Employers must formally request public holiday work and pay 50% premium or grant compensatory leave — UAE employees
The employee shall be entitled to official leave with full pay in public holidays determined by decision of the Cabinet.
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- Corporate · UAE
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Under Article 28 of Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021, UAE employees are entitled to official leave with full pay on public holidays. If an employer requires work on a public holiday, the requirement must be clearly communicated and properly recorded. Employees are then eligible for either compensatory leave for each day worked or payment of regular salary plus at least 50 per cent additional pay of basic salary for those days. An employer cannot simply assume an employee will work on a public holiday without official notification.
Source
Reported by: Khaleej Times 21 Jun 2026 Read the original ↗ More from Khaleej Times →
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Who reported this?
Khaleej Times (UAE).
When was it announced?
21 Jun 2026.
Where can I read the original?
Read the original at Khaleej Times: https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/legal/uae-employment-law-employer-work-on-public-holidays-compensatory-leave-legal
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