How much paid maternity leave you're entitled to in the UAE and what it's worth — per Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Article 30.
Figures in AED.
| Service | Entitlement |
|---|---|
| Total maternity leave | 60 calendar days |
| First 45 days | Full pay (100%) |
| Remaining 15 days | Half pay (50%) |
| Minimum service required | None — applies from day one of employment |
| If newborn is sick/disabled | +30 days full pay, +30 further days unpaid (with medical certificate) |
| Nursing breaks after return | Up to 1 hour/day, fully paid, for 6 months |
| Who pays | Employer, in full |
Also available: 45 days unpaid leave for pregnancy/childbirth-related illness, on a medical certificate. Source: UAE Federal Decree-Law 33/2021 (Art. 30).
60 calendar days total: the first 45 days at full (100%) pay, and the remaining 15 days at half (50%) pay — under Article 30 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021.
No — it applies from your very first day of employment. There's no tenure requirement, unlike some other UAE benefits.
You're entitled to a further 30 days of fully paid leave, plus an additional 30 days unpaid, to care for a sick or disabled newborn, with a medical certificate.
Yes — up to 1 hour per day, fully paid, for 6 months after you return from maternity leave.
Your employer pays it in full. There's no separate government or social-insurance maternity fund for the private sector in the UAE.