The employee's right to claim air ticket upon resignation

Yes, the employer is obliged to pay the cost of the air ticket to the employee's home country upon resignation or termination (end of service).

However, this only applies if the employee is, in fact, going to his home country and not going to work somewhere else in the UAE, whereas in this scenario the employer is not obliged to pay the home ticket as the employee is not travelling home.

Article 131 of the Labor law stipulates that: "Expenses for repatriation of an employee to his place of origin or any other place agreed upon by both parties shall be borne by the employer. If the employee after the end of his contract takes up employment somewhere else, repatriation expenses upon termination of his service shall be paid by the last employer subject to the provisions of the preceding clauses, and if the employer has failed to repatriate the employee and has not paid the repatriation expenses, the competent authorities shall do this at the employer's expense by way of attachment."

Hope the above has clarified your query.