Got a new job offer in the UAE while you are still working? Before you hand in your resignation, you need to know your notice period — the number of days you must keep working after you resign. Under the UAE's current labour law, getting this wrong can cost you money. This guide explains the 2026 rules in simple steps.
The basic rule: 30 to 90 days
The UAE's labour law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, in force since February 2022) says that either the employer or the employee can end an employment contract with written notice of at least 30 days and not more than 90 days. Your exact notice period is the one written in your contract, as long as it is inside that range.
Key points:
- Notice must be in writing. Keep a copy with the date.
- It works both ways. The notice period should be the same for you and your employer.
- You must keep working normally during the notice period, and you are paid as usual.
- If you do not serve the notice, the side that breaks it may have to pay the other side compensation (a notice allowance) for the missing days.
Sources: Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Article 43, as explained in Chambers and Partners' guide to the notice period and Gulf News' notice period explainer. Last checked: October 2026.
During probation, the rules are different
If you are still on probation:
- If you want to move to another employer in the UAE, you must give 30 days' notice.
- If you want to leave the UAE, the notice is 14 days.
- If the employer ends your contract during probation, it must give 14 days' notice.
Probation can last up to 6 months, so check your start date and contract.
How to plan your resignation date
- Find your notice period in your contract (for example, 30 days).
- Agree your joining date with the new employer.
- Count backwards: your resignation must be handed in at least that many days before your last working day.
- Add a few days of buffer for handover and paperwork.
Example: if your new job starts on 1 December 2026 and your notice is 30 days, your last working day should be by 30 November, so you should resign by 31 October 2026 at the latest.
The Notice Period Calculator does this count for you — enter your last working day and notice days, and it shows the resignation date.
If your employer ends the contract
The notice rules protect you too. If the employer terminates your contract, it must still give you the written notice in your contract (30 to 90 days). During that notice period, you are allowed one unpaid day off each week to look for a new job, as Gulf News explains. Ask HR in writing which day you will take, so there is no dispute later.
If either side wants to end the job immediately instead of serving notice, the usual practice is to pay the other side the salary for the notice days not worked. Both sides can also agree in writing to shorten or cancel the notice. Get any such agreement signed and keep a copy.
After your last day: visa cancellation and grace period
Your work permit and residence visa are cancelled after you leave. Guides such as Khaleej Times' explainer on visa cancellation and Zoho's HR note on the grace period describe a grace period, commonly 30 days for a standard residence visa (longer for some Golden and Green visa holders), during which you must either leave the UAE or move to a new visa. If you are joining a new UAE employer, ask them to start the work permit before your old visa is cancelled so there is no gap. Overstaying after the grace period leads to daily fines, so confirm the exact period for your visa with ICP or GDRFA.
Do not forget your gratuity
When you leave, end-of-service gratuity is calculated on your basic salary: 21 days' pay for each of the first five years and 30 days for each year after that, and under the 2021 law resigning no longer reduces it. Serving your notice properly keeps your final settlement clean.
A simple resignation letter
You do not need a complicated letter. It should state your name, job title and employee number, the date you are handing it in, a clear sentence that you are resigning, your notice period as per your contract, and your proposed last working day. Sign and date it, hand it to your manager or HR, and ask for a signed or stamped copy, or send it by email so there is a time-stamped record. Keep the tone polite: you may need a reference or an experience letter later, and Gulf industries are small.
Common mistakes
- Resigning by WhatsApp message only — always give written notice and keep proof
- Assuming notice is "one month" without reading the contract
- Booking flights before the notice period ends
- Starting a new job before the old visa is cancelled or transferred correctly
FAQ
Can my employer make me serve more than 90 days?
No. The law limits notice to a maximum of 90 days.
Can I leave early if my employer agrees?
Yes, if both sides agree in writing to shorten or waive the notice.
Is notice period paid?
Yes. You work and are paid normally during the notice period.
Can I take time off to find a job during notice?
If your employer ended the contract, yes: you are entitled to one unpaid day a week to look for work during the notice period.
What happens to my visa after I resign?
It is cancelled after your last day, and a grace period (commonly 30 days) starts. Leave the UAE or move to a new visa within it.
Find your resignation date in seconds. Open the free Notice Period Calculator →, enter your last working day and notice days.