Can my employer extend my probation period in the UAE?

No, your employer cannot lawfully extend your probation beyond six months. The UAE Labour Law sets six months as the maximum probation period, and it cannot be extended or renewed, even with your agreement. You also cannot be placed on probation more than once by the same employer. If you keep working past the six-month mark, you are treated as a confirmed employee and the full protections of the law apply to your contract. That means you can decline to sign an extension, and the refusal itself is not a lawful ground for dismissal. Be aware that during a valid probation the employer can still terminate with fourteen days' written notice, so handle the conversation carefully: respond in writing, note that the law caps probation at six months, and keep copies of everything HR sends you. If they dismiss you over this, the termination can be challenged through a MOHRE complaint, and your notice and end-of-service rights would still apply. Your visa is tied to the job, but cancellation follows its own process and a grace period applies for finding new work. If the employer insists on the extension, a UAE employment lawyer can confirm where you stand before you sign anything.