Legal Procedures and Deadlines Following Termination of Employment with a Dubai Mainland Government Entity

In accordance with current UAE laws (including immigration law and Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022), the legal procedures and deadlines following the termination of employment with a government entity in Dubai's mainland are as follows:

1️⃣ Visa Cancellation Process by the Employer

Upon termination of your employment, the employer is obligated to first cancel your Work Permit through the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE). According to Article 7 of Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022, this process includes the following steps:

🔵 Registration of the application in the Ministry's systems.

🔵 Settlement of any fines for delays in renewal or issuance of permits.

🔵 Official Company Confirmation: The employer must confirm that all end-of-service benefits and entitlements have been fully paid to you.

2️⃣ Residency Grace Period After Visa Cancellation

After your residency visa is officially cancelled, you are not immediately required to leave the country.

🔵 Legal Grace Period: You can remain in the UAE until the end of the "Grace Period" specified on the visa cancellation paper.

🔵 Important Note: This period is usually 30 days, but depending on the type of visa and new changes in regulations, it may be listed on your cancellation paper as 60 or 90 days. Be sure to check the exact date on the Visa Cancellation Paper.

Serious Warning: If you remain in the country after the end of this grace period, you will be subject to financial penalties for each day of illegal stay.

3️⃣ Legal Ways to Remain in the UAE

If you intend to remain in the UAE after visa cancellation, you have three options:

🔵 Finding a New Job: If you find a new job during the grace period, the new employer can apply for a work permit for you and change your residency status without the need to leave the country.

🔵 Switching to a Tourist Visa: You can apply for a tourist or visit visa before the grace period expires. In many cases, this can be done within the UAE.

🔵 Other Visas (Investment or Freelance): If you are interested in freelance work, you can apply for a freelance visa or a Green Visa.

4️⃣ Recommended Actions

1. Review the Visa Cancellation Paper: Immediately after cancellation, obtain the paper from your employer to know the exact departure date.

2. Negotiate for Entitlements: Do not sign the settlement form until you have received all amounts due (salary, end-of-service gratuity, etc.).

3. Inquiry from GDRFA: To ensure the possibility of converting the visa to a tourist visa without leaving the country, contact the call center of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs - Dubai (GDRFA).