Drafting an Employment Contract in the UAE with AI: What the Law Requires

What a UAE employment contract must include under the Labour Law — fixed term, Arabic, probation and notice — and how AI can help you draft one.

Every employee in the UAE private sector must have a written employment contract. Getting it right from the start avoids disputes later. Here is what the UAE Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, as amended) requires, and how AI can help you prepare a first draft.

Key legal requirements

• Fixed term. Employment contracts in the UAE are now fixed-term (limited) contracts. The former three-year maximum was removed, so the parties can agree the term, and the contract can be renewed.
• Written and in Arabic. The contract must be in writing — in Arabic, or bilingual with Arabic — and signed by both parties.
• Registered. Contracts are registered with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE), which provides standard templates.
• Probation. A probation period can be up to six months and cannot be extended.
• Notice. The notice period is agreed in the contract, generally between 30 and 90 days.

What the contract should cover

1. Employer and employee details
2. Job title and duties
3. Start date, duration and place of work
4. Basic salary, allowances and payment method
5. Working hours and work pattern (full-time, part-time, temporary or flexible)
6. Annual leave and other leave
7. Probation and notice periods
8. Confidentiality and, where justified, a reasonable non-compete clause

How AI helps

An AI drafting tool can turn your offer letter or a few key details into a structured bilingual first draft that covers each of these points, and flag missing terms or clauses that may not comply with the Labour Law. You then check it against the MOHRE template and your HR or legal adviser before signing.

Try it: draft a UAE employment contract with LexArab's AI document tools.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Labour rules change; check MOHRE and consult a qualified UAE lawyer.