Notice Period in UAE: Calculator and Rules
Your notice period in the UAE depends on whether you have passed probation, who is ending the contract and, in probation, where you are going next. Enter your details to see how long your notice is, your last day, and the pay in lieu of notice if it is not worked. Every rule comes from Federal Decree-Law 33 of 2021.
The law allows 30 to 90 days.
Basic plus allowances: the law uses your full wage here.
Leave at 0 if notice is not being worked at all.
What is a notice period?
A notice period is the time between telling the other side in writing that the employment contract will end and the day it actually ends. In the UAE the contract stays in force during the notice, you are paid your full wage, and you keep working if your employer asks. If the notice is not given or not worked, the side at fault pays the other a notice period allowance instead.
| Situation | Minimum notice | Law |
|---|---|---|
| After probation, either side | As in the contract: 30 to 90 days | Art. 43(1) |
| Probation, employer ends it | 14 days | Art. 9(1) |
| Probation, you join another UAE employer | 1 month | Art. 9(3) |
| Probation, you leave the UAE | 14 days | Art. 9(4) |
Worked examples
All for a monthly wage of AED 12,000 (basic plus allowances), with notice given on 1 November 2026. The calculator above gives the same figures.
| Case | Notice | Pay in lieu |
|---|---|---|
| Confirmed, 30-day contract notice | 30 days | AED 12,000.00 |
| Confirmed, 90-day contract notice | 90 days | AED 36,000.00 |
| Confirmed, 60 days, 45 already worked | 60 days | AED 6,000.00 |
| Probation, resigning to join a UAE employer | 1 month | AED 12,000.00 |
| Probation, resigning to leave the UAE | 14 days | AED 5,600.00 (est.) |
| Probation, employer ends the contract | 14 days | AED 5,600.00 (est.) |
Pay in lieu = monthly wage / 30 x notice days not worked. For 30, 60 and 90 days that is exactly 1, 2 and 3 months' wage. The law gives no daily divisor for 14-day notice, so those rows are estimates.
Notice period questions
What is the notice period in the UAE?
After probation, the notice period is whatever your contract says, as long as it is at least 30 days and no more than 90 days (Article 43 of Federal Decree-Law 33 of 2021). It must be the same for you and your employer, unless a different period favours you.
What is the notice period during probation in the UAE?
It depends on who ends the contract and why. Your employer must give at least 14 days' written notice. If you resign to join another UAE employer you must give at least one month, and your new employer compensates the old one for recruitment costs unless agreed otherwise. If you resign to leave the UAE you must give at least 14 days (Article 9).
What happens if I do not serve my notice period?
The side that skips the notice pays the other a notice period allowance equal to the worker's wage for the full notice, or for the part not worked. It is owed even if the other side suffered no loss (Article 43(3)).
Is pay in lieu of notice based on basic salary or full salary?
Full wage. Article 43(4) uses the last wage you received, and the law defines wage as your basic wage plus cash allowances and benefits set in your contract. Gratuity is the one that uses basic salary only.
Can my employer and I agree to a shorter notice period?
Yes. You can agree to waive the notice or shorten it, but the agreement must keep all your rights for the notice period in your contract (Article 43(2)).
Am I paid during my notice period?
Yes. The contract stays in force until the notice ends and you are entitled to your full wage at your last rate. Your employer can ask you to keep working during the notice.
Can I look for a job during my notice period?
If your employer ended the contract, yes: you can be absent one working day a week without pay to look for a new job. Tell your employer which day at least 3 days before (Article 43(5)).
What if I leave the UAE during probation without giving notice?
Article 9(6) says a foreign worker who leaves without following the probation notice rules will not be granted a new UAE work permit for one year from leaving, unless MOHRE has excluded that job category.
Where do I complain if my employer does not pay my notice?
File a complaint with MOHRE first (80060, the MOHRE app or website). MOHRE can issue a binding decision on claims up to AED 50,000; larger claims go to the labour court, for example the Abu Dhabi Labour Court.
Last checked: October 2026
Sources we checked every figure against:
This is not legal advice. Your contract may set a longer notice within the legal range. Confirm with MOHRE or your HR before you resign.
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