Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, issued a decree concerning marriage leave for Dubai government employees who hold UAE nationality.
According to the regulations outlined in Decree No. (31) of 2025, an employee is entitled to a fully paid marriage leave of 10 working days. Additionally, the decree permits the employee to combine their marriage leave with any other leave they are entitled to under the current human resources legislation governing their employer.
The decree specifies the criteria for granting marriage leave, which require that the employee’s spouse must be a citizen of the UAE. Furthermore, the employee must have successfully completed the prescribed probationary period in accordance with the human resources regulations applicable to their employer, or as determined by the employer. Moreover, the marriage contract must be certified by the relevant authority in the country and concluded after December 31, 2024. A copy of the marriage contract needs to be submitted only once when applying for marriage leave.
Salary and benefits during leave
During the marriage leave, the employee is entitled to receive their full gross salary, inclusive of allowances and financial benefits as stipulated under the applicable human resources legislation enforced by their employer. Employees have the flexibility to take their marriage leave at any time—whether continuously or intermittently—within one year of the marriage contract. The government entity may grant permission to transfer marriage leave, or any portion of it, to the subsequent year based on valid reasons provided by the employee, subject to approval from their direct supervisor.
The decree stipulates that a government entity cannot summon an employee during their marriage leave, with the exception of military personnel if work demands it. The remaining period of marriage leave will be extended beyond the end of the call-up period. Should an employee be called up during their marriage leave to fulfill national or reserve service, or if they are unable to utilize their marriage leave for that reason, the marriage leave—or any remaining days—will be deferred until after the employee completes their national or reserve service. The marriage leave or any unused days must be taken within one year of their return to work.
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Transfer of marriage leave rights
In the event that an employee is transferred or appointed to another government entity, they retain the right to their marriage leave, or any unused portion of it, provided they did not take it during their tenure with the previous entity.
This decree applies to UAE national employees working in government entities and the authorities overseeing special development zones and free zones, including the Dubai International Financial Centre. It also encompasses UAE national members of the judiciary and UAE military personnel in the emirate, excluding candidates. The scope of the decree may extend to any additional category identified by a decision from His Highness the Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai.
The Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai will issue the necessary decisions to implement the provisions of this decree.
Any provision in other legislation that conflicts with this decree is hereby repealed. This decree will take effect from January 1, 2025, and will be published in the Official Gazette.
