What is parental leave in the UAE private sector?
Five paid working days for a worker, father or mother, who has a newborn child. Article 32 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 lets the worker take them together or separately, any time within six months of the birth. It is separate from the mother's 60 days of maternity leave.
Who qualifies and when
Both parents qualify, since the law says the father or the mother. The days are working days, so a weekend inside the leave does not use one up. They must be taken within six months of the birth date or they lapse.
The law lists parental leave beside bereavement leave as paid leave, which means the worker's normal wage continues for those days.
How it differs from maternity leave
Maternity leave under Article 30 is 60 calendar days for the mother, 45 at full pay and 15 at half pay. Parental leave is five working days and applies to either parent. A mother can use both.
How SupaJack Construct records it
Parental leave is a leave type in the leave ledger, so each day is an itemised entry. Because the entries carry dates, payroll pays the days in full and the six-month window can be checked against the birth date on the record.
Related tools and guides
See the UAE labour law guide for contractors, the final settlement calculator, the gratuity calculator, the annual leave calculator, the unpaid leave deduction calculator, payroll and WPS in SupaJack Construct, time and attendance and the meaning of basic salary.
Worked example
A foreman's child is born on 3 May. He takes two days on 4 and 5 May and three days in August. All five are paid at his normal wage. If he had not used them by 3 November, the remaining days would lapse.
Questions people ask
Is parental leave paid?
Yes, Article 32 lists it as paid leave.
Can it be split?
Yes, continuous or intermittent within six months of birth.
Does the mother also get it?
Yes, the law covers the father or the mother.