Question: I started a new job in April and am still in my probation period of up to six months. I am not happy, so plan to resign as soon as I find another job. Do I need to give notice in my probation period? For how long?
Answer: NR is required to give his employer written notice of his resignation. This always applies, even if someone is on probation.
This is covered in UAE labour law, Article (9), which states: “If the worker wishes to move during the probationary period, to work for another employer in the State, he shall notify the original employer of the same in writing within not less than one month from the date of his wish to terminate the contract.”
The same clause adds: “And unless agreed otherwise, the new employer shall compensate the first employer for recruitment or contract costs.” Note that costs are borne by the employers, not the employee.
In this situation, the non-compete clause will not be enforceable. This was covered in the follow-up legalisation to the main labour law, Cabinet Resolution No. (1) of 2022 Concerning the Executive Regulations of Federal Decree-Law No. (33) of 2021 Regulating Labour Relations. Article (12) of this states: “The worker shall be exempted from the non-compete clause … in accordance with the following conditions: b. If the contract is terminated during the probation period.”
The non-compete clause protects the interest of a business and should not be used as a way of preventing any departing employee from taking another job. It does not apply to all employees in any business and for such a clause to be upheld in a court, the company would need to demonstrate that there would be genuine harm to their business in some way.
The burden of proof is on the employer. This is made clear in the executive regulations, which state that such a clause is only relevant if it can be demonstrated that “the work’s nature … causes gross damage to the employer’s legitimate interests”.
To clarify, NR must give one month’s written notice, will not be bound by a non-compete clause, and all costs must be borne by his employers.
Q: I work for an international company with an ADGM visa and transferred to them at the start of 2024. It was a very busy year, so I did not take my entire annual leave.
I have asked for all eight days to be added to this year’s leave, but the HR department is not letting me do that. I was able to carry days forward when working for the company in Hong Kong, so it seems unfair that the rules are different. What does the law say so I have all details before I make my complaint? HC, Abu Dhabi
A: HC is a permanent employee with a contract of employment under ADGM, so the provisions of this employment law are the only ones that apply. He should have signed a contract that states this.
The provisions that apply are those set out in the latest rules, Employment regulations 2024, which came into effect on April 1, 2025.
Section 21 covers annual leave and clause 2 states: “An employee is entitled to carry forward accrued but untaken vacation leave into the next vacation leave year for a maximum period of 12 months, after which any unused vacation leave carried forward from the previous vacation leave year shall expire. The amount of accrued but untaken vacation leave to be carried forward may be agreed between the employer and the employee, provided that nothing shall prevent an employee from carrying forward at least five days of vacation leave in each vacation leave year.”
All employers must apply the provisions in the relevant law as a minimum, although they can choose to offer benefits above the minimum required. Five days is the amount stated in law but the employer can choose to permit more.
If the reason is due to pressures of work, HC should speak to his manager to request special dispensation to carry forward additional days of annual leave, although there is no legal obligation to do so.
Should the company refuse to permit his request, there are no grounds for a complaint under the ADGM employment regulations.
Contact Keren Bobker at keren@holbornassets.com or at www.financialuae.com
The advice provided in our columns does not constitute legal advice and is provided for information only
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, semi-final result:
Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona
Liverpool win 4-3 on aggregate
Champions Legaue final: June 1, Madrid
Feeding the thousands for iftar
Six industrial scale vats of 500litres each are used to cook the kanji or broth
Each vat contains kanji or porridge to feed 1,000 people
The rice porridge is poured into a 500ml plastic box
350 plastic tubs are placed in one container trolley
Each aluminium container trolley weighing 300kg is unloaded by a small crane fitted on a truck
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3EName%3A%20Tabby%3Cbr%3EFounded%3A%20August%202019%3B%20platform%20went%20live%20in%20February%202020%3Cbr%3EFounder%2FCEO%3A%20Hosam%20Arab%2C%20co-founder%3A%20Daniil%20Barkalov%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20Payments%3Cbr%3ESize%3A%2040-50%20employees%3Cbr%3EStage%3A%20Series%20A%3Cbr%3EInvestors%3A%20Arbor%20Ventures%2C%20Mubadala%20Capital%2C%20Wamda%20Capital%2C%20STV%2C%20Raed%20Ventures%2C%20Global%20Founders%20Capital%2C%20JIMCO%2C%20Global%20Ventures%2C%20Venture%20Souq%2C%20Outliers%20VC%2C%20MSA%20Capital%2C%20HOF%20and%20AB%20Accelerator.%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The biog
Age: 32
Qualifications: Diploma in engineering from TSI Technical Institute, bachelor’s degree in accounting from Dubai’s Al Ghurair University, master’s degree in human resources from Abu Dhabi University, currently third years PHD in strategy of human resources.
Favourite mountain range: The Himalayas
Favourite experience: Two months trekking in Alaska
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
Trump v Khan
2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US
2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks
2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit
2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”
2022: Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency
July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”
Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.
Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Australia
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Duterte Harry: Fire and Fury in the Philippines
Jonathan Miller, Scribe Publications
Grand slam winners since July 2003
Who has won major titles since Wimbledon 2003 when Roger Federer won his first grand slam
Roger Federer 19 (8 Wimbledon, 5 Australian Open, 5 US Open, 1 French Open)
Rafael Nadal 16 (10 French Open, 3 US Open, 2 Wimbledon, 1 Australian Open)
Novak Djokovic 12 (6 Australian Open, 3 Wimbledon, 2 US Open, 1 French Open)
Andy Murray 3 (2 Wimbledon, 1 US Open)
Stan Wawrinka 3 (1 Australian Open, 1 French Open, 1 US Open)
Andy Roddick 1 (1 US Open)
Gaston Gaudio 1 (1 French Open)
Marat Safin 1 (1 Australian Open)
Juan Martin del Potro 1 (1 US Open)
Marin Cilic 1 (1 US Open)
The biog
Mission to Seafarers is one of the largest port-based welfare operators in the world.
It provided services to around 200 ports across 50 countries.
They also provide port chaplains to help them deliver professional welfare services.
The biog
Name: Timothy Husband
Nationality: New Zealand
Education: Degree in zoology at The University of Sydney
Favourite book: Lemurs of Madagascar by Russell A Mittermeier
Favourite music: Billy Joel
Weekends and holidays: Talking about animals or visiting his farm in Australia
One in four Americans don't plan to retire
Nearly a quarter of Americans say they never plan to retire, according to a poll that suggests a disconnection between individuals' retirement plans and the realities of ageing in the workforce.
Experts say illness, injury, layoffs and caregiving responsibilities often force older workers to leave their jobs sooner than they'd like.
According to the poll from The Associated Press-NORC Centre for Public Affairs Research, 23 per cent of workers, including nearly two in 10 of those over 50, don't expect to stop working. Roughly another quarter of Americans say they will continue working beyond their 65th birthday.
According to government data, about one in five people 65 and older was working or actively looking for a job in June. The study surveyed 1,423 adults in February this year.
For many, money has a lot to do with the decision to keep working.
"The average retirement age that we see in the data has gone up a little bit, but it hasn't gone up that much," says Anqi Chen, assistant director of savings research at the Centre for Retirement Research at Boston College. "So people have to live in retirement much longer, and they may not have enough assets to support themselves in retirement."
When asked how financially comfortable they feel about retirement, 14 per cent of Americans under the age of 50 and 29 per cent over 50 say they feel extremely or very prepared, according to the poll. About another four in 10 older adults say they do feel somewhat prepared, while just about one-third feel unprepared.
"One of the things about thinking about never retiring is that you didn't save a whole lot of money," says Ronni Bennett, 78, who was pushed out of her job as a New York City-based website editor at 63.
She searched for work in the immediate aftermath of her layoff, a process she describes as akin to "banging my head against a wall." Finding Manhattan too expensive without a steady stream of income, she eventually moved to Portland, Maine. A few years later, she moved again, to Lake Oswego, Oregon. "Sometimes I fantasise that if I win the lottery, I'd go back to New York," says Ms Bennett.
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ON%20TRACK
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