UAE grants five-day paid paternity leave
The United Arab Emirates grants paid paternity leave for the private sector, a first in the Arab world and a move widely welcomed by locals and expats.
On Sept. 1, the United Arab Emirates changed its labor laws and made a groundbreaking decision: Paternity leave for fathers was granted in the private sector. In the public sector, governmental male employees are entitled to three days of paid paternity leave.
The new amendment to the UAE Labor Law was approved by Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, president of the United Arab Emirates.
The decree stipulates that employees in the private sector shall be granted a paid “parental leave” for a period of five working days to care for the child, due from the date of the child's birth until the completion of six months.
The UAE government’s official news agency said, “The decree aims to further cement family cohesion and stability, enhance UAE’s position and competitiveness in the field of gender balance, and encourage young talents to work in the private sector. The paid parental leave is the latest benefit for employees in the private sector.”
