You have got a new offer on the table and the excitement is real. But before you type out that resignation letter, pause for a second, because this is where a lot of professionals in the UAE quietly make expensive mistakes.
Can you use your leftover annual leave during your notice period in the UAE? When does your notice period actually end? And when can you legally tell your new employer you are available to start?
These are not just HR technicalities. Get them wrong, and you could delay your new role, lose money you are owed, or land yourself in breach of contract.
What UAE Labour Law Actually Says About Notice Periods?
The UAE Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021) is pretty clear on this. When either side wants to end an employment contract, a notice period must be served. After the resignation notice period in the UAE, you cannot just walk out, and your employer cannot just show you the door, without consequences.
The standard notice period in the UAE starts at 30 days. Depending on your seniority and what your contract says, it could stretch to 60 or 90 days.
| Contract Type | Minimum Notice Period |
|---|---|
| Standard limited or unlimited contract | 30 days |
| Senior or managerial roles | As per contract (60 to 90 days is common) |
| Resignation during probation | 14 days written notice |
| Employer termination during probation | 14 days notice |
One thing the MOHRE notice period guidelines are firm about: neither party gets to just walk away. You either serve the notice or compensate for it.
Still in Probation? The Rules Are a Bit Different
Thinking of resigning before you have even cleared your probation? It happens more than people admit, and the rules do shift here.
If you resign from a job in Dubai during probation, the UAE labour law notice period only requires 14 days' notice. Sounds straightforward. But here is the part most people miss. If you are leaving to join another company inside the UAE rather than exiting the country, your new employer may need to cover your current employer's recruitment costs. It is not always enforced, but it is written into the law and worth knowing before you time your move.
What Happens to Your Unused Annual Leave?
Here is a question worth asking well before you hand in your notice: how many leave days have you actually built up?
If you cannot use them during your notice period, or your employer simply does not approve them, that balance does not disappear. Under UAE notice period rules, your employer is legally required to pay out any accrued unused leave as part of your final settlement.
The leave salary calculation itself is simple:
Leave salary = (Basic salary / 30) x Number of accrued leave days
| Contract Type | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Accrued leave balance | Days you have earned but not taken |
| Calculation base | Basic salary only, not allowances |
| Payment timeline | Within 14 days of your last working day |
| Governed by | MOHRE final settlement guidelines |
Before you resign, ask HR for a written breakdown of your current leave balance. Do not go in blind.
Can You Actually Use Leave During Your Notice Period?
Technically, you can request to use annual leave during your notice period. But your employer has every right to say no. There is no clause in the UAE labour law that forces them to approve it.
If they agree, your leave days run alongside your notice, which means your last working day comes sooner. If they decline, you serve the full notice, and the unused days get added to your final settlement payout instead.
The takeaway? Have this conversation with HR the same day you resign, or even before. Do not tell your new employer a start date until you know where you stand.
Making Your Next Career Move? We Are Here to Help You Land Faster
Resigning is just one part of the process. The bigger question is: how quickly can you land your next role once you are out? That is where a lot of job seekers lose time, applying to dozens of jobs with the same old CV or a LinkedIn profile that nobody notices.
We offer two services built specifically for professionals in the UAE job market who want to move fast and move smart.
1-on-1 Career Consultation Call:
Sometimes you just need to talk to someone who knows the market. Our 30-minute career consultation gives you direct access to a career consultant who will sit with you, understand your situation, and tell you exactly what you need to do next.
Here is what is covered in the session:
- Your CV gets reviewed with a focus on ATS optimization. ATS stands for Applicant Tracking System, the software most companies in the UAE now use to filter applications before a human even sees them. If your CV is not formatted correctly, it gets rejected automatically. We make sure that does not happen to you.
- Your LinkedIn profile also gets looked at. Recruiters in the UAE are actively searching LinkedIn every day. We show you what needs to change so you start showing up in searches and getting approached, not just applying.
Our CV rewriting service gives you a professionally written CV that is tailored to your target role and industry. We do not just clean up your current CV. We rebuild it from scratch in a way that speaks directly to what employers in your sector are looking for.
Here is why this matters practically:
- Most companies now scan CVs through ATS software before a recruiter reads them. Our CVs are written to pass those filters.
- Once it does get in front of a real person, it needs to stand out. We write your CV to highlight impact, not just job duties. That is the difference between a CV that gets read and one that gets set aside.
- The result? More responses, more interview requests, and a shorter gap between resigning and starting your next job.
Explore our full range of jobseeker services and find the right support for where you are in your career journey. Visit our website to see everything we offer and how we help professionals across the UAE move into their next role faster.
FAQs
What is the minimum notice period in the UAE?
For standard employment contracts, it is 30 days. During probation, it drops to 14 days.
After resignation, how is the notice period handled in the UAE?
You serve out the agreed notice period, continue receiving your full salary and benefits, and your employer processes your final settlement once your last day is complete.
What does the UAE labour law say about the resignation notice period?
The law sets a floor of 30 days and a ceiling of 90 days. Where you land within that range comes down to what your employment contract actually says.
What is the notice period during probation in the UAE?
Just 14 days. That said, if your next role is with another UAE-based company rather than abroad, there are compensation rules between employers that can come into play, so do not overlook that detail.
Can I take sick leave during my notice period?
If you are genuinely unwell and have the medical paperwork to back it up, yes. Your notice period carries on ticking whether you are in the office or at home recovering.
