Resigning During Probation in Dubai: Do Employees Pay Visa and Hiring Costs? (2026)

Updated 3 October 2026: checked against the current MOHRE text of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, including the 2024 amendment on labour disputes.

Yes, you can resign during probation in Dubai, and your employer cannot make you pay your visa or recruitment costs. What you must do depends on where you go next: another UAE employer means 1 month's written notice, while leaving the country means at least 14 days.

The probation rules in Article 9 of the UAE labour law are unchanged in 2026. What changed in 2024 is how quickly MOHRE can settle a dispute if your employer pushes back.

Can you resign during probation in the UAE?

Yes. Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 lets a worker end the contract during probation, which can last up to 6 months. Probation can only be applied once with the same employer, and it counts as part of your service if you stay.

Your notice depends on your plans.

Moving to another UAE employer during probation

Under Article 9(3), you must:

• give your current employer written notice at least 1 month before you leave;
• know that your new employer pays your current employer the costs of recruiting or contracting you, unless the parties agree otherwise.

Those costs sit between the two companies. You are not the one billed.

Resigning on probation to leave the UAE

Under Article 9(4), a foreign worker leaving the country must:

• give at least 14 days' written notice;
• know that if they come back and get a new work permit within 3 months of leaving, the new employer must pay the original employer's recruitment costs, unless the worker and original employer agreed otherwise.

What happens if you skip the notice period?

Article 9 sets out two consequences:

• Compensation. The side that breaks the rules pays the other an amount equal to the worker's wage for the notice period, or what remains of it (Article 9(5)).
• A 1-year work permit ban. A foreign worker who leaves the UAE without following Article 9 cannot get a new work permit for 1 year from leaving (Article 9(6)).

Article 11 of Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022 lets MOHRE exempt some workers from that ban, including:

• workers with skills or knowledge in demand in the UAE;
• workers whose residence visa is sponsored by family;
• Golden Visa holders;
• other job categories MOHRE sets by ministerial decision.

The same 14-day written notice applies to the employer if it ends your contract during probation, as we explain in UAE probation termination rules employers must follow.

Do employees pay visa or recruitment costs?

No. Article 6(4) of the labour law bans employers from charging workers recruitment and employment fees or collecting them, directly or indirectly. That covers demands to repay your visa, medical, Emirates ID or agency costs when you resign, including on probation.

Deducting these costs from your final salary is also not allowed, as our guide to illegal visa cost deductions explains. The only compensation the law foresees on probation is the notice-period amount above, or the recruitment costs paid between employers.

If your employer demands money: the 2024 changes

Federal Decree-Law No. 9 of 2024, in force since 31 August 2024, changed Article 54 on labour disputes:

• MOHRE can issue a binding decision on claims of up to AED 50,000.
• Either side can challenge that decision at the Court of Appeal within 15 working days.
• Claims under the labour law can be heard up to 2 years after the employment ends, up from 1 year.

To complain, contact MOHRE through its app, website or call centre on 600 590000. Keep your contract, your resignation letter and proof of the date you sent it.

If you are resigning because a better offer is waiting, check your CV first with the free JobXDubai ATS check.

Key takeaway

You can resign on probation in Dubai with 1 month's written notice if you are joining another UAE employer, or 14 days if you are leaving the country. Your employer cannot charge you visa or hiring costs, and since 2024 MOHRE can rule on disputes of up to AED 50,000 itself.

FAQ

What is the notice period for resigning during probation in the UAE?

1 month in writing if you are moving to another UAE employer, and at least 14 days in writing if you are leaving the UAE. Both come from Article 9 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021.

Can my employer make me pay visa costs if I resign during probation?

No. Article 6(4) bans employers from charging workers recruitment and employment costs, directly or indirectly. If you move to another UAE employer, the new employer covers the original employer's recruitment costs unless agreed otherwise.

Will I get a ban if I resign during probation?

Only if you leave the UAE without following Article 9's notice rules: then you cannot get a new work permit for 1 year. Golden Visa holders, family-sponsored workers and in-demand skill levels can be exempted.

Can I join a new company within 3 months after resigning on probation and leaving the UAE?

Yes, but your new employer must pay your original employer's recruitment costs, unless you and the original employer agreed otherwise. You must also have given at least 14 days' written notice.

How long do I have to file a labour complaint in the UAE?

Since the 2024 amendment, claims under the labour law can be heard up to 2 years after the employment relationship ends. MOHRE can decide claims of up to AED 50,000 directly.

Further reading

• UAE Probation Period: 7 Key Employee Rights You Must Know in 2025
• UAE Labour Law: Is It Legal for Employers to Deduct Visa Costs from Your Salary?
• UAE Probation Termination: Rules Employers Must Follow When Firing Staff
• UAE Resign Without Notice: 4 Situations Where You Can Leave Immediately

This article is general information, not legal advice.