Skip to main content
LEXAI
In effectFederal Decree by Law

UAE Labour / Employment LawFederal Decree by Law No. (27) of 2018 Concerning Equality in Wages between Men and Women

UAE Federal Decree-Law·Federal Decree by Law No. (27) of 2018

مرسوم بقانون اتحادي بشأن المساواة في الرواتب بين الجنسين

Authoritative Arabic version per the official UAE Legislation portal

Issued Date
September 23, 2018
Effective from
October 14, 2018
Articles
5
Last synced
Sep 7, 2026
Download PDFOfficial source

Plain-language summary

  • Men and women must receive equal pay for the same or similar work.
  • Applies to all employers in the UAE public and private sectors.
  • Employers cannot reduce wages or benefits based on gender.
  • Law covers base salary, allowances, bonuses, and other compensation.
  • Employers must review pay practices to ensure compliance with equality rules.

Establishes principles and requirements for equal pay between men and women in employment, ensuring wage parity and non-discrimination in compensation across al…

Synced from the official UAE Legislation portal · Plain-language summary by the LEXAI editorial team

Article-level text

Key Articles

5 articles

  1. 1

    Article 1

    Article (1) Definitions In application of the provisions of this Decree-Law, the following words and expressions shall have the meanings ascribed thereto unless the context requires otherwise: State : United Arab Emirates. Governmental Bodies : Federal Governmental Ministries, Authorities, Institutions, Centres, Councils and Offices. Salaries : Basic salaries.

  2. 2

    Article 2

    Article (2) Provisions of this Decree-Law shall apply to Federal governmental bodies.

    -- 1 of 2 --

    Federal Decree-Law No. (27) of 2018 Concerning Equality in Wages between Men and Women 2

  3. 3

    Article 3

    Article (3) The Government may not discriminate or distinguish in its applicable regulations and systems between labourers on the basis of gender concerning the value of salaries paid for any labourer at the same job grade, unless there are other reasons that require otherwise, such as academic qualification, specialization, professional skills, expertise or competences.

  4. 4

    Article 4

    Article (4) Any provision contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Decree-Law shall be repealed.

  5. 5

    Article 5

    Article (5) This decree-Law shall be published in the official Gazette and shall come into force 14 from its date of publication. Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan President of The United Arab Emirates Issued by Us at the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi: Dated: 13 Muharram, 1440 H Corresponding to: 23 September 2018 AD

    -- 2 of 2 --

Note: The Arabic text of this legislation is the authoritative version as per the official UAE Legislation portal.

Reading shortcut

Ask LEXAI a question about Federal Decree by Law No. (27) of 2018.

Plain-English answers, with a citation back to the exact article. Free to use, no sign-up.

LEXAI provides general legal information, not legal advice. For your specific case, speak to a licensed UAE lawyer.

Ask a question

Related laws

Other UAE legislation in this category. Cross-reference before citing the law.

Keep reading

Related guides

Labour Employment

Emiratisation Rules for Private Companies in the UAE: Targets, NAFIS and Penalties

A plain-English guide to the UAE's Emiratisation rules for private employers — which companies are in scope, the skilled-jobs targets for firms with 50 or more employees, the separate rule for companies with 20 to 49 staff, what NAFIS is, and the financial contributions and fines that follow a missed target.

5 min read

Labour Employment

How to Cancel an Employment Visa in the UAE: Steps for Employers and Employees

A step-by-step guide to employment visa cancellation in the UAE — the MOHRE work permit stage, the ICP or GDRFA residence visa stage, the signature you should not give before your dues are paid, the grace period that follows, and how the final settlement interacts with the whole process.

5 min read

Labour Employment

Salary Deductions in the UAE Private Sector: What an Employer Can and Cannot Take

UAE law lets a private sector employer deduct from your monthly salary only on a closed list of eight grounds, each with its own cap, and never more than half your wage in one month. Here is the list, the maths, and the complaint route.

5 min read