Notice Period in the UAE: What the Labour Law Says About Resigning, Probation and Visa Changes

Short answer: Under UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, the notice period in your employment contract must be at least 30 days and no more than 90 days. During probation the rules are different: your employer must give you 14 days' notice, and you must give 30 days if you are moving to another UAE employer or 14 days if you are leaving the country. If either side skips the notice, they normally owe the other side the wage for the notice period.

This guide covers the mainland UAE Labour Law. If you work in a free zone with its own employment law, such as DIFC or ADGM, check those rules and your contract, because some details differ.

This is practical career guidance, not legal advice. For your own situation, read your contract and check with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) or a qualified lawyer.

The basic rule: 30 to 90 days

Article 43 of the Labour Law lets either you or your employer end an employment contract for a legitimate reason, as long as written notice is given. The notice period is whatever your contract says, within these limits:

Point	What the law says
Minimum notice	30 days
Maximum notice	90 days
Form	Written notice
During the notice period	The contract stays in force and you keep receiving your full wage
Waiving notice	Both sides can agree to shorten or waive it

If your employer is the one giving notice, Article 43 also lets you take one unpaid working day each week of the notice period to look for a new job. You need to tell your employer at least three days before.

The most common contract terms in the UAE are 30, 60 or 90 days. Senior roles often sit at the longer end. Your contract is the first place to look, because the number that applies to you is the one written there.

Notice during probation

Probation in the UAE can last up to six months. Article 9 sets separate notice rules for this period.

Situation	Notice required
Employer ends your contract during probation	At least 14 days
You leave to join another employer in the UAE	At least 30 days
You leave the UAE altogether	At least 14 days

There is one extra detail worth knowing. If you resign during probation to join another UAE employer, the law says the new employer compensates your current employer for recruitment costs, unless you agreed otherwise. And if you leave the country during probation and then come back on a new work permit within three months, the same compensation rule can apply. In practice, many offers sort this out in the negotiation, so ask your new employer early.

Can you leave without serving your notice?

Yes, but it usually costs money. Under Article 43, if one side ends the contract without giving the required notice, it pays the other side compensation equal to your wage for the full notice period, or for the part that was not served.

That leads to three common outcomes:

1. You serve the full notice. The cleanest option, and the one most employers expect.
2. You agree to shorten it. Both sides can agree in writing to a shorter notice. This is very common when a new employer wants you to start quickly.
3. You buy out the notice. You pay the equivalent of the unserved notice wage, often deducted from your final settlement.

Some employers also choose to pay you in lieu of notice and ask you to stop working straight away. That is their decision, and you still receive the wage for the notice period.

Pay, leave and gratuity during notice

A few things trip people up when they resign:

• Your wage continues. You are paid in full for the notice period you work.
• Annual leave. Unused leave is normally paid out in your final settlement. Whether you can use leave to cover part of your notice depends on your employer's agreement, so ask in writing.
• End of service gratuity. If you have completed at least one year of continuous service, you are entitled to gratuity. The law sets it at 21 days of basic wage for each of the first five years and 30 days of basic wage for each year after that, capped at two years of total wage. Your notice period counts as service.
• Final settlement timing. The law requires your employer to pay your dues within 14 days of the contract ending.

Visa cancellation and moving to a new job

For most expats, the job change is tied to the residence visa. A typical sequence looks like this:

1. You hand in written resignation and agree your last working day.
2. You serve the notice, or agree a shorter one.
3. Your current employer cancels your work permit and residence visa, usually near your last day.
4. You enter a grace period to change status or leave the country. The length depends on your visa type, so confirm it with the authorities before you plan dates.
5. Your new employer applies for your new work permit and visa.

Timing matters. If you resign before you have a signed offer, you could end up in the grace period without a job lined up. Most people in the UAE resign after signing the new offer, then negotiate the start date around their notice.

How to show your notice period on your UAE CV

Recruiters in the UAE often filter candidates by availability. A role marked "immediate joiner" can move fast, and a missing notice period means a recruiter has to guess. Put it in your header or personal details, in plain text:

• Notice period: 30 days
• Serving notice: available from 15 January 2027
• Immediate joiner

If your contract says 90 days but your employer usually agrees to shorter notice, you can write Notice period: 90 days (negotiable). Be honest here, because it will come up in the first recruiter call.

You can follow the full header layout, including visa status and nationality, in our UAE CV format guide.

Before you resign: update your CV first

The weeks before a resignation are the best time to get your CV ready. You still have access to your current projects, numbers and colleagues, and you can apply with a clear availability date.

A quick checklist:

1. Add your latest role, scope and two or three results with numbers.
2. State your notice period and visa status clearly.
3. Keep the layout single column and text based so it parses cleanly.
4. Update your LinkedIn headline and "Open to work" settings to match.

Scan your CV with the free ATS resume checker to see how it reads before you send it out, then browse live UAE jobs that match your field.

FAQ

What is the notice period in the UAE?

Under Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, the notice period must be between 30 and 90 days. The exact number is set in your employment contract.

What is the notice period during probation in the UAE?

Your employer must give at least 14 days' notice. You must give at least 30 days if you are joining another UAE employer, or 14 days if you are leaving the UAE.

Can my employer refuse my resignation?

Your employer cannot force you to stay beyond your notice period, as long as you give proper written notice under your contract. They can ask you to serve the full notice.

Can I leave the UAE without serving my notice period?

You can, but you would normally owe compensation equal to your wage for the unserved notice, and it can affect your final settlement. Agreeing a shorter notice in writing is the safer route.

Is notice pay included in gratuity?

No. Notice pay and gratuity are separate. Notice pay covers the notice period itself, while gratuity is based on your total years of service and basic wage.

Should I put my notice period on my CV?

Yes. UAE recruiters regularly filter by availability, so a clear line such as "Notice period: 30 days" or "Immediate joiner" helps you get shortlisted faster.