Statutory Notice Period Rules Under Article 43

When either party (employee or employer) wishes to terminate an ongoing employment contract, they must serve a formal written notice period in accordance with Article 43 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021.

Key Statutory Notice Requirements

  • Duration Limits: The notice period must be a minimum of 30 calendar days and a maximum of 90 calendar days. Any contractual clause demanding more than 90 days or less than 30 days is legally void.
  • Full Salary During Notice: The employee is entitled to their full regular gross salary (basic + allowances) throughout the active notice duration.
  • Right to Job Search Leave: Under Article 43(5), if the employer initiates termination, the employee has the legal right to take 1 full unpaid working day per week (or 8 hours spread across the week) to attend job interviews and search for new employment.
  • Compensation in Lieu of Notice: If either party waives or breaches the notice period, they must pay compensatory notice wages equivalent to the employee's regular wage for the unserved period.