UAE Maternity Leave: Complete 2026 Guide
Your full maternity entitlement in the UAE private sector — the 45+15 day structure, who pays, the extras for a sick newborn, and nursing breaks on return.
→ Open the UAE Maternity Leave Calculator
UAE maternity rights in the private sector are set by Article 30 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021. They are generous by regional standards and — importantly — apply from your very first day of work.
The 60-day structure
| Period | Pay |
|---|---|
| First 45 days | Full pay (100%) |
| Next 15 days | Half pay (50%) |
| Total | 60 calendar days |
The first 45 days are paid in full; the following 15 are paid at half. Your employer pays this directly — there is no state maternity fund involved for private-sector salary during leave.
No minimum service required
Unlike gratuity, maternity leave has no tenure requirement. It applies from day one of employment. A woman who gives birth in her first month of a job is entitled to the same 60 days as a ten-year veteran.
Extra leave for a sick or disabled newborn
If the baby is born sick or with a disability, the mother is entitled to a further 30 days of full pay, plus an additional 30 days unpaid, on production of a medical certificate.
Pregnancy-related illness leave
Separately, a woman may take up to 45 days of unpaid leave for illness related to pregnancy or childbirth, again supported by a medical certificate.
Nursing breaks after you return
On returning to work, you are entitled to up to one hour per day of paid nursing breaks for six months. These are fully paid and are on top of normal rest breaks.
How the pay is worked out
The paid portion is based on your salary. For the 45 full-pay days you receive 100%, and for the 15 half-pay days you receive 50%. Our maternity leave calculator converts your monthly salary into the exact figure for each block. Maternity leave does not interrupt your service, so it continues to count toward gratuity.
Protection from dismissal and your return
Maternity leave is a protected entitlement: an employer cannot terminate you, or serve notice, because you are pregnant or on maternity leave. Your service continues to run throughout, so gratuity and leave keep accruing. When you return, the six-month paid nursing-break window begins — up to one hour per day, fully paid, on top of normal breaks. If your role has changed or you need adjustments, raise it early; the law protects the job, not necessarily every detail of the previous arrangement.
Because entitlement applies from day one with no tenure test, a woman hired while pregnant is still covered — a point some employers get wrong. The 45+15 structure and the extra sick-newborn leave are statutory minimums, and many employers offer more generous policies on top.
Key takeaways
- 60 days total: 45 at full pay, then 15 at half pay.
- No minimum service — the entitlement applies from your first day.
- Sick or disabled newborn: +30 days full pay and +30 days unpaid, with a certificate.
- Up to 1 paid hour/day of nursing breaks for 6 months after you return.
- Leave counts as continuous service, so gratuity keeps accruing.
Frequently asked questions
How many days of paid maternity leave in the UAE?
60 calendar days total: the first 45 days at full pay and the remaining 15 days at half pay, under Article 30.
Do I need minimum service to qualify for UAE maternity leave?
No. It applies from your first day of employment, with no tenure requirement.
What if my baby is born sick or with a disability?
You get a further 30 days of full pay plus 30 additional days unpaid, on a medical certificate.
Do I get nursing breaks when I return to work?
Yes — up to one hour per day, fully paid, for six months after you return.
Who pays my salary during maternity leave?
Your employer pays it directly. The first 45 days are at full pay and the next 15 at half pay.
Related calculators & guides
More UAE employment calculators
Calcnate keeps a full set of law-accurate UAE tools so you can check every part of an exit or contract in one place. Each is built on Federal Decree-Law 33/2021 and the same figures explained above:
- UAE Gratuity Calculator — your end-of-service lump sum on the 21/30-day bands.
- UAE Final Settlement Calculator — gratuity, leave, notice and pending pay combined.
- UAE Notice Period Calculator — notice length and pay in lieu.
- UAE Leave Encashment Calculator — cash value of unused annual leave.
- UAE Probation Period Calculator — the six-month rules and notice.
- UAE Maternity Leave Calculator — the 45+15 day pay split.
- UAE Unemployment Insurance (ILOE) Calculator — your involuntary-loss payout.
Browse everything on the UAE hub.