In a progressive move aimed at enhancing the well-being of its citizens, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, has issued a decree concerning marriage leave for Dubai government employees who are Emirati nationals. This directive seeks to foster family stability and compatibility, allowing employees to balance personal life with professional responsibilities.
According to Decree No. (31) of 2025, the marriage leave is applicable to Emirati employees in government entities, regulatory authorities overseeing free zones, and other special development areas, including the Dubai International Financial Centre. Members of the judiciary and Emirati military personnel in Dubai are also included, with certain exclusions for candidates. The decree allows for the extension of its scope to any category defined by a decision from the Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council.
The decree grants employees a total of ten working days of marriage leave with full pay. Employees can also combine this marriage leave with any other entitled leave as per their respective human resources regulations. To qualify for marriage leave, certain criteria must be met: the spouse must be a UAE national, the employee must have successfully completed their probationary period, and the marriage contract must be duly notarized and executed after December 31, 2024. A copy of the marriage contract is required to be submitted only once when applying for this leave.
During the marriage leave period, employees will receive their full salary, including allowances and financial benefits as per the applicable human resources law. Additionally, the leave can be taken at any time within a year from the marriage date, either consecutively or in segments. Local government entities have the discretion to allow the deferral of marriage leave to the subsequent year based on valid reasons presented by the employee and approved by their direct supervisor.
Importantly, the decree states that no employee can be summoned for work during their marriage leave, with the exception of military personnel in urgent situations, where the leave is extended to accommodate the duration of the summons. If an employee is called for national or reserve duty during their marriage leave, the remaining leave days will be carried over until after their service, to be utilized within a year upon their return to work.
Should an employee transfer to another government entity, their rights to marriage leave or any unused days will remain intact as long as the leave has not yet been taken during their service with the prior organization. The Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council will issue necessary regulations to implement this decree, which will come into effect on January 1, 2025, and will be published in the official gazette, superseding any conflicting texts in other regulations.