Employee Leave Entitlements

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Overview

  • This Practice Note covers employment benefits related to leave in the DIFC and sets out the key types of leave which DIFC employees are entitled to in accordance with DIFC Employment Law, DIFC Law No. 2/2019, as amended (DIFC Employment Law).

  • This Practice Note considers the DIFC jurisdiction only and does not discuss the UAE onshore jurisdiction or other freezones.

Definitions

  • DIFC: Dubai International Financial Centre.

  • DIFC Employment Law: DIFC Law No. 2/2019, as amended.

Practical Guidance

Applicable law

The principal legislation governing the employment relationship is DIFC Law No. 2/2019, as amended (DIFC Employment Law), which came into force on 28 August 2019, and repealed and replaced DIFC Law No. 4/2005 and DIFC Law No. 3/2012.

DIFC Law No. 2/2019 (as amended) applies to employers where they have an entity registered in the DIFC and employees where either the employee is employed under an employment contract by an entity registered in the DIFC and either (i) is based within, or ordinarily works from, the DIFC or, (ii) agreed in the employment contract to be subject to DIFC Law No. 2/2019. Annual leave