What am I owed if my employer terminates me without notice in the UAE?

If your employer ends the contract without serving the notice required by UAE Labour Law and your contract, you are generally owed compensation in lieu of notice. Under Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, where termination is not based on the narrow grounds that legally permit dismissal without notice, the employer must pay you the wage you would have earned during the un-served notice period — the same 30–90 day period stated in your contract. This is in addition to your other end-of-service entitlements: unpaid wages, payment for accrued unused leave, and end-of-service gratuity if you qualify. If the dismissal was also for an invalid reason, it may amount to arbitrary dismissal, which can add court-assessed compensation of up to three months' wage. The exception is genuine summary dismissal for specified serious misconduct, where no notice pay is due — but the employer must prove those grounds. Keep your contract, payslips and any termination letter. You can file a complaint with MOHRE, which attempts settlement first, and compare verified UAE legal professionals on LEXAI to confirm everything you are owed.