Paternity Leave in UAE

In 2026, the UAE gives new fathers an important legal right to spend time with their newborn without losing their income through paid parental leave, commonly known as Paternity Leave in UAE. Under the current UAE Labor Law, male employees in the private sector are entitled to 5 working days of fully paid parental leave, and the leave should be taken within 6 months of the birth of the child. This is commonly searched as 5 days paternity leave in UAE, although the legal term used for the entitlement is parental leave. The same parental leave UAE entitlement is available to both mothers and fathers in the private sector.

Thus, this guide explains what Paternity Leave in UAE is, who is eligible, the difference between the private and public sector regulations, and the obligations of the employers in the UAE labor law. We will also look at paternity leave as per UAE labor law, how UAE paternity leave works for fathers, and how it differs from maternity leave.

What is Paternity Leave in UAE?

A father is legally allowed to take Paternity Leave in the UAE to spend time with his newborn away from his job. In simple terms, paternity leave in UAE for fathers allows eligible employees to take paid time away from work after the birth of their child.

Under the private-sector UAE Labor Law, this entitlement is legally referred to as parental leave, and it is available to both the mother and father of the baby. Therefore, when people search for maternity leave for husbands in UAE, they are generally referring to the parental leave available to fathers after the birth of their child.

Law on Paternity Leave in UAE

What's more, UAE made history by becoming the first Arab country to provide parental leave to employees in the private sector. This followed the 2020 amendment to the Labor Law. As a result, fathers have since become legally eligible for 5 working days of paid parental leave. Thus, it should be taken within 6 months of the birth of the child.

This is the basis of what employees commonly call UAE paternity leave. While the term paternity leave is widely used, the law provides a parental leave entitlement that covers both parents.

Moreover, this rule is effective in 2026 for private-sector employees covered by the UAE Labor Law, regardless of nationality. Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, as amended, is the current UAE Labor Law governing employment relationships in the private sector.

Thus, fathers can take this leave either consecutively or non-consecutively and have to avail it within 6 months of the birth of the child. This is an important point for anyone checking paternity leave as per UAE labour law. With the right HR software, employers can easily track leave eligibility, balances, and usage.

Fact: The entitlement is for 5 working days, rather than five calendar days. The leave can be taken consecutively or intermittently within the permitted period under UAE labor law. This is why 5 days paternity leave in the UAE is generally understood as five working days of paid parental leave.

Paternity Leave in UAE for Private Sector 2026

• 5 days paid leave: Employees are entitled to 5 working days of paid parental leave within 6 months of the child's birth.
• For fathers: This is the statutory paternity leave in UAE for father, allowing new fathers to spend time with their newborn without taking unpaid leave.
• Working days: The entitlement is counted as working days, based on the employee's applicable work schedule.
• For both parents: The 5-day parental leave entitlement is available to both mothers and fathers.
• Separate from maternity leave: Female employees are entitled to 60 days of maternity leave - 45 days at full pay and 15 days at half pay.
• Important: A husband does not receive maternity leave; he receives the separate parental leave UAE entitlement.

Paternity Leave in UAE for Public Sector 2025

 In the UAE Federal Government, employees who have a newborn child are entitled to 5 working days of paid parental leave, whether they are the mother or father.

Furthermore, the policies in the public sector are not centralized in the same way across all government entities. Federal government employees have a 5-day parental leave entitlement, while local government entities may have their own standards depending on the emirate and internal policies. Performance management software can also help organizations keep employee records and leave-related information organized.

Therefore, Paternity Leave in the UAE can differ depending on whether an employee works for a private company, the Federal Government, or a local government entity. Employees should check the policy applicable to their specific organization before applying for leave.

Employee Tip: Your HR department or official contract can confirm whether or not you are entitled to public HR Law or Civil Service rules.

Benefits of Paternity Leave in UAE

Also, fathers in the UAE will receive full pay during their paternity leave days. Because parental leave is paid, employers should provide the employee's applicable wage for the approved parental leave period.

For a new father, UAE paternity leave can provide valuable time to support the mother, care for the newborn and adjust to the responsibilities that come with becoming a parent.

The availability of paternity leave in UAE for fathers also gives employees greater flexibility during the first few months after a child's birth.

Remain In compliance with Paternity Leave Laws in UAE with Zimyo

Since the administration of Paternity Leave in UAE policies in different jurisdictions may be a tricky subject – particularly in the case of a business establishment that has to comply with constantly changing labor regulations in the UAE.

Moreover, when you use Zimyo Payroll software, there is no need to be concerned with leave balances tracking, eligibility rules, or local compliance.

• Automated Leave Tracking: Leave (paid, half paid and unpaid) period (according to UAE law) can be automatically calculated.
• Custom Leave Policies: Adoption leave, extensions, and other varieties are simple to set up and apply to your workforce.
• Compliance Monitoring: Keep in touch with the live law updates – MOHRE updates, as well as amendments within a specific sector.
• Employee Self-Service: Allow your staff to check the leave balances, request to go on leave and provide them with online access to their documents.
• HR Dashboard: HR can get a centralized view of all the leave statuses to ensure there is zero legal slip up.

A reliable HR system can also make it easier for companies to manage parental leave UAE requirements, maintain accurate leave balances and give employees visibility into their available leave.

Applying for Paternity Leave : Step-by-Step Guide

Furthermore, male employees can apply for paternity leave in the UAE after the birth of the baby, in accordance with their employer's leave process. Consequently, to apply for the parental leave you must follow these steps:

• Create a leave plan for the person who will be covered for those paternity leave days.
• Let employees know about the leave.
• Make sure their colleagues are aware of their leave.
• Ensure employees come back once the leave ends so work can be carried out smoothly.

When applying for 5 days paternity leave in the UAE, employees should also check their company's internal process for submitting the request and any documents that may be required.

The process can vary between employers, even though the basic statutory entitlement under paternity leave as per UAE labor law remains the same for covered private-sector employees.

Paternity Leave : Best Practices

Besides complying with the UAE Labor Law regarding Paternity Leave in UAE, the employers should follow certain practices as team members:

1. Communicate Paternity Leave Policies to Employees

All in all, employers should communicate their paternity leave in UAE policy to employees in advance so that they are aware of their entitlements. Therefore, these policies must be included in the company’s policies or employee’s handbook.

Clear communication also helps employees understand the difference between paternity leave and maternity leave and know when they can request their parental leave.

2. Offer Additional Support

An employer can provide additional support to the employees who take UAE paternity leave such as providing them work from home for a few days or some resources male employees would require as a father.

While the statutory parental leave UAE entitlement provides paid leave, companies can choose to offer additional benefits depending on their internal policies.

3. Ensure compliance with UAE Paternity Leave and other Employment Laws

Although the employer may choose to provide employees with paternity or parental leave beyond the prescribed limit, it is also necessary to comply with the UAE Labor Law regarding Paternity Leave in UAE.

Employers should ensure that eligible employees receive their 5 days paternity leave in UAE entitlement correctly and that leave records are maintained accurately.

Conclusion

Paternity Leave in the UAE shows how the country is working to support employees and their families in a caring way. While the private sector follows a standard 5-working-day paid parental leave entitlement, public-sector rules can differ between federal and local government entities.

For fathers, UAE paternity leave provides an opportunity to spend important time with their newborn while continuing to receive their applicable pay. Understanding paternity leave as per UAE labor law can also help employees plan their leave properly and avoid confusion around eligibility and timing.

For organizations, keeping up with regulations while making sure employees have a smooth experience is important and that's where HR software helps. Make leave management easier and ensure accuracy, compliance, and efficiency at every step.