Probation Period

A probation period is the trial phase at the start of a job when either side can end the contract on short notice. UAE law caps it at six months and it cannot be extended; the employer gives 14 days' notice to terminate, while an employee gives one month to join another UAE employer or 14 days to leave the country. Saudi and Qatar rules differ.

Probation interacts directly with any "immediate joiner" claim: if you are resigning from a Gulf job to take a new one, the notice you owe during probation sets your real start date. In the UAE, moving to another local employer during probation usually requires one month's notice, and the new employer may owe your old one recruitment costs. Numbers and mechanics vary by country and change over time, so verify current rules on the relevant labour portal. Related timing detail: UAE CV format guide.

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