Women who are expecting and who are employed full-time in the UAE are entitled to maternity leave. Public and private sector maternity leaves can vary from one emirate to another. The UAE's maternity leave policy will provide you with important information if you are an expectant mother due in the near future.
UAE public sector employees' maternity leave
In general, women employed by the federal government or a particular emirate government get longer maternity leaves than those employed by the private sector. Here are the different types of maternity leave available to employees in the public sector in the UAE.
Maternity leave for UAE Federal Government Employees
Federal Law No. 11 of 2008 governs maternity leave in the UAE under Article 53. In accordance with that, permanent female employees of the UAE Federal Government can:
1. A full-pay 60-day maternity leave
2. For 4 months after resuming work, the employee will receive 2 hours of nursing leave (full-pay).
Paternity leave: As part of the same law, men who work for the federal government are entitled to three days of paid paternity leave following the birth of their child. It is only possible to take paternity leave if:
1. It is applied for during the month of delivery
2. The child is born in the UAE
Abu Dhabi Government Maternity leave
Pregnant employees in the Abu Dhabi government sector will receive the following benefits:
1. The employee will be entitled to 90 days of paid maternity leave
2. Nursing leave of two hours per day for one year after childbirth
3. On the birth of their child, men are entitled to three days of paid paternity leave.
Dubai Government Maternity leave
The Dubai Government Human Resources Management Law No. 27 of 2006 governs the maternity leave in Dubai. Female employees of the Dubai Government are entitled to a:
Maternity leave in Dubai is governed by the Dubai Government Human Resources Management Law No. 27 of 2006. The following benefits are available to female employees of the Dubai Government:
1. Maternity leave of 90 days with full pay
2. For up to one year after childbirth, you will receive a 2-hour reduction in your working hours for nursing the child.
It is important to note that Dubai's maternity leave policy takes into account additional factors.
-It is possible for women to extend their 90-day maternity leave by adding annual leave and unpaid days.
-Maternity leave should not exceed 120 days
-You can obtain nursing hours at the beginning or end of your working day
-Nursing hours are reduced to an hour during Ramadan
A separate provision for miscarriage, stillbirth, and childcare is included in the Dubai Government's maternity leave guidelines. Depending on the situation, different types of leaves may be granted.
Sharjah Government Maternity leave
According to a Sharjah local decree issued in 2016, women working in government organizations are entitled to:
1. 120 days of maternity leave which include 90 days of paid leave and 30 days of unpaid leave
2. After the birth of their child, they must take two hours of nursing breaks every day for six months
Additionally, Sharjah Government allows pregnant female employees to combine their annual leave with their maternity leave for a longer break, unlike some other emirates.
Ras Al Khaimah Government Maternity leave
There are several benefits available to female employees of the Ras Al Khaimah Government:
1. Paid maternity leave of 90 days
2. A one-year nursing period following a baby's birth
Maternity leave for UAE Private Sector Employees
There is also maternity leave available to women working in the private sector of the UAE. Although the maternity leave duration in the private sector is different from that in the government sector, the new UAE Labour Law provides pregnant women with the following benefits:
1. Maternity leave of 60 days, divided as follows:
-A 45-day paid maternity leave
-Extended 15-day half-pay leave
2. An additional 45 days of unpaid leave may be taken if a mother or child becomes ill, if supporting documents are provided as evidence.
3. For mothers of children born with disabilities, an additional 30 days of fully paid leave is available. A further 30 days can be granted without pay.
4. It includes time taken off before and after the delivery. As well as basic maternity leaves, women who work in the private sector are entitled to two nursing breaks daily for 18 months following their delivery. Here are some things you should know:
-Nursing breaks should not exceed 30 minutes
-During this time, the woman is entitled to full pay
5. Men working in the private sector are also entitled to five working days of paternity leave under UAE Labour Law. In the UAE, paternity leave can be taken up to six months after the birth of a child.
UAE maternity leave: Things you need to know:
When it comes to maternity leave in the UAE, women have several questions about their rights and entitlements. Women usually think about the following points:
Eligibility for maternity leave in UAE: Women who deliver their babies after 6 months of pregnancy are entitled to maternity leave.
When women can apply for maternity leave in UAE: It's possible to take maternity leave from the last day of the month preceding the delivery month, until the baby is born.
Maternity leave can be taken before and after childbirth. You may not have the opportunity to spend time with your newborn after birth if you use your leave before delivery.
Maternity leave includes weekends: There are 45 to 90 calendar days of maternity leave in the UAE, including weekends. Weekends would not have been included if it had been working days.
Full-pay leave is calculated on your gross salary: UAE maternity leave with full pay entitles you to your gross salary, which includes both your basic salary and allowances. Half-pay involves receiving half of your gross salary, allowances included.
Pregnancy cannot cause an employer to terminate you: Pregnancy alone is not a sufficient reason to terminate you. A recent amendment to UAE labour law explicitly prohibits employers from terminating or dismissing female employees for pregnancy or maternity leave.
The subject of maternity leave in the UAE comes to an end with this post. It is important that you know the UAE laws that govern your rights and responsibilities, whether you live in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or any other emirate.
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