The 90-day leave also applies for female civil defence and immigration officers, HH Sheikh Mohammed has clarified.
Earlier this year, government employees had their paid maternity leave extended from 60 to 90 days.
And now police, civil defence and immigration officers will receive the same allowance, after HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum amended their HR policies.
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The Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE revealed that women can take 90 days of paid leave from the day their child is born, and can add on annual leave and the like, so long as no more than 120 days are taken in total.
Workers can also apply to start their maternity leave 30 days before their due date, as long as the leave is taken continuously.
The aim is to “further enhance the work conditions for officers, particularly those who are mothers”, according to state news agency WAM.
New mums working in those roles also get a two-hour breastfeeding break, which they can take at the beginning or end of every day.
Female workers who suffer a miscarriage before the 24th week of their pregnancy are entitled to sick leave. If the employee has a stillbirth or miscarriage after the 24th week, she is entitled to 60 days’ maternity leave.
The amended law—which can be applied to current maternity leave—will be published in the Official Gazette.
What about the private sector?
While there’s no word yet on a widespread law change, Dubai employees have been pressuring private companies to bump up maternity leave from the current 45 days.
Minister of Culture and Knowledge Noura Al Kaabi threw her support behind the campaign last month, urging businesses to embrace more flexible policies.
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“The most important thing is how each entity can be flexible in promoting that and giving women the choice of having a long or short maternity leave and having women come back where they are refreshed and ready to work,” she told The National.
“Women’s participation in the economy not only boosts development, it diversifies national economies and opens a nation up to new ideas and approaches.”
Images: Getty
