UAE maternity leave for private-sector employees is 60 days: 45 days on full pay and 15 days on half pay, according to the UAE government portal. It adds up to 52.5 full-pay days.
A Khaleej Times explainer from 2020 still ranks near the top and says 45 days. We checked the official pages on 7 October 2026, and this is general information, not legal advice.
| Leave | Length | Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Maternity leave | 60 days | 45 days full pay, 15 days half pay |
| Illness caused by pregnancy or childbirth | Up to 45 more days | Unpaid; medical certificate needed |
| Sick or disabled baby | 30 more days, then 30 more | First 30 fully paid, extension unpaid |
| Nursing breaks | One or two a day, no more than one hour in total | Fully paid, for 6 months after delivery |
| Parental leave | 5 working days | Paid; mother or father |
UAE maternity leave: what the portal says
The UAE government portal bases the entitlement on Article 30 of Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021, the UAE Labour Law. The page was last updated on 24 September 2026.
A female worker can apply for her leave up to 30 days before the expected delivery date. We could not open the decree itself, so the article number is the portal’s own reference.
Extra leave for illness or a sick baby
The portal lists two additions. A mother who falls ill because of pregnancy or childbirth and cannot return can take 45 more days without pay, in one block or in pieces, with a medical certificate.
If the baby is sick or has a disability, she can take 30 more fully paid days, with a medical certificate. That can be extended by another 30 days without pay.
Nursing breaks and parental leave
After returning to work, she is entitled to one or two paid breaks a day to nurse the baby. The two breaks together must not exceed one hour, and they run for 6 months from the delivery date.
Parental leave is separate. Private-sector employees get 5 paid working days, usable between the birth and the child’s sixth month.
Why older guides and the 90-day figure differ
The Khaleej Times explainer, published on 30 August 2020, says private-sector women get 45 days and two 30-minute breaks for 18 months. The portal now says 60 days and six months. A law-firm guide agrees that the entitlement rose from 45 to 60 days.
The 90-day figure belongs to other groups. Federal government staff get 90 days of full pay under Federal Decree Law No. 49 of 2022, according to the portal’s government sector page, and Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah government staff have their own rules.
Emirati mothers in private jobs and registered in an Abu Dhabi family book can apply to the Abu Dhabi Social Support Authority for support that lets them take up to 90 paid days. They need an employer no-objection certificate and apply through TAMM.
What we could not confirm
The portal leaves several practical questions open, and we did not find an official answer to any of the four points below.
- Which wage the pay is based on, basic or total. The portal does not say.
- Any service period needed before maternity leave. The portal states none.
- Protection from dismissal, and cover for a stillbirth after six months. One law-firm guide says both exist, but we did not read the decree.
- A one-year service condition for parental leave. One law firm states it and the portal does not.
For a contract question, check the decree on the labour ministry’s site or ask HR or a lawyer. Our UAE National Day guide covers another date-driven rule residents ask about, and the first 30 days in a new Dubai apartment covers settling in.
Quick answers on UAE maternity leave
How many days is maternity leave in the UAE?
60 days in the private sector: 45 on full pay and 15 on half pay, per the UAE government portal.
Is UAE maternity leave fully paid?
Partly. The first 45 days are fully paid and the next 15 are half paid, which equals 52.5 full-pay days, so a worker who counts only full days is short by 7.5.
Can I start it before the due date?
Yes, a worker can apply for it.
The portal allows applying up to 30 days before the expected delivery date.
Do government employees get the same?
No. Federal government employees get 90 days of full pay, and the emirate governments have their own rules.
Last checked on 7 October 2026. Labour rules change, so confirm with the labour ministry before you rely on any figure.
