UAE Labour Law lists ten dismissal grounds and private‑sector employee rights

The United Arab Emirates’ Federal Decree‑Law No. 33 of 2021, administered by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE), sets out the conditions under which private‑sector employers may terminate employees without notice. Ten specific violations – ranging from presenting forged documents, causing material loss, breaching safety instructions, divulging trade secrets, being under the influence of alcohol or narcotics, assaulting workplace personnel, excessive unauthorised absences, illegal exploitation of position, joining a competitor unlawfully, to repeated failures after written warnings – justify immediate dismissal. Employers must provide written notice of the reasons and, for certain offenses, inform the Ministry within seven working days.

The same law also governs broader employment terms: a standard workweek of 48 hours (or 40 hours during Ramadan) with a mandatory break after five hours, overtime limited to two hours per day, and clear provisions for end‑of‑service benefits and salary protection. These regulations aim to balance worker protections with employer responsibilities in the UAE’s private sector.