Q: I am working in a company in Abu Dhabi on an unlimited contract (Joined on 19/06/2019). Now I want to resign from the company. Should I follow my old contract (old UAE labor law) or the new contract (new labor law)?

Q: Hello Sir/Madam Good morning. I just wanted to ask that I want to change my company for a certain reason and also it's been like only 7-8 months that I'm working here. It's a limited contract for 2 years. Employers said if I resigned they will put a heavy penalty. So am I allowed to leave or not? Or how much should I pay them back?

Q: Hi Miss Rajasree, I am Electrical Engineer, MBA - Canada, and have dual nationality. Pakistani and Canadian. I am working with a company in Dubai. I worked with this company for the last four years and had two times 02-year residence visas issued from this company now again just a few days back this company stamped my residence visa for the next two years. Based on the insulting working environment at this company. My question is can I leave this company immediately or not, or is there any time frame I can leave this company? Will there be any ban if I leave this company now and start looking for a new job or found a new job or if this company fires me now? Will there be any ban on me before I get another job? I will wait for your kind advice in this regard. I appreciate it.

Q: I started working on February 2021 under an unlimited contract in Dubai, UAE, and I'm resigning in 2023. Am I entitled to 21 days of gratuity as per the new end-of-service law? Does the new law supersede the old law? Where can I find the legal proof and official information that the new law supersedes the old law?

The UAE has adopted a major reform in its legislative system that brought about 40 new laws and amendments to the company law, criminal law, personal status, among others. The amendments aim to develop the legislative structure in various sectors, the labor law being one of these, was the most recent. We try in this article to shed light on the changes introduced with the new labor law and their significance on both, the employer and employee.

When an employee or employer mentions legal issues related to their labour relationship, the first question to be raised is: do you have a limited or unlimited labour contract? We try here to shed light on the relevant provisions of the limited and unlimited contracts in the UAE labour law pertaining to resignation, termination of employment, notice period and calculation of the end of service benefits.

The provisions of this Law, known as "UAE Labour Law", govern the relationship between employers and employees and other labour matters in the United Arab Emirates. There are special labour related regulations applicable in some of the free zones in the UAE.

The provisions of this Decree-Law, known as "New UAE Labor Law", govern labour relations in the private sector of the United Arab Emirates. The New Labor Law repeals the previous UAE Labor Law (Federal Law No. (8) of 1980).

This Decree sets the rules and conditions for the termination of fixed-term (limited) or unlimited (not term-bound) employment contract between employer and worker in the United Arab Emirates.