Emirati employees in Dubai government can take 10 days of fully paid marriage leave

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, in his capacity as Ruler of Dubai, issued decree no. 31 for 2025 regarding marriage leave for the Government of Dubai employees.

The decree is aimed at strengthening the psychological and family stability ingredients and enhancing the elements of success of family life and achieving a balance between the requirements of personal life and job tasks and duties.

The decree covers Emirati employees working in government entities and within the authorities supervising special development zones and free zones including the Dubai International Financial Centre.

It also covers Emirati members of the judiciary and Emirati military personnel in the emirate. The scope of application of the decree also includes any other category determined by a decision issued by the chairman of the Executive Council in this regard.

According to the decree, the employee is entitled to a fully paid marriage leave for 10 working days. The decree also allows the employee to combine marriage leave with any other leave he is entitled to under the legislation regulating human resources affairs in force at his employer.

The conditions for granting marriage leave stipulate that the employee’s husband or wife must be a UAE citizen and the employee has successfully passed the probationary period stipulated in accordance with his or her employer’s legislation regulating human resources affairs or as determined by the employer in this regard. The decree also stipulates that the marriage contract must be certified by the competent authority in the country and that it was concluded after December 31, 2024. A copy of the marriage contract must be presented only once when submitting an application for marriage leave.

During the marriage leave, the employee is entitled to receive his full gross salary including allowances and financial benefits stipulated for him under the legislation regulating human resources affairs in force at his employer.

He may also use the marriage leave at any time, whether continuously or intermittently, within one year from the date of concluding the marriage contract. The government entity may agree to carry over the marriage leave or any part thereof to the following year, based on serious reasons presented by the employee, subject to the approval of his direct supervisor.

The decree stipulates that a government entity may not call up an employee during marriage leave, with the exception of military personnel for work requirements, in which case, the marriage leave will be extended for the remaining period after the end of the call-up period.

If an employee is called up during marriage leave to perform national or reserve service, or if he or she is unable to use marriage leave for the same reason, the marriage leave, or any remaining days thereof, will be carried over to after the employee completes national or reserve service. Marriage leave or the remaining days thereof will be used within one year of the employee’s return to work.

If an employee is transferred to or appointed in another government entity, they retain their right to marriage leave, or any part thereof, if they did not enjoy it during their employment with the previous government entity.

The chairman of the Executive Council will issue the necessary decisions to implement the provisions of this decree. Any provision in any other legislation will be repealed to the extent that it conflicts with its provisions. The decree will take effect from January 1, 2025 and will be published in the Official Gazette.