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Can my employer stop my salary if I resign without giving notice in the UAE?

Asked by Anonymous·Jun 26, 2026·1 answers
An employee who left or plans to leave without serving full notice wants to know if their earned wages can be withheld.

This answer is AI-generated and editorially reviewed. It is general legal information, not legal advice — verify anything you act on with a licensed UAE lawyer. How LEXAI uses AI

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LEXAI

Editorially reviewed by LEXAI

Jun 26, 2026
Leaving without serving your full notice period can have consequences, but it does not erase your right to wages you have already earned. Your employer cannot simply cancel pay for days you actually worked because you resigned early. What can happen is that, where you breach the notice requirement, the employer may be entitled to compensation in lieu of notice as provided under the law and your contract — but that is a defined entitlement to be calculated and, where appropriate, set off, not a licence to seize all your pay or your end-of-service dues arbitrarily. Any amount claimed against you should be lawful, documented, and within the limits the law sets on deductions. If your full earned salary or final settlement is withheld as punishment for leaving early, keep your contract, resignation, and pay records and raise it with MOHRE. The dispute may involve claims on both sides, so it is worth getting advice. You can compare verified UAE employment lawyers on LEXAI to understand what you owe and what you are still owed.
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