Warning letter generator for UAE employers
A written notice and a written warning are the first two disciplinary penalties in the UAE Labour Law. Before either, the employee must be told the charge in writing and heard. Enter the incident and the investigation dates. The letter is written as you type and is not created if a step or deadline the law sets is missing.
Your details are sent to our server only to build the preview and the file, then discarded. Nothing is saved or logged.
The disciplinary penalties ladder (Article 39)
The law lists seven penalties, from lightest to heaviest: (a) written notice; (b) written warning; (c) a deduction from the wage; (d) suspension from work without pay for up to 14 days; (e) loss of the periodic bonus for up to one year, where the company has one; (f) loss of promotion for up to two years, where the company has a promotion system; and (g) termination of service with end-of-service benefits preserved. Only one penalty may be given for a single violation, and conduct outside the workplace can be penalised only if it is related to work (Article 41). Deductions for violations cannot exceed 5% of the wage (Article 25(1)(f)).
Before you issue it: the investigation
No penalty may be imposed until the employee has been told the charges in writing, heard, and their defence investigated, all recorded in a report kept in their file. The charge must be raised within 30 days of the company finding out, and the penalty imposed within 60 days of the investigation ending. The letter must state the penalty, its grounds and what a repeat may lead to, and the employee may file a grievance without being harmed for it (Executive Regulation, Article 24). The employer may suspend the employee for up to 30 days during an investigation, on half pay, which is repaid if the case ends with no penalty or a warning (Article 40(1)). Employers with 50 or more workers must also have written work regulations covering penalties (Executive Regulation, Article 14).
This tool produces templates for general guidance. It is not legal advice. Check the final wording with your HR team, and for contracts with MOHRE (600 590 000) or a UAE employment lawyer.
Frequently asked questions
How many warnings before termination in the UAE?
The law sets no fixed number for most misconduct. For an employee who keeps failing to perform their basic duties, dismissal without notice is allowed only after a written investigation and two warnings that a repeat could lead to dismissal (Article 44(4)). Termination is also the heaviest of the Article 39 penalties, in which case the employee keeps their end-of-service benefits.
What is the difference between a written notice and a written warning?
Both are written disciplinary penalties. A written notice is the lightest penalty in Article 39(1)(a); a written warning is the next one up, in Article 39(1)(b). Your company's list of penalties, which the Executive Regulation requires, should say which applies to which violation.
Do I have to investigate before giving a warning?
Yes. Article 24(3) of the Executive Regulation says no Article 39 penalty, including a warning, may be imposed until the employee has been told the charges in writing, heard and their defence investigated, with a report kept on file.
Is there a deadline for issuing a warning?
Yes. The employee may not be charged with a violation discovered more than 30 days earlier, and the penalty may not be imposed more than 60 days after the investigation ended (Executive Regulation, Article 24(4)). The tool checks both dates.
Can I deduct salary as a penalty?
A deduction from the wage is one of the Article 39 penalties, but deductions for violations must follow the company's approved list of penalties and cannot exceed 5% of the wage (Article 25(1)(f)).
Does the employee have to sign the warning letter?
The letter has a line for the employee to confirm receipt, with a note that signing does not mean they agree. The law requires the employee to be notified of the penalty in writing; keep a record of how and when it was handed over.
Do you store what I type?
No. Your details are sent to our server only to build the preview and the DOCX or PDF file, and the letter is returned straight to your browser. Nothing is saved, logged or used for anything else, and you do not need an account.
Sources
Last checked: October 2026
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