https://uaehandbook.org/rule-changes/ Changes to UAE rules, each checked against the official source. en https://uaehandbook.org/rule-changes/#wps-due-date-2026 https://uaehandbook.org/rule-changes/#wps-due-date-2026 Work Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT Federal (all emirates). In force: 2026. Before: no earlier rule stated. 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. https://uaehandbook.org/rule-changes/#federal-personal-status-2024 https://uaehandbook.org/rule-changes/#federal-personal-status-2024 Family Tue, 15 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT Federal (all emirates). In force: 15 Apr 2025. 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. https://uaehandbook.org/rule-changes/#health-ins-domestic-workers https://uaehandbook.org/rule-changes/#health-ins-domestic-workers Health insurance Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT Federal (all emirates). In force: 1 Jan 2025. 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). https://uaehandbook.org/rule-changes/#emiratisation-20-49 https://uaehandbook.org/rule-changes/#emiratisation-20-49 Work Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT Federal (all emirates). In force: 2024. Before: no earlier rule stated. 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. https://uaehandbook.org/rule-changes/#emiratisation-50plus-penalty https://uaehandbook.org/rule-changes/#emiratisation-50plus-penalty Work Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT Federal (all emirates). In force: 2023. Before: no earlier rule stated. 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). https://uaehandbook.org/rule-changes/#federal-civil-ps-exec-regs https://uaehandbook.org/rule-changes/#federal-civil-ps-exec-regs Family Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT Federal (all emirates). In force: 2023. Before: no earlier rule stated. Now: Executive Regulations for Decree-Law 41/2022; civil divorce cases skip family guidance. Legal basis: Cabinet Resolution No. 122 of 2023. Partly verified. https://uaehandbook.org/rule-changes/#gratuity-savings-scheme https://uaehandbook.org/rule-changes/#gratuity-savings-scheme Work Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT Federal (all emirates). In force: 2023. 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. https://uaehandbook.org/rule-changes/#iloe-fine-400 https://uaehandbook.org/rule-changes/#iloe-fine-400 Job-loss insurance Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT Federal (all emirates). In force: 2023. Before: No fine. Now: AED 400 fine for worker who does not subscribe/pay. Legal basis: Ministerial Decision No. 340 of 2023. Partly verified. https://uaehandbook.org/rule-changes/#contract-fixed-term-only https://uaehandbook.org/rule-changes/#contract-fixed-term-only Work Wed, 02 Feb 2022 00:00:00 GMT Federal (all emirates). In force: 2 Feb 2022. 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. https://uaehandbook.org/rule-changes/#gratuity-basic-21-30-days https://uaehandbook.org/rule-changes/#gratuity-basic-21-30-days Work Wed, 02 Feb 2022 00:00:00 GMT Federal (all emirates). In force: 2 Feb 2022. Before: no earlier rule stated. 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 2021, Art. 51. https://uaehandbook.org/rule-changes/#labour-law-2021-in-force https://uaehandbook.org/rule-changes/#labour-law-2021-in-force Work Wed, 02 Feb 2022 00:00:00 GMT Federal (all emirates). In force: 2 Feb 2022. Before: Federal Law No. 8 of 1980. Now: New private-sector Labour Law in force. Legal basis: Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021. https://uaehandbook.org/rule-changes/#maternity-leave-60-days https://uaehandbook.org/rule-changes/#maternity-leave-60-days Work Wed, 02 Feb 2022 00:00:00 GMT Federal (all emirates). In force: 2 Feb 2022. Before: no earlier rule stated. 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 2021, Art. 30. https://uaehandbook.org/rule-changes/#notice-period-30-90 https://uaehandbook.org/rule-changes/#notice-period-30-90 Work Wed, 02 Feb 2022 00:00:00 GMT Federal (all emirates). In force: 2 Feb 2022. Before: no earlier rule stated. Now: Notice for termination after probation: minimum 30 days, maximum 90 days, in writing. Legal basis: Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Art. 43. https://uaehandbook.org/rule-changes/#probation-max-6-months https://uaehandbook.org/rule-changes/#probation-max-6-months Work Wed, 02 Feb 2022 00:00:00 GMT Federal (all emirates). In force: 2 Feb 2022. Before: no earlier rule stated. 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. https://uaehandbook.org/rule-changes/#emiratisation-50plus-2pct https://uaehandbook.org/rule-changes/#emiratisation-50plus-2pct Work Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT Federal (all emirates). In force: 2022. Before: no earlier rule stated. 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). Partly verified. https://uaehandbook.org/rule-changes/#ad-civil-marriage-law https://uaehandbook.org/rule-changes/#ad-civil-marriage-law Family Fri, 01 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT Abu Dhabi. In force: 2021. 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 Effects, Art. 4-5. Partly verified. https://uaehandbook.org/rule-changes/#dubai-rent-increase-bands https://uaehandbook.org/rule-changes/#dubai-rent-increase-bands Housing Tue, 06 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Dubai. In force: Date not confirmed. Before: no earlier rule stated. 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. https://uaehandbook.org/rule-changes/#family-sponsor-salary https://uaehandbook.org/rule-changes/#family-sponsor-salary Visas Tue, 06 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Federal (all emirates). In force: Date not confirmed. 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. Partly verified. https://uaehandbook.org/rule-changes/#health-ins-dubai-mandatory https://uaehandbook.org/rule-changes/#health-ins-dubai-mandatory Health insurance Tue, 06 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Dubai. In force: Date not confirmed. Before: no earlier rule stated. 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. Partly verified. https://uaehandbook.org/rule-changes/#sca-renamed-cma https://uaehandbook.org/rule-changes/#sca-renamed-cma Money and investing Tue, 06 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Federal (all emirates). In force: Date not confirmed. Before: Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA), sca.gov.ae. Now: Capital Market Authority (CMA), uaecma.gov.ae; sca.gov.ae redirects there. Legal basis: null. Partly verified. https://uaehandbook.org/rule-changes/#virtual-work-visa https://uaehandbook.org/rule-changes/#virtual-work-visa Visas Tue, 06 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Federal (all emirates). In force: Date not confirmed. 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. Partly verified.