UAE Notice Period Calculator
Updated November 2026 · Free · No sign-up
Calculate your UAE notice period — the 30-90 day contractual band, your exact last working day, pay-in-lieu and shortfall compensation, and the probation notice rules the 2022 law introduced.
Quick answer: UAE notice must be 30-90 days as written in your contract (minimum 30). Either side can pay in lieu: full salary for the unserved balance. During probation: employer needs 14 days notice; employees need 30 days (90 when jumping to another UAE employer).
The Notice Rules (Federal Decree-Law 33/2021)
| Situation | Rule |
|---|---|
| Standard notice | Per contract, 30-90 days — below 30 is void, above 90 unenforceable |
| Pay in lieu | Either party may end earlier by paying full salary for the balance |
| Employee leaves early | Owes the employer compensation at the same measure (deductible from settlement) |
| Probation — employer terminates | 14 days written notice |
| Probation — employee resigns to join another UAE employer | 90 days notice (or the new employer compensates) |
| Probation — employee leaving the UAE | 30 days (returning within 3 months can trigger compensation rules) |
| During notice | Full salary and benefits; 1 unpaid day/week allowed for job hunting (employee-requested) |
Worked Examples
Example 1 — standard resignation. Resign 10 November, 30-day notice: last working day 10 December; settlement due within 14 days after.
Example 2 — buyout. 60-day notice, employer releases you after 20: they owe 40 days of full salary (AED 15,000 × 40/30 = AED 20,000) alongside the settlement.
Example 3 — employee shortfall. Serving 10 of 30 days to catch a new joining date: the employer may deduct 20 days of gross (AED 10,000) — negotiating leave offset or handover-for-waiver beats paying cash, the same trade as the India notice buyout.
Notice Rights and Realities
- Notice runs in calendar days — weekends and holidays count.
- Annual leave during notice: allowed only by agreement; employers can't force leave to absorb the notice without consent, and vice versa.
- Visa timing: cancellation paperwork follows the end date — don't let it precede your settlement collection.
- Non-competes are separate contractual animals (6-24 months, scope-limited) — notice compliance doesn't void them.
Probation Deep-Dive (The 2022 Changes)
Probation caps at 6 months. The asymmetric notice design — 14 days employer-side, 30/90 employee-side — exists to stop surprise abandonment: the 90-day rule for jumping to a UAE competitor can be satisfied by the NEW employer compensating the old one for recruitment costs; in practice, offer letters increasingly address who pays. Terminated during probation? Gratuity doesn't accrue (under a year), but worked days, OT, and ticket entitlements still settle.
Calendar Mechanics
Count from the day notice is RECEIVED in writing (email/HR portal timestamps decide disputes). Garden leave is lawful by agreement at full pay. For the parallel math elsewhere: India's 30/60/90 patterns and the US two-weeks custom — the UAE sits between them with statutory teeth.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the notice period in the UAE?
As per contract, between 30 and 90 days (30 minimum) — either side can substitute full salary for the unserved balance.
What is the notice period during probation?
Employer terminating: 14 days. Employee resigning to join another UAE employer: 90 days (or new-employer compensation); leaving the country: 30 days.
Can I pay instead of serving notice in the UAE?
Yes — compensation equals full salary for the unserved days, payable by whichever side cuts the period short.
Does notice include weekends in the UAE?
Yes — calendar days, so weekends and public holidays inside the window count.
Can my employer make me take annual leave during notice?
Only by mutual agreement — forced leave-burning during notice without consent is contestable, as is the reverse.
What happens after the notice ends?
Final settlement (gratuity, leave encashment, dues) within 14 days, then visa cancellation paperwork — collect money and certificates before the exit formalities finish.
✓ Formula verified • Last updated: November 3, 2026