It is possible for an employer in the United Arab Emirates to terminate his or her employee with immediate effect. According to Article 120 of UAE Federal Labour Law no. 8 of 1980, the following are grounds for an employee to be fired without prior notice:
• If the employee assumes a personality or a nationality other than his own, or has submitted fake documents or certificates.
• If the employee was appointed under probation and the termination happened during that period or at its end.
• If the employee commits a mistake causing the employer a substantial financial loss, provided the employer informs the Ministry of the incident within 48 hours.
• If the employee violates instructions relating to safety in the place of work, provided those instructions were written and displayed in a permanent place, and the employee has been informed of these instructions orally if he is illiterate.
• If the employee fails to carry out his basic duties as stated in the contract and continues to do so in spite of a written interrogation and a warning that his service will be terminated if he repeats his misconduct.
• If he discloses a secret of the establishment for whom he is working.
• If he is conclusively convicted by the concerned court of a crime involving honor, honesty and public morals.
• If he is found drunk or intoxicated by drugs during working hours.
• If he commits a physical assault on the employer or manager or one of his colleagues during work.
• If he becomes absent without a legitimate reason for more than 20 intermittent days or more than seven continuous days within one year.
Once the employee loses his or her job and whose employment visa is cancelled, he or she can stay in the UAE for the next 29 to 30 days as indicated in the visa cancellation document. This period can be used by the worker to look for a new employer or sponsor, otherwise he or she must exit the UAE.
