Dismissal of an employee in the UAE

An employer dismisses an employee (on an unlimited contract) without notice and issues a letter stating that they are no longer required to attend the workplace.

An unlimited term contract may terminate at any time, on written notice, provided at least 30 calendar days prior to termination and this must be for a “valid reason” for example where the employee is guilty of one of the specified (and exhaustive) gross misconduct reasons listed in Articles 88 and 120 of the UAE Labour Law, or where the employee is a poor performer or guilty of some other misconduct (and there is documentary evidence backing up the poor performance or misconduct).