UAE offers ‘one-year paid leave’ for govt employees looking to start own business
The UAE has announced that it will begin implementing year-long sabbatical leave for UAE citizens working in the government sector and wishing to start their own business ventures from January 2, 2023.
The initiative was first announced in July this year as a means to allow Emiratis to start their own entrepreneurial journeys while retaining government jobs. According to WAM, it is one of the “Projects of the 50” initiatives and the first of its kind in the world.
Emiratis will get half their salaries during this period. The year-long sabbatical is among the paid leaves that will be offered to Emiratis working in the government sector and wishing to start or manage their businesses in the private sector. The leave will be approved by the head of the federal authority the employee works for, and can be combined with unpaid leave and annual leave.
The UAE national employees of the federal government can check the conditions and requirements for obtaining an Entrepreneurship Leave for self-employment, by visiting the website of the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources.
