{"id":148019,"date":"2025-05-14T06:37:56","date_gmt":"2025-05-14T06:37:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zimyo.com\/middle-east\/?p=148019"},"modified":"2026-01-26T00:05:28","modified_gmt":"2026-01-26T00:05:28","slug":"uae-labour-law","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zimyo.com\/middle-east\/insights\/uae-labour-law\/","title":{"rendered":"Scope of New amendments in UAE Labour Law"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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The country has implemented UAE Labour law on 2 February 2022, governing the employees working in the private sector.\u00a0<\/p>\n

As a result, significant changes occurred in the new laws and every organization had to amend these new laws. The significant changes that occurred were a result of challenges and needs that labour felt in the UAE over recent years. Additionally, the new law reflects government mindset to implement a regulatory framework aligned with global standards.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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What includes in new UAE Labour Law<\/b><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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To begin with, the new law will apply to all employees and employers working in the private sector of the UAE. However, it will exclude those employees who are working in federal and government organizations. Furthermore, members of the armed forces, police and civil services and domestic employees of UAE Additionally, decrees carve out expectations to the Provision of Law.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Significant changes occurred in UAE Labour Law<\/b><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Following are the significant changes in Law:<\/b><\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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1.Change in work model<\/strong><\/p>

2. Introduction of New Visa Categories<\/strong><\/p>

3. Employment Contracts<\/strong><\/p>

4. Scope of employee’s work<\/strong><\/p>

5. Covenant not to disclose<\/strong><\/p>

6. Non Discrimination Clause\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>

7. Leave\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>

8.Workplace Regulations<\/strong><\/p>

9. Financial exposure & disciplinary penalties\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>

10. Introduction of unemployment insurance scheme.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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1. Change in Work Model<\/b><\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Various working models were introduced under the UAE labour law\u00a0 in addition to full-time employment:<\/p>

Part-time work:<\/b> Under this model, employees can work with one or more employers for a specific number of hours. This model provides flexible workplace<\/a>\u00a0to employees to work with more than one employer and manage their other tasks along with it.<\/p>

Temporary work:<\/b> Under this model, companies hire employees for a specific task or a specific duration of time. Organizations hire employees for a temporary period.<\/div><\/div>
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Flexible work:<\/b> Under this model, organizations assign employees a particular work or task, and they can perform it remotely at their convenience.<\/div><\/div>
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Furthermore, the new law introduced all these work models, and it explains all the benefits and terms and conditions.<\/div>
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Most importantly, the new law has provided employers with additional benefits to meet all the recruitment\u00a0<\/a>needs of labour. Moreover, it provides flexibility to employees who seek non-traditional models of working.<\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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2. Introduction of new visa categories\n<\/b><\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Moreover, significant changes occurred in the existing immigration landscape. Specifically, they launched the 12 types of work permits to reflect various employment arrangements, which includes:<\/p>\n

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1. Work permit to recruit workers who are working outside the UAE.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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2. A transfer work permit permits the transfer of a non-national employee from a facility registered with the ministry.<\/div>\n
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3. Work permit for those employees under the residency of their parents.<\/div>\n
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4. Temporary work permit which is provided for some temporary period.<\/div>\n
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5. They supply a task work permit to employees hired from outside the UAE for a particular task or project.<\/span><\/div>\n
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6. Partial work permit to employ a worker on a part-time basis.<\/div>\n
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7. Juvenile work permit for those whose age is between 15 to 18 years.<\/div>\n
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8. Students, trainers or interns who are working in UAE and have reached the age of 15 years.<\/div>\n
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9. Work permit for those employees who come from GCC countries.<\/div>\n
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10. Work permits for those who belong to golden residency.<\/div>\n
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11. Work permit for National trainee to train Emirati citizens.<\/div>\n
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12. Freelance permits are provided to those individuals aiming to engage in their self-employment.<\/div>\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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3. Employment Contracts <\/b><\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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In compliance with the new UAE labour law, those contracts that state unlimited-term employment are not valid anymore. Limited-term contracts cannot exceed 3 years. As a result, private employers have to convert their contracts of unlimited duration into limited contracts within one year of law issuance.\u00a0<\/p>

Further, employers can also opt for renewing their contracts without paying additional charges under\u00a0employment contract in UAE<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/div><\/div>
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Limited-time contracts provide various benefits to employees. They are not bound to work for a longer duration. However, the new law will improve the retention rate of employees.<\/div><\/div>
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4. Scope of employee's work<\/b><\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The new UAE labor law indicates that employers cannot assign tasks different from those mentioned in the employment contract until the following conditions are met:<\/p>