Remote work in UAE: Five legal rights every employee should know
Remote work in the UAE: Your rights to salary, leave, and working hours
Dubai: With regional tensions prompting many UAE businesses to adopt remote working or cut back on in-office days, more employees than ever are working from home. It is a significant shift but not one that affects your legal protections.
Under UAE Labour Law, remote workers are entitled to the same rights as their in-office counterparts - the same working hours, the same leave policy, and the guarantee that their salary will be paid on time. Here is a breakdown of what the law says.
1. The legal framework for remote work
As per the UAE Labour Law, remote work allows employees to perform their duties outside the workplace, either fully or partially, using digital communication tools, as agreed in the employment contract.
“All or part of the work is performed outside the workplace, with electronic communication between the worker and the employer in lieu of physical presence, whether the work is part-time or full-time,” state Article 5 of the Cabinet Resolution No. (1) of 2022.
Like all other employees, the UAE’s Labour Law and its resolutions state that remote employees must have it stated in a clear employment contract, work within the legal working hours, annual leaves, pay salary on time.
Remote work in the UAE is primarily regulated through the country’s labour legislation and government policies that allow flexible work arrangements. The main legal framework is established by Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations, which governs employment relationships in the UAE private sector
2. Remote work role should be stated in job contract
An employment contract must clearly state the details of the employer and the employee, job role, wages, workplace, working hours, leave entitlements, notice period, and other terms as required by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE).
The work arrangements should be agreed in writing through the employment contract or an amendment. In accordance with the aforementioned provision of the law, remote working is legally recognised in the UAE if it is mutually agreed between an employer and an employee through a written contract or amendment.
3. Working hours
An employee may work remotely with the employer’s approval, and an employer may set specific working hours for an employee. This is in accordance with Article 17 (6) of the UAE Labour Law.
“If the employee wishes to perform his work remotely, whether inside or outside the State, with the approval of the employer, the latter may require specific working hours.”
4. Salary must be paid on time
Where an employee remains ready and willing to work and is able to do so remotely, the employer would normally be required to continue paying their salary. This is because the employment relationship subsists and the employee is fulfilling their contractual obligations.
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5. Rights and protections
Employees working remotely continue to benefit from several workplace protections under UAE labour law, including:
The right to receive agreed salary and benefits according to the employment contract.
The right to working hours and rest periods in line with UAE labour regulations.
The right to a safe working environment and reasonable work conditions.
The right to privacy and reasonable boundaries regarding work communications outside official working hours.
The right to clarity regarding remote work expectations and performance requirements.
