UAE Private-Sector Maternity Leave: Days, Pay and Extensions
Plan UAE private-sector maternity leave with the current paid days, start-date option, medical extension and nursing-break rules.
Start here
Private-sector maternity leave is 60 days: 45 days at full pay followed by 15 days at half pay. It can begin up to 30 days before the expected delivery date, based on the employee’s request.
Step-by-step
1. Plan the requested start date
Give HR the expected delivery information and proposed leave dates through the documented company process. Keep medical evidence and the written approval.
2. Separate the statutory pay periods
Check payroll for 45 days at full pay and 15 at half pay. Ask for a written calculation if a pay period splits across the two bands.
3. Document any medical extension
A pregnancy- or childbirth-related illness can support up to 45 additional unpaid days with a medical certificate. Separate provisions apply when the baby is sick or has a disability.
4. Arrange nursing breaks after return
For six months following delivery, the employee may take one or two nursing breaks totalling no more than one hour per day. Agree a workable schedule in writing.
Important: Do not combine different extensions into one unsupported absence; each has its own condition and evidence requirement.
Official source and review note
Dubai Daily Guide reviewed this article on 8 October 2026 against UAE Government — Maternity leave ↗. Check the live service before acting because eligibility, documents, fees and processing steps can change.