Employees need to give two-weeks notice during probation under new UAE employment laws

Private sector employees now need to give a minimum 14-day notice period to their employers. (Shutterstock)
Short Url
Updated 08 June 2022
Follow

Employees need to give two-weeks notice during probation under new UAE employment laws

RIYADH: Under the amended labor laws in the UAE, private sector employees now need to give a minimum 14-day notice period to their employers if they plan to resign during probation, according to the government.

Employees are required to give a one-month notice if they wish to join another employer in the UAE, head of labor complaints at the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization said, noting that there was no notice required earlier from either party to terminate the employment. 

Ahmad Al Shehi was speaking at a forum organized by the Labour Standards Development Authority in Sharjah, Khaleej Times reported. 

The UAE has also introduced changes to family leave entitlements, discrimination laws, termination of employment and “non-compete” clauses in employment contracts. 

Earlier, non-competition clauses were allowed, without a maximum length, Shehi said, explaining that “the maximum permitted length was generally considered to be 12 months.” 

However, the new laws allow non-competition clauses to be used and last up to two years. 

“The new laws have put in place a few standards that protect both the employer and the employee. The clauses for non-competition must not harm either party in a severe way,” he added. 


QatarEnergy announces force majeure following Iran attacks: statement

Updated 04 March 2026
Follow

QatarEnergy announces force majeure following Iran attacks: statement

DOHA: Qatar’s state-run energy firm on Wednesday declared force majeure following attacks on two of its main facilities that halted liquefied natural gas production and as Iran pressed missile and drone attacks across the Gulf.

“Further to the announcement by QatarEnergy to stop production of liquefied natural gas and associated products, QatarEnergy has declared Force Majeure to its affected buyers,” the company said in a statement.

QatarEnergy invoked the clause, which shields it from penalties and potential breach of contract claims from clients, after stopping LNG production on Monday.

Iranian drones attacked two of the company’s main production hubs in Ras Laffan Industrial City, 80 km north of Doha and in Mesaieed 40 km south of the Qatari capital, Doha’s ministry of defense said at the time.

The Gulf state is one of the world’s top liquefied natural gas producers, alongside the US, Australia and Russia.

On Tuesday, QatarEnergy said it would halt some downstream production of some products including urea, polymers, methanol, aluminum and others.

Qatar shares the world’s largest natural gas reservoir with Iran.

QatarEnergy estimates the Gulf state’s portion of the reservoir, the North Field, holds about 10 percent of the world’s known natural gas reserves.

In recent years, Qatar has inked a series of long-term LNG deals with France’s Total, Britain’s Shell, India’s Petronet, China’s Sinopec and Italy’s Eni, among others.