UAE: New Employment Guide Details Worker Leave and Benefit Rights

Gulf News, 17 August 2025: The UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has released a detailed employer Guide outlining workers’ rights and leave entitlements under Federal Decree-Law No. 33/2021.

It specifies seven categories of leave available to private-sector employees: annual, sick, study, parental, bereavement, national service, and maternity leave. Workers are entitled to 30 days of paid annual leave for each year of service, while new parents can take five working days of leave within six months of their child’s birth.

Maternity provisions include 60 days of leave for female workers, with 45 days at full pay followed by 15 days at half pay. The guidance also details sick leave allowances of up to 90 days annually, structured as 15 days at full pay, 30 days at half pay, and the remainder unpaid.

Bereavement leave grants five days for the death of a spouse and three days for immediate family members. Educational support includes 10 working days of study leave for workers enrolled in UAE-accredited institutions.

The toolkit additionally clarifies end-of-service benefits, with expatriate workers entitled to 21 days’ basic wage for each of the first five years and 30 days for subsequent years, calculated on their final basic wage.

The document also addresses wage regulations, requiring payment in UAE dirhams unless otherwise specified, and outlines compensation requirements for public holiday work.

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UAE: New Safety Guidelines for Travellers

Gulf News, 11 August 2025: The UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has released comprehensive travel safety guidelines for citizens and residents travelling abroad, accompanied by the launch of a 24-hour emergency support service.

The new guidelines emphasise the importance of adhering to destination countries’ specific travel regulations and local laws. Travellers are specifically instructed to monitor weather and road conditions throughout their journeys.

The Ministry has established a dedicated emergency hotline (00971 800 24) operating round-the-clock for UAE nationals requiring urgent assistance whilst abroad.

The official guidance notably recommends air travel as the preferred mode of transport, citing safety and comfort considerations. For those planning to drive abroad, the Ministry has stressed the need for increased vigilance and strict compliance with local traffic regulations.

Additional measures include a recommendation to arrange travel through established international tour operators and vehicle hire firms to ensure appropriate standards of safety and service.

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UAE: Securities Authority Announces Major Regulatory Updates

Gulf News, 4 August 2025: The Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) of the UAE has unveiled four new regulatory initiatives to modernise the country’s financial markets, including frameworks for carbon credit trading and retail sukuk.

SCA Chief Executive announced that the authority is revising the Capital Market Authority Law to expand its oversight of emerging financial activities. The updates include new legislation for the public company division and standards for goodwill valuation in listed firms.

The authority has established a comprehensive framework for green bonds and sukuk issuance.

The regulatory package introduces specific requirements for carbon credit trading platforms, with operators required to develop their own operational rules within the prescribed framework. A draft regulation for retail sukuk is being finalised to enable fractional investment instruments.

The SCA has maintained its fee waiver for green bond and sukuk listings, whilst implementing new frameworks for tokenised securities and commodity contracts as part of its digital transformation agenda.

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UAE: Bankruptcy Court Created

Khaleej Times, 24 July 2025: The Ministry of Justice announced a decision regarding the organisation of the Bankruptcy Court, which will be headquartered at the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of First Instance.

The court will be responsible for adjudicating all applications and disputes arising from the implementation of the provisions of the Federal Decree-Law on Financial Reorganisation and Bankruptcy (Federal Decree-Law No. 51/2023). The Federal Judiciary Council will also be able to establish one or more branches of the court in any other emirate, subordinate to the main court, to handle these applications and disputes.

The court shall consist of a chief judge with a rank no lower than that of an appellate judge, and several specialised judges appointed by the Federal Judiciary Council.

A bankruptcy division will also be created within the court, headed by a judge of at least appellate rank, which will be responsible for tasks, including receiving applications, objections, and grievances, registering applications, among others.

The court will be able to engage professionals with relevant experience and expertise to perform various tasks such as managing the debtor’s funds and business operations, implementing precautionary measures, expediting procedures, meeting with creditors, and hearing the debtor or their representative on matters related to debts, assets, or operations.

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UAE: Agreement with US on Patent Procedures

Khaleej Times, 20 July 2025: The UAE and the US signed a statement that aims to accelerate patent-granting procedures in the UAE

The agreement was signed at the 66th Assemblies of the Member States of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) in Geneva, by the Ministry of Economy and Tourism and the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

The Joint Statement of Intent aims to launch a bilateral cooperation programme which provides collaborative mechanisms to recognise positive examination results issued by the USPTO for corresponding Emirati patent applications.

This will be implemented in accordance with applicable national laws.

The focus is on industrial property rights and the development of patent registration procedures that provide flexible and efficient services which support an innovation-driven and entrepreneurial environment.

This partnership with the US side is part of a new push to accelerate patent issuance by strengthening international cooperation and adopting advanced operational models.

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