Paternity and maternity leave in the UAE: how many days do parents get?

Fathers in the UAE private sector get 5 working days of paid parental leave. Mothers get 60 days of maternity leave. There is no separate "male maternity leave" in UAE law — what fathers receive is called parental leave, and mothers can use it too, on top of their maternity leave. Both entitlements come from the UAE Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021). The UAE was among the first countries in the region to give private-sector fathers a statutory parental-leave right. Paternity / parental leave: 5 working days A working parent — mother or father — is entitled to 5 working days of paid parental leave to care for a newborn. Your wage continues for those days. You can take the days in one continuous block or split them, and the leave must generally be used within a set window following the child's birth. To claim it, notify your employer and keep proof of the birth date. Maternity leave: 60 days A female private-sector employee is entitled to 60 days of maternity leave. The first 45 days are paid at full wage. The remaining 15 days are paid at half wage. The basic right to the leave itself does not depend on completing a minimum period of service — a notable protection compared with older rules. The leave can typically begin in the period leading up to the expected delivery date. Beyond the 60 days, the law provides for additional unpaid leave in defined situations, such as illness related to the pregnancy or birth. Further provisions apply where the baby is ill or has a disability. Maternity leave is a protected right. Pregnancy or maternity leave should not be used as a reason to dismiss you. How the two differ Maternity leave is specific to the mother. It is the longer entitlement and centres on recovery and the period around the birth. Parental leave is the shorter, shared entitlement that either parent can use to care for the newborn. A mother can have both; a father has the parental-leave days. If your employer refuses If your employer refuses to grant the parental-leave days you are entitled to, or denies or shortens maternity leave, you can raise a complaint with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE). For help if an entitlement is being denied, you can compare verified UAE legal professionals on LEXAI.