Labour rules
Our briefings on Labour rules in the UAE — practical, current guidance from the FW Global team.
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Emiratisation and ICV: obligation and opportunity.
Two priorities shape hiring and contracting beyond the basic rules: Emiratisation, the drive to employ UAE nationals, and In-Country Value, which measures local economic contribution. Both are stick and carrot. Here is what they are and why they belong in strategy, not just compliance.
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Employment contracts: what must be in them.
The employment contract defines the relationship, and its form and content are more prescribed than many employers realise. A vague contract is a dispute waiting to happen. Here is what a UAE contract must address, and why the basic-wage split matters for years.
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End-of-service gratuity: how it is calculated.
Gratuity is a lump sum an eligible employee receives when employment ends, built up over years of service, and one of the most misunderstood entitlements. Miscalculating it causes disputes. Here is how it works and why it is the basic wage, not the package, that counts.
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Leave entitlements: annual, sick, and beyond.
Leave is among the most day-to-day parts of employment law and the most frequently mishandled. The framework sets clear minimums for annual, sick, and other leave. Here is an overview, including why untaken leave is a payout waiting to happen and sick leave is tiered.
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Ending employment: notice, termination, and getting it right.
Ending employment is where employers face the most legal risk, and careless handling turns a routine parting into a costly dispute. Termination is a regulated act, not a free choice. Here is how notice and termination work and where employers go wrong.
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UAE labour law: the essentials every employer needs.
The UAE modernised its private-sector employment framework in 2022, reshaping how businesses hire, manage, and part with staff. Getting the essentials wrong creates avoidable disputes and liabilities. Here is what every employer needs straight, including why a signed contract cannot override the law.
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Work permits and residence visas: the employer's role.
Hiring in the UAE involves more than a contract: most employees need a work permit and residence visa, and the employer sponsors them. Get it wrong and you have an employee who cannot legally work. Here is how the process runs and why validity is an ongoing duty.
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The Wage Protection System (WPS) explained.
WPS ensures employees are paid on time and in full through monitored channels. It is not optional, and lateness is visible to the authorities. It also benefits employees by documenting their income. Here is how it works and why it matters to both sides.