental leave: 5 working days (same as federal law)
- Maternity leave: 65 working days, fully paid for the first 33 working days, half pay for the remaining 32
The DIFC and ADGM provisions are broadly aligned with the federal law on parental leave but differ on maternity leave duration and pay.
Employer obligations
UAE employers have specific obligations under the Federal Labour Law and free zone regulations:
- Grant parental leave. Provide 5 working days of paid leave to both mothers and fathers following the birth of a child. Refusal is a violation of the Federal Decree-Law.
- Pay full salary. The employer must pay the employee’s normal salary during parental leave. No reimbursement is available.
- No termination. Employers cannot terminate an employee for taking or requesting parental leave. The labour contract continues during the leave period.
- Process maternity leave correctly. For mothers, ensure the 60-day maternity leave is granted with the correct pay split (45 days full pay + 15 days half pay).
- Maintain records. Employers must maintain leave records and make them available for inspection by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE).
Common employer pitfalls
1. Requiring the leave to be taken immediately
The employee has up to 6 months from the child’s birth to take the 5 days. Employers cannot force the leave to be taken on specific days or require it to be taken consecutively — though consecutive days are the norm.
2. Confusing parental leave with maternity leave
These are separate entitlements. A mother is entitled to both the 60-day maternity leave and the 5-day parental leave. A father is entitled to the 5-day parental leave only.
3. Denying leave to fathers
The parental leave is explicitly available to both parents. Denying it to fathers — or discouraging them from taking it — is a violation of the Federal Decree-Law.
4. Not processing the maternity leave pay correctly
The 45-day/15-day split is a statutory requirement. Paying full salary for the entire 60 days, while generous, is not the legal standard — and paying only half for the full 60 days is a breach.
5. Ignoring DIFC/ADGM specific rules
Employers operating in DIFC or ADGM must apply the free zone employment law, not just the federal law. The maternity leave provisions differ.
Putting it into practice
Five steps keep UAE parental leave compliant:
- Confirm the employee’s eligibility and advise them of the 5-day parental leave entitlement — including the 6-month window.
- Process the mother’s 60-day maternity leave with the correct pay split (45 days full pay + 15 days half pay).
- Track the 6-month window for parental leave to ensure employees do not lose the entitlement.
- Apply DIFC or ADGM-specific rules for employees in those free zones.
- Maintain leave records and make them available for MOHRE inspection.
Leave Balance tracks parental leave, maternity leave, and free zone-specific entitlements for UAE teams — with automatic window tracking and MOHRE-compliant record keeping. Built for UAE employment law, designed for teams that want to stay compliant without the paperwork burden.
Sources
- Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 — Labour Relations (primary source)
- DIFC Employment Law No. 2 of 2019
- ADGM Employment Regulations 2019
- Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE)
Last updated: 26 July 2026. This article is general guidance, not legal advice. UAE labour law and free zone regulations change — confirm current entitlements with MOHRE and the applicable free zone authority.