Can I be dismissed without notice for being absent from work in the UAE?

UAE Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021) treats prolonged unexplained absence as one of the limited situations that can justify dismissal without notice, but only where the absence reaches the threshold the law specifies and is without a valid reason. The law identifies a number of consecutive absent days, and a larger number of non-consecutive absent days within a year, beyond which an employer may end the contract on this ground — but the employer must still follow due process and be able to prove the absence was unjustified. Genuine reasons, such as documented illness or an emergency you notified, change the picture. Because dismissal without notice removes notice pay, employers carry the burden of showing the grounds were met. If you have a legitimate explanation for your absence, provide it in writing with supporting evidence as soon as possible. A dismissal labelled as 'absence' but not meeting the legal threshold may be challengeable. If this happens to you, raise it with MOHRE and compare verified UAE legal professionals on LEXAI to check whether the dismissal was lawful.