Skip to content
UAE Handbook

UAE rule changes

This log lists 21 changes to UAE rules on work, visas, insurance, housing and family law. Each entry gives the date the change took effect, the old and new rule, the law behind it and the official source we checked. We add a change only after reading it in the source, so recent changes may appear here after a delay.

Edits to our own pages are a different list: see the site changelog. Follow the log by RSS. Email updates are coming.

Topics

Work

  1. In force: 2026 Federal (all emirates)

    Before
    No earlier rule stated in the source.
    Now
    Wages for previous month due on 1st of each month via WPS; at least 85% of wages must be paid on time; staged sanctions from day 2 (alerts), day 5 (work permit suspension), day 11 (fine) after due date
    Legal basis
    Ministerial Resolution No. 340 of 2026
    Pages affected
    /work/unpaid-salary/

    Verified against u.ae: Payment of salaries/wages (Ministerial Resolution 340/2026), updated 25 Sep 2026, UAE Government portal (u.ae) (partly verified) , on .

  2. In force: 2024 Federal (all emirates)

    Before
    No earlier rule stated in the source.
    Now
    Firms with 20-49 workers in 14 sectors: hire 1 Emirati by end-2024 and 1 more by end-2025; contribution AED 96,000 (Jan 2025) and AED 108,000 (Jan 2026) if missed
    Legal basis
    Ministerial Resolution No. 455 of 2023
    Pages affected
    Work and employment

    Verified against Official page: https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/jobs/Sector-of-employment/employment-in-the-private-sector/employment-laws-and-regulations-in-the-private-sector, u.ae (partly verified) , on .

  3. In force: 2023 Federal (all emirates)

    Before
    No earlier rule stated in the source.
    Now
    Non-compliance contribution AED 6,000 per month per missing Emirati from 2023, rising AED 1,000 per year until 2026
    Legal basis
    Cabinet decision (Nafis)
    Pages affected
    Work and employment

    Verified against Official page: https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/jobs/Sector-of-employment/employment-in-the-private-sector/employment-laws-and-regulations-in-the-private-sector, u.ae (partly verified) , on .

  4. In force: 2023 Federal (all emirates)

    Before
    Traditional end-of-service gratuity only
    Now
    Voluntary alternative: employer pays monthly into SCA-approved investment fund; employee gets contributions plus returns within 14 days of termination; applies to private sector and free zones
    Legal basis
    Cabinet Resolution No. 96 of 2023; Ministerial Resolution No. 668 of 2023
    Pages affected
    /tools/gratuity-calculator/

    Verified against Official page: https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/jobs/Sector-of-employment/employment-in-the-private-sector/employment-laws-and-regulations-in-the-private-sector, u.ae (partly verified) , on .

  5. In force: 2 Feb 2022 Federal (all emirates)

    Before
    Unlimited and limited contracts both allowed
    Now
    Fixed-term contracts only; existing unlimited contracts to be converted within one year (Cabinet may extend)
    Legal basis
    Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021
    Pages affected
    Work and employment

    Verified against Official page: https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/jobs/Sector-of-employment/employment-in-the-private-sector/employment-laws-and-regulations-in-the-private-sector, u.ae (partly verified) , on .

  6. In force: 2 Feb 2022 Federal (all emirates)

    Before
    No earlier rule stated in the source.
    Now
    Gratuity on basic salary after 1 year: 21 days per year for first 5 years, 30 days per year after; paid within 14 days of termination
    Legal basis
    Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021Art. 51
    Pages affected
    /tools/gratuity-calculator/

    Verified against Official page: https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/jobs/Sector-of-employment/employment-in-the-private-sector/employment-laws-and-regulations-in-the-private-sector, Art. 51, u.ae (partly verified) , on .

  7. In force: 2 Feb 2022 Federal (all emirates)

    Before
    Federal Law No. 8 of 1980
    Now
    New private-sector Labour Law in force
    Legal basis
    Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021
    Pages affected
    Work and employment

    Verified against Official page: https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/jobs/Sector-of-employment/employment-in-the-private-sector/employment-laws-and-regulations-in-the-private-sector, u.ae (partly verified) , on .

  8. In force: 2 Feb 2022 Federal (all emirates)

    Before
    No earlier rule stated in the source.
    Now
    60 days: 45 full pay + 15 half pay; plus up to 45 unpaid days for pregnancy-related illness; 30 extra paid days if baby sick/disabled
    Legal basis
    Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021Art. 30
    Pages affected
    Work and employment, Family and personal status

    Verified against Official page: https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/jobs/Sector-of-employment/employment-in-the-private-sector/employment-laws-and-regulations-in-the-private-sector, Art. 30, u.ae (partly verified) , on .

  9. In force: 2 Feb 2022 Federal (all emirates)

    Before
    No earlier rule stated in the source.
    Now
    Notice for termination after probation: minimum 30 days, maximum 90 days, in writing
    Legal basis
    Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021Art. 43
    Pages affected
    /work/fired-what-now/

    Verified against u.ae: Terminating employment contracts, Art. 43, UAE Government portal (u.ae) (partly verified) , on .

  10. In force: 2 Feb 2022 Federal (all emirates)

    Before
    No earlier rule stated in the source.
    Now
    Probation max 6 months; employer termination needs 14 days notice; employee moving to UAE employer 1 month notice, leaving UAE 14 days
    Legal basis
    Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021
    Pages affected
    Work and employment

    Verified against Official page: https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/jobs/Sector-of-employment/employment-in-the-private-sector/employment-laws-and-regulations-in-the-private-sector, u.ae (partly verified) , on .

  11. In force: 2022 Federal (all emirates) Partly verified

    Before
    No earlier rule stated in the source.
    Now
    Firms with 50+ employees must raise Emirati share of skilled jobs by 2% per year, 10% total by 2026
    Legal basis
    Cabinet decision (Nafis)
    Pages affected
    Work and employment

    Verified against Official page: https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/jobs/Sector-of-employment/employment-in-the-private-sector/employment-laws-and-regulations-in-the-private-sector, u.ae (partly verified) , on .

Family

  1. In force: 15 Apr 2025 Federal (all emirates)

    Before
    Federal Law No. 28 of 2005
    Now
    New personal status law for Muslims (and Muslim man/non-Muslim wife): marriage, divorce, custody, alimony, wills, inheritance
    Legal basis
    Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2024 on the Personal Status Law
    Pages affected
    Family and personal status

    Verified against Official page: https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/social-affairs/Life-events/marriages/marriage-as-per-the-sharia-law, u.ae (partly verified) , on .

  2. In force: 2023 Federal (all emirates) Partly verified

    Before
    No earlier rule stated in the source.
    Now
    Executive Regulations for Decree-Law 41/2022; civil divorce cases skip family guidance
    Legal basis
    Cabinet Resolution No. 122 of 2023
    Pages affected
    Family and personal status

    Verified against Official page: https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/social-affairs/Life-events/divorce-in-the-uae, u.ae (partly verified) , on .

  3. In force: 2021 Abu Dhabi Partly verified

    Before
    No civil marriage for non-Muslims
    Now
    Civil marriage for non-Muslims (residents and visitors), no-fault divorce, joint custody by default, civil wills via ADJD
    Legal basis
    Abu Dhabi Law No. 14 of 2021 on Civil Marriage and its EffectsArt. 4-5
    Pages affected
    Family and personal status

    Verified against Official page: https://www.adjd.gov.ae/EN/Pages/CivilMarriage.aspx, Art. 4-5, www.adjd.gov.ae (partly verified) , on .

Health insurance

  1. In force: 1 Jan 2025 Federal (all emirates)

    Before
    Not mandatory outside Abu Dhabi/Dubai
    Now
    Health insurance prerequisite for issuing/renewing residence of domestic workers
    Legal basis
    Federal health insurance scheme (MoHRE)
    Pages affected
    Work and employment, Healthcare and insurance

    Verified against Getting a health insurance, UAE Government portal (u.ae) (partly verified) , on .

  2. In force: Date not confirmed Dubai Partly verified

    Before
    No earlier rule stated in the source.
    Now
    Health insurance mandatory for all categories under Dubai Law 11/2013; employers cover employees, sponsors cover dependants
    Legal basis
    Dubai Law No. 11 of 2013; Administrative Resolution No. 78 of 2022
    Pages affected
    Healthcare and insurance

    Verified against ISAHD Frequently Asked Questions (page last modified 25-03-2026), Dubai Health Authority (ISAHD) (partly verified) , on .

Job-loss insurance

  1. In force: 2023 Federal (all emirates) Partly verified

    Before
    No fine
    Now
    AED 400 fine for worker who does not subscribe/pay
    Legal basis
    Ministerial Decision No. 340 of 2023
    Pages affected
    Work and employment

    Verified against u.ae: Insurance against job loss, UAE Government portal (u.ae) (partly verified) , on .

Housing

  1. In force: Date not confirmed Dubai

    Before
    No earlier rule stated in the source.
    Now
    Allowed increase 0% if rent is less than 10% below index average, rising in bands to max 20% when the gap to the average exceeds 40%
    Legal basis
    Decree No. 43 of 2013
    Pages affected
    Housing

    Verified against Official page: https://dubailand.gov.ae/en/news-media/smart-rental-index-announcement, dubailand.gov.ae (partly verified) , on .

Visas

  1. In force: Date not confirmed Federal (all emirates) Partly verified

    Before
    Sponsorship tied to job title/profession
    Now
    Any resident employee can sponsor family with salary AED 4,000, or AED 3,000 plus accommodation
    Legal basis
    ICP rule
    Pages affected
    /visas/family-sponsorship/

    Verified against u.ae: Residence visa for family members (updated 28 Sep 2026), UAE Government portal (u.ae), citing ICP (partly verified) , on .

  2. In force: Date not confirmed Federal (all emirates) Partly verified

    Before
    No remote-work residence
    Now
    1-year self-sponsored virtual work visa; salary certificate min USD 3,500/month; health insurance required
    Legal basis
    Not identified
    Pages affected
    Visas and residency

    Verified against Secondary reference for visa-remote-01-virtual-work, u.ae (partly verified) , on .

Money and investing

  1. In force: Date not confirmed Federal (all emirates) Partly verified

    Before
    Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA), sca.gov.ae
    Now
    Capital Market Authority (CMA), uaecma.gov.ae; sca.gov.ae redirects there
    Legal basis
    Not stated in the source.
    Source text
    Entities that have been licensed or authorized by the Securities and Commodities Authority
    Pages affected
    Money, banking and tax

    Verified against CMA open data: licensed companies, Licensed companies page, Capital Market Authority (CMA, formerly SCA) , on .

What changed on this page

  • First version: 21 rule changes checked against official sources, with RSS feed.