Probation Period Calculator UAE
Calculate your exact probation end date and confirmation date under UAE Labour Law. Enter your joining date and duration to see your legal timeline, notice periods, and review milestones.
Reviewed May 2026
About This Tool
What Is a Probation Period Calculator?
A Probation Period Calculator determines the exact end date of your employment trial phase. Under UAE Labour Law, the “end of probation” has a specific legal definition — though practitioners differ on the precise cutoff.
This tool handles the complex “month-end” edge cases (e.g., starting Jan 31) and uses the conservative “eve of anniversary” interpretation (Anniversary − 1 day) as the safest default, while flagging that some licensed practitioners consider the anniversary date itself valid.
End Date = Anniversary Date − 1 Day*
End Date = Start Date + Duration − 1 Day*
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How It Works
How to Calculate Your Probation End Date
UAE Labour Law (Article 9) defines probation as “not exceeding six months from the date of commencement of work.” However, the exact interpretation of the final deadline is a point of disagreement among licensed UAE legal practitioners.
Enter Start Date
This is the Date of Joining (DOJ), not the contract signing date. The legal clock starts when you physically commence work — not when you sign the contract, clear medicals, or receive your Emirates ID.
Select Duration
Choose Months (standard for UAE contracts) or Days (used in some project-based contracts). The legal maximum is 6 months or 180 calendar days.
Understand the Deadline Split
If your 6-month anniversary is Aug 2, some lawyers say the employer can terminate until close of business on Aug 2. Others say the deadline is midnight on Aug 1. This tool uses the latter (conservative) interpretation.
Check Milestones
The tool suggests a mid-point review date (crucial for performance feedback) and your formal confirmation date — the day after which you are definitively past probation under any interpretation.
Calculation Examples
See the Logic in Action
These examples use the conservative “Anniversary − 1 Day” interpretation. Under the alternate view, add 1 day to each “Last Day to Terminate” shown below.
UAE Labour Law
Probation Rules You Must Know
No Extensions Allowed
The probation period cannot exceed 6 months. Even if both parties agree in writing, an extension beyond 6 months is legally void. The same employer cannot enforce a second probation period.
Gratuity & Service Time
If you are terminated during probation, gratuity is AED 0 (requires 1 year service). However, if you pass probation, those months count towards your total service length for future gratuity calculations.
No Paid Sick Leave
Employees are not entitled to paid sick leave during probation. Any sick days taken are usually unpaid, subject to employer discretion and medical certificate approval.
Annual Leave Restrictions
Paid annual leave does not accrue during probation. You may only take leave during this period if specifically approved by the employer, often as unpaid leave.
Employers are legally obligated to register probationary employees and pay them through the Wages Protection System (WPS) from their very first month. Delaying WPS registration triggers immediate compliance penalties from MOHRE, even for employees still on trial.
Termination Rules
Notice Periods During Probation
The “instant termination” rule during probation has been abolished. Under Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, written notice is mandatory.
| Scenario | Initiating Party | Required Notice |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Termination | Employer | 14 Days Written Notice |
| Resignation to Leave UAE | Employee | 14 Days Written Notice |
| Resignation for New UAE Job | Employee | 30 Days Written Notice |
If you fail to serve the required 30-day notice when moving to a new UAE employer, a 1-year work permit ban may apply. However, the following categories are exempt from this ban: family-sponsored residency visa holders, Golden Visa holders, employees sponsored by a UAE national, employees applying to the same employer for a new permit, and workers whose skills and qualifications are classified as in-demand by the government.
Important: If you resign to join another UAE employer and do not serve the 30-day notice (and are not exempt), your new employer may also be liable to compensate your old employer for recruitment and visa costs incurred.
This calculator provides estimates based on standard interpretations of UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021. It does not constitute legal advice. The exact legal cutoff date for probation termination is a point of disagreement among licensed UAE practitioners — this tool uses the conservative “eve of anniversary” interpretation. For binding calculations or disputes regarding your specific contract terms, consult MOHRE or a qualified legal consultant.
Frequently Asked Questions
Probation Period FAQs
The probation period is calculated from the Date of Joining (DOJ), not the contract signing date. For a 6-month probation starting Feb 2, the majority conservative interpretation sets the last legal day as midnight on Aug 1, with confirmation on Aug 2. However, some licensed UAE practitioners argue the employer can terminate until close of business on the anniversary date (Aug 2) itself. This is a genuine point of disagreement — confirm with MOHRE or your legal counsel for termination-critical decisions.
No. Under Article 9 of UAE Labour Law, the probation period cannot exceed 6 months. Any written agreement to extend it beyond this limit is legally void. Additionally, an employer cannot put you on a second probation if you change roles, get promoted, or are rehired later by the same employer.
Statutory gratuity requires at least 1 year of continuous service. Since probation cannot exceed 6 months, termination during this phase typically results in zero gratuity. However, this does not mean your total settlement is zero — you are still entitled to unpaid salary for days worked and, where applicable, compensation for any unused annual leave earned during the probation period.
If you are leaving the UAE, you must give 14 days’ written notice. If you are resigning to join another employer in the UAE, you must give 30 days’ written notice. Failure to provide the 30-day notice for a local job change can result in a 1-year work ban — unless you fall under an exempt category (Golden Visa holders, family-sponsored residents, UAE national sponsors, same-employer reapplicants, or in-demand skill workers).
Yes, but only if you successfully complete the probation and continue working. If you pass probation, those months are counted retroactively as part of your continuous service for future gratuity calculations. For example, 6 months of probation plus 7 more months of work totals more than 1 year, making you eligible for gratuity.
No. The employer must provide at least 14 days’ written notice even during probation — the era of instant termination during trial is over under Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021. If they want you to leave on or before the last legal day of probation, they must have served that notice at least 14 days prior.
If you start on January 31 and have a 1-month probation, the calculator recognizes February does not have 31 days. It sets the anniversary to February 28 (or 29 in a leap year), making the conservative legal end date February 27. This auto-handling applies to all month-end edge cases including April, June, September, and November.
Yes. Employers are legally required to register probationary employees in the Wages Protection System (WPS) and pay their full basic salary and allowances through WPS from the very first month. Failure to do so triggers immediate MOHRE compliance penalties, regardless of the employee’s probationary status.