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A new policy implemented on March 1st will see Dubai's government employees have 3 months paid maternity leave
18 January 2017
| Last updated on 15 June 2017
Now, following confirmation from Gulf News, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, has approved three months paid maternity leave for Dubai government employees beginning March 1st.
The change is no doubt a welcome one for working women, and is most certainly a step in the right direction for women living here, as mothers-to-be will now be able to take three months paid maternity leave from their jobs when their child arrives.
The UAE Maternity Law was reviewed last year, with the aim of providing women a supportive working environment and to ensure that they are an equal partner in the UAE's society.
. @HamdanMohammed approves the new maternity law granting #Dubai Government Employees 3 months paid maternity leave effective from March 1
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) January 18, 2017
Applicable for Federal Government employees at this time only, the law also gives Emirati working women the right to leve two hours early for one year from the day of giving birth.
The change follows the implementation of the new laws in both Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
While this isn't applied to private sector workers (yet *fingers crossed) it's most certainly a positive change, one that will be embraced by all working women living here.
What does this mean for the private sector?
Unfortunately for those of you working in the private sector, the changes have not been implemented. However as we've mentioned, perhaps one day there will be changes, which will see extended maternity leave for all working women residing in the UAE, regardless of what sector they're in.
