Airspace Closures Leave UAE Residents Abroad Facing Job Questions
As regional airspace restrictions continue to disrupt travel across the Middle East, many UAE residents currently stuck outside the country are anxious about how their extended absence might affect their jobs. Legal experts say that while UAE labour law does not spell out rules for such extraordinary circumstances, it offers several protections for employees facing situations beyond their control.
Absence Likely Deemed Justified, Not Misconduct
According to Rajiv Suri, senior associate at Alsuwaidi & Company, employees stranded abroad due to war or airspace closures can expect their absence to be classified as legitimate. “If an employee is stranded outside the UAE due to circumstances beyond their control, such as war or closure of airspace, the absence is likely to be considered a justified absence,” Suri explained. In such cases, employers are expected to act reasonably and avoid treating the absence as misconduct or grounds for disciplinary action.
Employees should promptly notify their employers and explain their situation, although the widespread nature of current travel disruptions makes formal proof less critical than usual.
Terminations Unlikely if Absence is Justified
Under Article 44 of UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, employers can terminate employees for more than seven consecutive days of unexcused absence. However, experts clarify that this does not automatically apply where government-imposed travel restrictions or regional conflict are involved. If an employee can show their absence is truly unavoidable, any termination could be challenged as unreasonable.
Salary and Leave: What to Expect
The impact on an employee’s salary depends largely on whether remote work is possible. If an employee can continue working from abroad, their salary should continue as normal. If remote work isn’t an option, employers and employees can agree to use annual leave, paid leave, or even unpaid leave during the period of absence.
Many UAE companies are choosing to be flexible, opting for temporary work-from-home arrangements or adjusting employment terms until normal travel resumes.
Flights Gradually Resuming
While regular flights remain limited, operations are slowly restarting at Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah airports. Authorities urge travellers to fly only with confirmed bookings and to check updates directly with airlines.
Legal experts recommend that both employers and employees keep communication open and follow official government updates as the situation develops.
