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The Gulf Expat

How much notice do I give when I resign in the UAE?

The notice period in your contract, which must be between 30 and 90 days, given in writing (Art. 43(1)). On probation it is at least 1 month to join another UAE employer, or 14 days to leave the UAE (Art. 9).

Checked 21 October 2026

Get your datesEvery deadline as a date, from your last working day.

What to do now

  1. Find the notice period in your contract, or ask HR for it in writing.
  2. Fill in the UAE resignation letter and keep a dated copy.
  3. Add 14 days to your last day: that is when final pay is due. The leaving plan works it out.
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Example only: an expat who resigned, with a last working day of 7 Nov 2026. Tap it to build your own.

What to ask HR

  1. What notice period does my contract set?
  2. Will you agree to an earlier last day, in writing?
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Find your number

Look in your employment contract for the notice period. The law lets it be anything from 30 to 90 days.

The same period applies to both sides, unless a different one helps you as the worker (Art. 43(2)).

If you cannot find it, ask HR for the figure in writing before you hand in your letter.

Give it in writing

Article 43 asks for written notice. A dated letter or email that HR acknowledges works well.

Keep a copy that shows the date you gave it, because your notice counts from that day.

The Decree-Law does not say your employer has to accept your resignation. Once you give notice, you work through it.

During the notice

  • You keep working and are paid your full wage (Art. 43(2)).
  • The unpaid job-search day each week is only for workers whose employer ended the contract (Art. 43(5)).
  • Your contract carries on, and you keep working, until your last day (Art. 43(1)).

Leaving earlier

You can agree with your employer to shorten the notice, or skip it. You keep your rights for the notice period (Art. 43(2)).

Get that agreement in writing, with your new last day on it.

If you leave early without agreement, you owe your employer the wage for the notice you did not serve. It is based on your last wage (Art. 43(3) and (4)).

The same applies the other way. If your employer cuts your notice short without agreement, it owes you that wage.

If you are on probation

  • Moving to another UAE employer: at least 1 month in writing (Art. 9(3)).
  • Leaving the UAE: at least 14 days in writing (Art. 9(4)).
  • Skipping it: you owe the wage for the notice (Art. 9(5)).

When you can leave at once

Article 45 lets you quit without notice, keeping your end of service rights, in four cases. One is a breach your employer has not fixed after you tell MoHRE 14 working days ahead.

Others are an assault or harassment you report within 5 working days, and serious danger at work. The last is work very different from what you agreed.

Free zones

DIFC and ADGM have their own employment laws, with their own notice rules. Ask your free zone's employment authority.