Maternity leave in UAE: Paid, unpaid, additional time off; what you need to know

'It takes a village to raise a child'. This proverb encapsulates how challenging raising a child can be.

New mothers have a lot on their plate and are often physically and emotionally overwhelmed with the exhausting process of bringing a new life into the world.

In order to support them, the government has introduced new initiatives to ease them into their newly changed lives. One among those is the maternity leave policy that is applicable to new mothers across the public and private sector.

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How many days?

Every woman working in the UAE is entitled to a maternity leave of 60 days of which, 45 are fully paid leaves, and 15 will be half-paid leaves.

When to apply?

You can apply for maternity leave up to a month (30 days) before your expected delivery date.

Any extra days off?

In some cases you can be entitled to take more than 60 days off, they have been listed below.

1. If you are sick

If the mother has fallen ill due to pregnancy or childbirth, she can take additional days off. However, she must have a medical certificate that has been issued by an authority.

The mother can take up to 45 days off without pay, if she is unable to resume work. These days off can be taken consecutively or in breaks.

These days can also be availed if the child is stillborn or passed away shortly after birth.

2. If your baby is sick

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