VoxxArrive · UAE onboarding topic
Probation period rules in the UAE (Article 9): duration and notice
Under Article 9 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, a private-sector probation period may not exceed six months and cannot be extended. During probation, an employer must give 14 days' written notice to terminate; an employee moving to another UAE employer must give one month's written notice (with the new employer reimbursing recruitment costs); and an employee leaving the country must give 14 days' written notice.
Steps
- Set the probation period at six months maximum - Article 9 caps probation at six months from the date the worker starts. It cannot be extended beyond six months, and an employee cannot be placed on more than one probation period with the same employer. Confirm employment (or act) before the six months lapse.
- To terminate during probation, give 14 days' written notice - The employer may end the contract during probation but must serve at least 14 days' prior written notice before the intended last working day. During or at the end of probation, dismissal can be without end-of-service gratuity.
- If the employee is moving to another UAE employer, expect one month's notice - An employee who resigns during probation to join another UAE employer must give the current employer at least one month's written notice. The incoming (new) employer must reimburse the previous employer for the worker's recruitment/contracting costs, unless agreed otherwise. These costs may not be charged to the employee.
- If the employee is leaving the UAE, expect 14 days' notice - An employee who resigns during probation intending to leave the job and the country must give 14 days' prior written notice. If that employee then returns to the UAE on a new work permit within three months, the new employer becomes liable to compensate the previous employer for recruitment costs, unless otherwise agreed.
- Note the one-year work-permit ban risk - MOHRE may impose a one-year ban on a new work permit where the worker terminates the contract during probation and the employer had not breached its contractual obligations. Certain categories (e.g. Golden Visa holders, some skilled professionals) may be exempt. Serving the correct notice is the way to avoid disputes.
Timeline
Probation lasts up to six months from the start date and cannot be extended. Notice during probation: 14 days (employer termination), one month (employee switching to another UAE employer), 14 days (employee leaving the country).
Cost & fees
Article 9 itself sets no government fee. The main financial exposure is recruitment-cost reimbursement between employers (new employer reimburses the previous employer when the worker switches UAE jobs during probation, or returns within three months), the amount of which is not fixed by the law and depends on actual costs or agreement. DIFC and ADGM operate their own employment laws, so probation and notice rules there differ from the federal MOHRE regime.
Your task slice
8 of the 57 onboarding tasks apply here.
Set probation period in the contract (must not exceed 6 months, FDL 33/2021)
Hiring Manager prepares role onboarding plan and 90-day objectives
Onboarding plan
Employee acknowledges probation terms and success criteria in writing
Agree probation objectives and measurable success criteria with the employee
Probation objectives
Conduct 30-day probation check-in and document feedback
30-day review note
Conduct mid-probation performance review against agreed objectives
Mid-probation review
Decide probation outcome before the 6-month cap (confirm / extend / exit with 14-day notice)
Probation decision letter
Issue confirmation-of-employment letter on passing probation
Confirmation letter
Some figures on this page vary by jurisdiction, zone or nationality, or could not be independently confirmed from a public source at time of writing - confirm the current figure with the regulator before relying on it.
Sources
- UAE Government Portal (u.ae) - Employment contracts: duration and models in the private sector (probation period, notice, recruitment-cost reimbursement)
- UAE Government Portal (u.ae) - Banning the issuance of a new work permit for one year
- Gulf News - Your rights during the probation period (confirms Article 9 numbering and provisions)
Frequently asked
Can a UAE probation period be longer than six months or be extended?
No. Article 9 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 caps probation at six months from the start date and it cannot be extended. If the employee is kept on past six months without action, they are treated as a confirmed employee.
How much notice must an employer give to dismiss someone on probation?
At least 14 days' prior written notice before the intended last working day. Dismissal during or at the end of probation can also be without end-of-service gratuity.
What notice does an employee give if they resign during probation?
One month's written notice if they are moving to another employer in the UAE, or 14 days' written notice if they are leaving the country. The notice period differs depending on the reason.
Who pays the recruitment costs if an employee leaves during probation for another UAE job?
The new (incoming) employer must reimburse the previous employer for the worker's recruitment or contracting costs, unless the two employers agree otherwise. These costs cannot be passed on to the employee.
Can resigning during probation lead to a work-permit ban?
MOHRE may impose a one-year new-work-permit ban where the worker terminates during probation and the employer had not breached its obligations. Some categories, such as Golden Visa holders and certain skilled professionals, may be exempt.