Maternity and paternity leave in the UAE, explained
Your rights to maternal and paternal leave in the UAE.
WIRED Middle East/Sarah Sobier
Parenthood albeit fulfilling is definitely demanding and a complete shift to one’s life and routine. It may even be a lot more challenging for working mothers and fathers who have to multi-task and balance the new realm of motherhood and fatherhood with work responsibilities. The government has instilled comprehensive policies for maternity leave in the UAE to aid employees during this challenging period.
Maternity leave UAE labor law
The standard maternity leave for female employees is 60 days in the UAE. According to the UAE government portal, the 60 days include 45 fully paid days along with 15 half-paid days. Expecting mothers can utilize the maternity leave 30 days prior to the expected delivery date. Along with the given 60 days an extra 45 days of unpaid leave can also be used in case of any birth-related medical emergencies. However, this additional period will require a medical report that is approved by officials.
Although the 60-day is a standard, it is not set in stone. Some private sector companies often have guidelines that are specific to their companies. Most recently, Emirates Airlines announced that it would be extending its paid maternity leave from 60 days to 90 days. Along with the additional month the company is set to increase the duration of the breastfeeding break from an hour to 2 hours for all new mothers.
Paternity leave
In August 2020, The UAE was the first Arab country in the region to instill a 5-day paternal leave. While this is the standard under UAE labor laws several companies in the country are now extending the period to provide more flexibility for new fathers.
Emirates Airlines has also doubled the paternity leave period from the previous 5 days to a revised period of 10 days. Additionally, in April 2024, the luxury retailer and distributor Chalhoub announced that it would extend its paternity leave from 14 days to 30 days in all 8 countries (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, India) it operates in. Compared to other companies in the region, this policy has garnered the company a place in the top 10 percent of organizations for parental leave benefits. Along with the extra days, Chalhoub enlists other perks including remote working hours, a flexible schedule along with employee assistance resources that encompass counseling services, therapy resources, and mental health support.
Maternity and paternity leaves in the Middle East
In other Middle Eastern countries maternity leave is of a similar duration like 70 days in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Lebanon, 90 days in Egypt, and the lowest being Qatar with 50 days. For paternity leave, most countries have a 3 – 5 day period according to the labor laws of each country. With changing timelines and guidelines it might be hard to keep up with news regarding maternity and paternity leave in the country you reside in, therefore it’s important to check with your own company and its policies to plan accordingly.
Even if a contract does not explicitly state guidelines referring to maternity leave under the UAE labor code female employees are legally obliged to this and have a right to claim the time off.
