Employers in the UAE frequently need guidance on maternity leave when circumstances are non-standard — for example, when an employee begins leave before the actual date of birth, when delivery occurs by caesarean section, or when the newborn requires additional medical care.
Governing law: Article 30, UAE Labour Law — Federal Decree-Law No. 33/2021
An employer is entitled to request the following documents to administer maternity leave correctly:
Medical certificate from a licensed healthcare authority confirming the expected due date — standard document required prior to leave commencement
Hospital admission report and/or medical report — relevant where leave begins due to hospitalisation before delivery
Birth certificate or official notification of birth — confirms the actual date of delivery and, where relevant, the circumstances (e.g. premature birth, caesarean section, multiple births)
Medical report from a health auth...