It is common for client-facing and senior roles: you are paid and employed but sidelined, which limits handover damage and keeps you from starting a competitor immediately. Your notice, benefits, and accruals continue, so it is not unpaid time off. Check whether your contract allows it and how it interacts with any non-compete. Terms vary, so confirm the specifics in your contract. How notice shapes a job change: UAE CV format guide.
Garden Leave
Garden leave is when an employer keeps you on payroll through your notice period but tells you not to come to work, usually to keep you away from clients and competitors before you leave. In the UAE it is permitted, your pay continues, and gratuity and annual leave keep accruing during the period.
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Adil Dahmani
Adil Dahmani is the founder of Yalliq, the AI career copilot for Arabic-speaking professionals across MENA.