Paternity Leave in UAE — 5 Days, Fully Paid, No Exceptions

Private sector fathers in the UAE are entitled to 5 working days of fully paid paternity leave, under Article 32 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021. The leave applies regardless of nationality, salary, visa type, or length of service, and must be taken within 6 months of the child’s birth — it cannot be refused by an employer.

What to do now:

1. Confirm your sector — private, federal government, or Abu Dhabi local government have different entitlements
2. Take the 5 days consecutively or split across the 6-month window, whichever suits your situation
3. Request the leave through your employer; the law sets no formal application procedure, so check your company’s internal process

Paternity Leave by Sector — Three Different Entitlements

This is where most guides blur an important distinction — the UAE does not have one single paternity leave rule.

Abu Dhabi’s local government doubled its paternity entitlement from 3 to 6 days as of January 1, 2026, covering more than 25,000 government employees across the emirate — a change recent enough that many guides still cite the older 3-day figure. This applies specifically to Abu Dhabi government entities, not the federal government or private sector broadly.

salary certificate UAE

Eligibility — No Minimum Service Required

Paternity leave under UAE law applies universally, with no qualifying period.

A father employed for one month has the exact same entitlement as one with ten years of service. Nationality, visa type, and salary level are irrelevant — the 5-day minimum applies to every private sector employee equally, and employers may offer more but cannot offer less.

The leave does not need to be taken all at once. UAE law allows the 5 working days to be used consecutively or intermittently, provided the full entitlement is exhausted within 6 months (180 days) of the child’s birth. There is no carryover or encashment for unused days — if the window closes without the leave being taken, the entitlement simply lapses.

Pro tip: “Working days” excludes weekends and public holidays from the count — if your paternity leave overlaps with a weekend, those days don’t count against your 5-day entitlement, effectively extending your time off around the leave period.

Free Zones and DIFC/ADGM — Does the Law Still Apply?

Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 covers mainland private sector employment through MOHRE, with no free zone exemption from the paternity leave requirement itself.

DIFC and ADGM operate under their own separate employment regulations, distinct from mainland MOHRE law, though both generally mirror or exceed the 5-day minimum in practice. If your employment contract sits under DIFC or ADGM specifically, checking that jurisdiction’s own employment law directly is worth doing rather than assuming mainland MOHRE rules apply identically.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many days of paternity leave are UAE fathers entitled to?

Private sector and federal government fathers are entitled to 5 working days of fully paid paternity leave. Abu Dhabi local government employees receive 6 days as of January 2026, rising to 16 days for fathers of twins or multiple births.

Can my employer refuse paternity leave in the UAE?

No. Paternity leave under Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 is a legal entitlement that cannot be refused, reduced, or denied by an employer, regardless of company policy, employee tenure, or contract terms. Employers can offer more than 5 days but cannot legally offer less.

Do I need to take paternity leave immediately after the birth?

No. UAE law allows the 5 working days to be taken consecutively or split into separate periods, as long as the full entitlement is used within 6 months of the child’s birth. There is no requirement to start the leave on the birth date itself.

Is paternity leave paid in full in the UAE?

Yes. Paternity leave under UAE federal law is fully paid — there is no reduction in salary for the 5-day entitlement, unlike maternity leave, which shifts to partial pay after the first 45 days under the same decree-law.