Employers cannot terminate maternity-leave workers; notice period starts after return

UAE employment law protects workers on maternity leave from termination. Article 30 prohibits terminating a female worker's employment or serving notice because of pregnancy, maternity leave, or related absence. Article 35 provides that if either party wishes to terminate the contract while the worker is on leave, the notice period does not commence until the day after the scheduled return from leave, unless both parties agree otherwise. Although redundancy may be a valid reason for termination unrelated to maternity status, employers should serve notice of termination on the employee's first scheduled working day after return from maternity leave to avoid legal risks of claims that the termination is connected to the maternity leave.