What must a UAE employment contract include by law?

In the UAE private sector, an employment contract regulated by MOHRE under the Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021) is expected to set out the essential terms of the relationship clearly. Typically this includes the names of the employer and employee, the job title and nature of the work, the workplace, the contract's start date and its fixed term, working hours, the wage including the breakdown between basic salary and allowances, the probation period if any, leave entitlements, and the notice arrangements for ending the contract. The registered MOHRE contract is the binding reference document, so the terms in it should match what you were promised in your offer letter. Before signing, read each of these elements and make sure nothing material is missing or vague, especially the salary breakdown and any probation or non-compete clauses. Keep a signed, dated copy for your records. If your contract omits key terms, contradicts your offer, or contains clauses you do not understand, you can confirm the required contents with MOHRE and compare verified UAE legal professionals on LEXAI to review it before you commit.