UAE FNC approves draft law on combating communicable diseases
Employers should prevent employees with communicable diseases from attending work and they are entitled to salary during this period: Draft law
The UAE Federal National Council (FNC) approved amendments to a draft federal law on combating communicable diseases on Wednesday. The amendments include a provision requiring employers to prevent an employee who is infected with a communicable disease, suspected of having one, or identified as being in contact with someone affected during an epidemic or pandemic, from attending the workplace if their presence is likely to endanger the health of others. This period of absence will not be deducted from the leave entitlements prescribed by law, and the employee or worker will continue to receive their wage or gross salary, based on a certificate issued by the competent health authority.
The amendments were approved during a session held on Wednesday in the presence of the Minister of Health and Prevention, Ahmed bin Ali Al Sayegh. The draft law was tabled last March at the Federal National Council, in accordance with the Council of Ministers.
The Council said that the President of the Federal National Council referred the additions and amendments to the draft law to the Health and Environmental Affairs Committee for study and the preparation of a report to be submitted to the Council. Following this, the committee held a meeting on July 6, 2026, during which it reviewed the proposed additions and amendments and discussed their justifications in terms of addressing matters that may be required by the conditions of implementing the law and its provisions. Following its review, the committee approved the additions and amendments as introduced.