UAE Introduces Flexible Work & Marriage Leave Ahead of ‘Year of Family

In advance of the UAE’s designated “Year of the Family” in 2026, several Emirates have introduced new workplace benefits aimed at supporting family life and modern work-life integration. Among the key measures are flexible working hours and remote-work options for government employees, enabling improved alignment between family responsibilities and professional commitments.

At the governmental level, marriage leave has been introduced in multiple jurisdictions: in Dubai, Emirati national government employees now qualify for 10 working days of paid marriage leave, inclusive of salary allowances, effective from early 2025; in Sharjah, an 8-day paid marriage leave scheme has been approved for government employees.

Further enhancements include expanded leave provisions for employees during events such as childbirth or bereavement, and additional flexibility for expectant mothers or employees with five or more children. For example, one Emirate has enacted a comprehensive HR reform for government staff that includes childcare leave, bereavement leave and work-hours flexibility for mothers in specific circumstances.

These initiatives build on previously introduced federal labour-law changes, which grant all working parents five days of paid parental leave within the first six months of a child’s birth; and deeper personal-status reforms that extend child custody to 18 years, allow children aged 15 and over to choose which parent to live with, and introduce equal travel rights for both parents.