If an employee travels on leave and gets stranded abroad due to regional conflict or flight suspensions, can their employer in the UAE terminate their job?

Under UAE Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021, employees who fail to return to work after leave without a valid reason may lose salary for the days they are absent, and an employer may dismiss a worker if they are absent for more than seven consecutive days or 20 non-consecutive days without justification. However, being stranded abroad due to extraordinary circumstances — such as geopolitical tensions, travel restrictions or cancelled flights — may be considered a legitimate reason for absence if the employee can demonstrate that the situation was unavoidable. In such cases, termination based solely on absence could be challenged, especially if the employee has informed the employer and provided supporting documents. While UAE law does not automatically grant the right to demand remote work, employees may request temporary work-from-home arrangements if their job allows it and both parties agree. Have you ever faced travel disruptions during leave, and how supportive was your employer when you couldn’t return to work on time?

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