What's Ahead for UAE Employees: Long Term Incentives?

Analysis

At least four years on from the onset of global recession, the employment environment in the UAE has settled and the widespread terminations of a few years ago have passed. As the quiet summer period draws to an end, our focus turns to employment practices and what's on the horizon for UAE employers and employees.

As the employment arena continues to develop in the UAE, more and more employers are moving beyond labour law minimums in relation to employee entitlements and practices. Employers are increasingly raising the bar and looking to international best practice when determining employee rights and benefits, for example, in the areas of protection against discrimination, maternity/paternity leave, pensions and disciplinary and performance policies. The natural progression in this evolutionary process leads employers to offering employees equity based incentives.

The role of equity incentives