His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has revealed Marriage Leave Dubai under the new Decree No. (31) of 2025. This new law grants 10 working days of full paid marriage leave to Emirati government employees in Dubai.
This move has been taken to promote work-life balance and family values in the emirate. In addition, it aims to empower psychological well-being and support the early stage of marital life.
What You Need to Know: Expert Insight on Marriage Leave Dubai
This update is a milestone in the ongoing efforts of Dubai to modernize its human resource practices. Experts said that this new law for the Marriage Leave Dubai balances personal commitments with professional responsibility. It encourages long-term social stability.
Who Can Avail the New Marriage Leave in Dubai?
As we told you above, this new rule is only applicable to the Emirate Government employees. However, this decree doesn’t apply to all employees working in the government entities.
Take a look at the list of people who can enjoy the marriage leaves in this emirate:
- UAE nationals working in Dubai government entities
- Employees in special development zones and free zones (e.g., Dubai International Financial Centre)
- Judicial authorities and military personnel in Dubai
- Any other category approved by the Chairman of Dubai’s Executive Council
Conditions for Granting Marriage Leave
There are a few conditions that you must fulfill to access the 10 days of marriage leave in Dubai. We have listed those conditions below:
- You must be a UAE citizen
- You must have a spouse who is also an Emirati national
- You must have completed the probationary period at your current government entity
- It is compulsory to submit a certified marriage contract, signed after December 31, 2024, once during the leave request process.
Salary and Benefits During Marriage Leave
The marriage leave Dubai policy will provide you with a guarantee for full gross salary, including the full salary, financial allowance, and any other entitlements. It means that you will not face any deduction in your salary during your marriage leave in Dubai.
You can use this leave at any time within one year of your marriage from the date when the marriage contract was concluded. However, you can use it continuously or intermittently. Moreover, the government entity could transfer the full leave or part of it to the following year if a serious reason is cited and approved by the supervisor.
Now, the confusion is what will happen to your leaves if you get transferred to another government entity in Dubai. The officials have clearly stated that you will retain the rights of the unused marriage leaves. It ensures that personal benefits will not be affected after transfer.
Can Employees Be Called During Marriage Leave?
The decree law has mentioned that the civilian employees cannot be recalled during the marriage leave in Dubai. However, military personnel can be recalled anytime if needed. Notably, the unused leaves will be extended accordingly for the military employees. Suppose you are recalled for the national or reserve services. In that case, you can reclaim the unused marriage leave within one year of returning to work.
Why was this decree introduced?
The law is introduced with a vision to strengthen the base for a successful family life at its initiation. Moreover, it helps the Emirati employees who are working in the government entities to manage their personal and professional lives.
Decree Activation and Legal Implementation
The law has come into effect from the 1st of January 2025. Moreover, the executive council will issue the supporting guidelines for the execution of the Marriage Leave Dubai. Furthermore, any previous laws that contradict this decree will automatically be cancelled.
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