Sheikh Mohammed Issues Decree Granting 10-Day Paid Marriage Leave for UAE Nationals in Dubai Government

In a significant step towards supporting family life and national values, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has issued Decree No. (31) of 2025, introducing new provisions on marriage leave for UAE national employees working within Dubai Government entities.

Under the newly announced regulations, effective January 1, 2025, eligible Emirati government employees are entitled to 10 working days of fully paid marriage leave. This move comes in alignment with Dubai's broader commitment to enhancing employee welfare and promoting strong family foundations among UAE nationals.

According to the decree, marriage leave can be combined with any other type of leave an employee is eligible for, in accordance with the human resources policies governing their respective government entity. This gives employees more flexibility in planning their time off around their wedding and related personal matters.

Eligibility Conditions To qualify for the marriage leave, several conditions must be met:

1. The employee must be a UAE national.
2. Their spouse must also be a UAE citizen.
3. The employee must have completed their probationary period successfully, either under the general human resources legislation applicable to their employer or as per the employer's specific guidelines.
4. The marriage must be legally documented and certified by a competent authority within the country.
5. The marriage contract must have been issued after December 31, 2024.
6. A copy of the marriage contract needs to be submitted with the leave application, though only once.

Full Gross Salary During Leave During the marriage leave period, employees are entitled to their full gross salary, including all allowances and financial benefits provided under the applicable human resources regulations. This ensures that employees can take this leave without any financial burden or salary reduction.

Flexible Usage and Extension The decree allows for the leave to be used either continuously or intermittently, offering flexibility to employees. They may take their marriage leave any time within one year of the date of the marriage contract. Additionally, in cases where an employee is unable to utilize their leave within this period for serious and valid reasons, they may request an extension to the following year. This extension, however, requires the approval of their direct supervisor.

Provisions for National Service and Emergency Call-Ups Government departments are not allowed to recall an employee during their marriage leave. However, an exception is made for military personnel, who may be called back to duty if necessary. In such cases, the unused portion of the leave will be extended beyond the end of the call-up period.

Furthermore, if an employee is called to perform national or reserve service during their marriage leave, or if such service prevents them from using the leave at all, they are permitted to carry forward the remaining leave. This carried-forward leave must then be used within one year of returning to work.

Transfer Between Government Entities Employees who are transferred or appointed to another government entity will retain their right to any unused marriage leave. This ensures that employees do not lose this benefit when moving within the government sector.

Entities Covered by the Decree The new decree applies to all UAE national employees working in Dubai Government departments, including those operating in authorities overseeing special development zones and free zones such as the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). It also covers UAE national members of the judiciary and military personnel in Dubai, excluding candidates. Additionally, other categories may be included under the decree by a decision from the Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai.

Implementation and Legal Framework To facilitate the implementation of the new policy, the Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai is tasked with issuing the necessary decisions. Moreover, any existing legislative provisions that contradict this new decree will be considered repealed to the extent of the conflict.

This landmark decision reflects the leadership's commitment to fostering a supportive environment for national employees and reinforcing the importance of family life. By ensuring financial stability and flexibility during such a significant life event, the Dubai Government continues to lead in setting exemplary human resource policies that strengthen social bonds and promote national identity.