What was Article 120 of UAE Labour Law on dismissal without notice?

Article 120 of the old UAE Labour Law (Federal Law No. 8 of 1980) set out the limited grounds on which an employer could dismiss a worker without notice — so-called summary dismissal — such as serious misconduct, assault, repeated breach of safety rules, or disclosing workplace secrets. That 1980 law has been replaced by Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, so Article 120 is no longer the current provision, though the concept continues: the new law still allows dismissal without notice only for specified serious cases, and the employer must prove the grounds and follow due process. Summary dismissal is meant to be exceptional, not a shortcut to avoid notice or end-of-service obligations. If you were dismissed on the spot, ask for the stated reason in writing and keep all related records. A dismissal labelled 'summary' but lacking valid grounds may be challenged as unlawful. You can raise the matter with MOHRE, which handles initial settlement, and compare verified UAE legal professionals on LEXAI to assess whether the grounds for your dismissal were lawful.