Maternity leave has been extended to 90 days for Emirati women working in the private sector in Abu Dhabi

Authorities in Abu Dhabi have announced that the duration of maternity leave for Emirati women employed in the private sector has been increased to ninety days. The Department of Community Development (DCD) in Abu Dhabi has started six programmes to assist Emirati families in the emirate, and this was one of them.

The UAE Labour Law states that women working for private companies are normally entitled to 60 days of paid maternity leave, of which 45 days are fully paid and 15 days are half paid. This is in contrast to the three months that workers in the public sector have historically been entitled to.

The new programme will now allow Emirati mothers working in the private sector to receive a 90-day leave of absence, as stated by the government, "to ensure sufficient time to rest and care for the newborn". The new regulation will be put into effect by the Abu Dhabi Social Support Authority.

The Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority's "home visit service" will provide support to new mothers throughout their early weeks of parenthood. It stated that the objective is to monitor the baby's growth and development and to promote the parents' well-being.

Emirati couples will also benefit from a host of additional programmes and financial relief packages, including as marriage loans, loan reductions, and rental aid, in addition to the longer maternity leave and home visits.

The Emirati Family Growth Support Programme, which encompasses all six of the new projects, is part of Abu Dhabi's larger plan to improve the emirate's family life, with objectives that run through 2028. Its primary goal is to assist citizens of the United Arab Emirates in starting and expanding families through marriage and childrearing.