Maternity leave has been extended to 90 days for Emirati women working in the private sector in Abu Dhabi, as announced by the Department of Community Development (DCD) – Abu Dhabi. This initiative is part of six launched by the DCD to support Emirati families in the emirate. While public sector employees have always been entitled to three months of paid maternity leave, women in private firms typically receive 60 days, with 45 days fully paid and 15 days half paid according to the UAE Labour Law. The new initiative will allow Emirati mums in the private sector to have a 90-day leave to ensure sufficient time to rest and care for the newborn.
Apart from the extended maternity leave, new moms will also receive assistance during the first weeks of motherhood through the ‘home visit service’ provided by the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority. The goal is to support parents’ well-being and monitor the baby’s growth and development. Additionally, Emirati couples will benefit from various initiatives and financial relief packages, including marriage loans, loan deductions, and rental assistance. These initiatives aim to boost family life and come under the Emirati Family Growth Support Programme aligned with the emirate’s goal to enhance the quality of family life by 2028.
The main objective of the Emirati Family Growth Support Programme is to assist UAE nationals in marrying and raising children. This programme includes several schemes such as marriage loans, rental assistance for newlyweds, and extension of housing loan repayment period. Young Emirati couples seeking to start a family will receive support from the government, starting with a financial advance for their wedding without any interest or fees. Furthermore, annual rental assistance will be provided for four years, gradually declining, and linked to incentives related to the birth of children. These schemes will be implemented by the Abu Dhabi Social Support Authority and the Abu Dhabi Housing Authority.
The Emirati Family Growth Support Programme also includes initiatives to deduct an amount from the housing loan and extend the repayment period for housing loans. These measures aim to reduce financial burdens on citizens and encourage them to have children. UAE nationals will have the opportunity to get a certain percentage of their loan amounts reduced upon the birth of their fourth, fifth, and sixth child. Additionally, there will be extensions for housing loan repayment for a period of three years for beneficiaries with four or more children. These services are expected to be available from September, and certain criteria and conditions will apply to qualify for them.
The impact of the Emirati Family Growth Support Programme will be assessed over a period of five years, during which the effectiveness of the initiatives will be evaluated. The programme aims to create a supportive environment for Emirati families, enabling them to build stable and responsible families. Dr. Mugheer Al Khaili, chairman of DCD Abu Dhabi, emphasized the city’s commitment to supporting parents and helping them overcome challenges in raising their children. By promoting family-friendly policies and financial incentives, the government aims to enhance the well-being and future prospects of Emirati families in Abu Dhabi.
