UAE parental leave entitlements sit across two articles of the same law, and they're often described inaccurately — particularly the paternity side, which is a genuinely separate, additional entitlement rather than a share of the mother's leave.
Maternity leave: 60 days, tiered pay
Under Article 30 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, private-sector female employees get 60 calendar days of maternity leave: the first 45 days at full pay, the remaining 15 at half pay. This applies from day one of employment — there's no minimum service requirement.
Extensions for medical complications
If a medical condition from the pregnancy or birth prevents you from returning to work, you can take up to 45 additional unpaid days with a medical certificate. If the child is born with a disability or serious health condition, you get a further 30 days fully paid, plus an optional further 30 days unpaid.
Employers can't force early return
An employer cannot require an employee to return before the 60-day period ends. Early return can only happen at the employee's own voluntary, written request — pressuring someone to return early, formally or informally, creates real legal exposure.
Parental leave: 5 days for either parent
Article 32 gives either parent — mother or father — 5 working days of fully paid parental leave, to be taken within 6 months of the child's birth. This is separate from and additional to the mother's 60-day maternity leave, not a portion of it. A mother can combine parental leave with her maternity leave if she uses it within that 6-month window.
Nursing breaks
After returning to work, a mother gets up to 2 paid nursing breaks per day, totalling no more than 1 hour, for 6 months from the date of return.
Quick reference
| Entitlement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Maternity leave | 60 days — 45 full pay + 15 half pay |
| Medical extension | Up to 45 additional unpaid days |
| Child born with disability | +30 days full pay, +30 days optional unpaid |
| Parental leave (either parent) | 5 working days, full pay, within 6 months |
| Nursing breaks | Up to 2/day, max 1 hour total, for 6 months |
Work out your leave pay
The Maternity & Parental Leave Pay Calculator works out your exact 60-day maternity pay or 5-day parental leave pay from your monthly wage, split by the correct full-pay/half-pay tiers.