What is the difference between DIFC and ADGM employment law?

Both the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) are financial free zones with their own common-law-based legal systems, their own courts, and their own employment laws that operate separately from the UAE's onshore federal labour law. The key point is that each has a distinct statute: the DIFC Employment Law applies to DIFC-registered entities, while the ADGM Employment Regulations apply to ADGM-registered entities. Although both cover similar ground — contracts, working hours, leave, notice, termination and end-of-service — the specific entitlements, calculation methods, time limits and procedures can differ between the two regimes, and each has moved on its own path regarding funded end-of-service savings. So an employee's rights depend on which zone employs them, and you cannot assume DIFC rules apply in ADGM or vice versa. Because both laws are periodically amended, confirm the current provisions of the relevant one. A verified UAE legal professional on LEXAI familiar with both free zones can compare how a specific contract is treated under each.