The Law is Applicable to Employees of Government Authorities & Companies in the UAE

Analysis

The UAE labour law applies to the majority of employees in the UAE. However employees of governmental or semi-governmental organisations or government companies (“Public Entity or Public Entities”) may be subject to the UAE Labour Law or the appropriate civil service law (either Federal or Emirate level) (“Civil Service Law”). In practice the position in respect of the applicable employment law for Public Entities can often be unclear. 

From an employer's perspective the UAE Labour Law is a much more beneficial legal framework to work within as the Civil Service Law places quite onerous requirements on the employer, particularly in relation to termination of employment.

In this article we will identify and discuss the law to be applied to the employees of Public Entities both at a Federal level and at an Emirate level. 

Federal Level 

What are Public Entities?