Three months’ leave for mothers in Dubai

ABU DHABI // New mothers who are Dubai Government employees will be entitled to three months’ paid maternity leave from March 1.

They will also have two hours a day off work to breastfeed their babies and there will be paid leave for mothers of children with special needs.

“This will help employees have closer family bonds and enhance their sense of family stability,” said Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai. “It will also help working mothers to play their crucial role in the family more effectively and help ensure the proper upbringing of the child.”

“This is particularly important in the case of babies that have special needs, since the parents may need to provide a higher degree of care and follow-up. The integration of individuals with special needs into society is one of the top priorities of the Government of Dubai. It is a process that starts prior to birth,” Sheikh Mohammed said.

“We are offering working mothers the opportunity to achieve their professional ambitions in a conducive environment that attracts talented and productive people and helps enhance the competitiveness of women in the job market.”

Government staff will be permitted to add annual and unpaid leave to their maternity leave, with the condition that it does not exceed 120 days.

The one- hour breast feeding period is extended to two hours effective from the date of the end of maternity leave for one year after the baby’s birth.

It will be fully paid and reduced to one hour during Ramadan. In the event of a miscarriage, employees will receive sick leave upon the presentation of a note from a doctor. Employees who give birth to a baby with special needs will be granted paid leave specified by the official medical commission, depending on the case. In September last year, Abu Dhabi announced three months’ maternity leave for Government employees, with three days’ paternity leave for new fathers. Ras Al Khaimah followed suit in November.