Dubai: Received a notice of termination while you’re on leave? If so, you may be wondering what your rights are under the UAE Labour Law.

The UAE’s Labour Law, Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, covers this specific case in Article 35 – ‘Validity of Notice Period in case of Termination of the Contract during the Leave’. As per the Article, if the employer or the employee wish to end a work contract while the worker is on leave, the notice period will begin one day after the worker is scheduled to return from the leave.

The Article states: “If either party to the employment contract wishes to terminate the contract in accordance with the provisions of this Decree-Law and its Implementing Regulation, while the worker is on the leave, the validity of the notice period agreed upon in the employment contract shall not begin, except from the day following the day scheduled for the worker’s return from the leave, unless both parties agree otherwise.”

How long can the notice period be?

The notice period can be anywhere between a minimum of 30 days to a maximum of 90 days, as per Article 43 (1) of the UAE Labour Law. However, the exact notice period you are required to serve would be mentioned clearly in your work contract.

The Article clearly states that the worker is required to perform his or her official duties during this period, but under Article 43(2), the parties can mutually agree on an earlier termination date provided the employee still receives all their entitlements during the notice period.

During your notice period, you are also entitled to certain rights like receiving all your dues and end of service benefits, if your service has been longer than a year, as well as day off every week, to take job interviews, if the contract was terminated by your employer. For a complete guide on your rights during your notice period, read our detailed guide here.

Also read: Can you take sick leave during your notice period? What the UAE Labour Law says.

There are also certain documents you should ensure you have copies of, before you leave your current job, like an experience certificate and your work permit cancellation.