🇦🇪 Job offer letter in the UAE: what to include
Updated July 2026 · General information, not legal advice
Hiring in the UAE runs on fixed-term contracts (renewable) under the 2022 Labour Law, with mandatory registration of the offer terms for many visa categories. Free zones (DIFC, ADGM, DMCC and others) can have their own employment regulations — always check which regime applies to your entity.
Quick facts
- Contract type
- Fixed-term (renewable) is the standard model
- Probation
- Maximum 6 months; 14 days' written notice to terminate during it
- Annual leave
- 30 calendar days after one year of service
- End of service
- Gratuity based on basic salary and years of service
- Salary structure
- Basic salary vs allowances split matters for gratuity
What to include in a UAE offer letter
Because the employment visa process often requires the signed offer to match the later contract, get the offer right the first time:
- Position and place of work (mainland or specific free zone)
- Total salary broken into basic salary and allowances (housing, transport) — the split affects gratuity
- Contract duration and renewal terms
- Probation period (max 6 months) and notice within it
- Annual leave, air-ticket allowance if offered, medical insurance (mandatory)
- Notice period after probation (typically 30–90 days)
Probation and notice
Probation may not exceed six months. An employer terminating during probation must give 14 days' written notice; an employee resigning to join another UAE employer generally must give longer notice (and the rules differ if the employee is leaving the country). After probation, contractual notice is usually between 30 and 90 days.
Basic salary vs allowances
UAE packages are traditionally split into basic salary plus allowances. End-of-service gratuity is calculated on basic salary only, so the split is financially meaningful — sophisticated candidates negotiate the basic component, not just the total.
Free zones
DIFC and ADGM have their own employment laws (including different end-of-service savings schemes); other free zones largely follow the federal law with their own procedures. Your offer should reflect the regime that actually governs the employment.
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Create a free offer →Frequently asked questions
How long can probation last in the UAE?
Up to six months. Terminating during probation requires 14 days' written notice from the employer.
What is end-of-service gratuity?
A statutory lump sum paid when employment ends, calculated from the employee's basic salary and years of service — one reason the basic/allowances split in the offer matters.
Do free-zone employees follow the same rules?
Not always. DIFC and ADGM have their own employment laws; most other free zones apply the federal Labour Law with local procedures. Check the regime for your entity.
Related guides
This guide is general information for employers, not legal advice. Employment rules change and collective agreements may set different terms — confirm the specifics with local counsel before sending an offer.