A fall on a building site. A hand caught in a machine. A road accident on the way to work. A lung disease that builds up over years of dust. Each of these can be a work injury under UAE law, and each gives the worker legal rights that do not depend on the employer’s goodwill.
This guide is for private-sector employees and employers in the UAE. It follows Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 regulating employment relationships (Articles 37, 38 and 54), Cabinet Resolution No. 33 of 2022 on work injuries and occupational diseases, Ministerial Resolution No. 657 of 2022, and the UAE Government portal. Every figure and deadline below was checked against those texts. Where the sources are silent, we say so.
Published: 24 October 2026
Quick Answer
If a private-sector worker in the UAE is injured at work or develops an occupational disease, the employer must pay for treatment until the worker recovers or the disability is established. If the worker cannot work, the employer pays the full wage during treatment for up to six months, then half wage for another six months at most. For death or permanent total disability, compensation is 24 months of basic wage, but never less than AED 18,000 and never more than AED 200,000. Partial disability is paid as a percentage of that amount. The employer must report the injury to MOHRE within 48 hours and pay compensation within 10 days of the medical report. If the employer refuses, the worker can take the dispute to MOHRE.
What Counts as a Work Injury
Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 defines a work injury as exposure to one of the occupational diseases in the Cabinet table, or any injury arising from it, due to or occurring in the course of work. The Decree-Law adds an important rule: an accident that happens while the worker is travelling to or from work counts too, if the worker did not interrupt the trip or leave the normal route.
In practice, three groups of cases are covered:
- Accidents at the workplace, such as falls, burns, cuts, crush injuries, chemical exposure and vehicle accidents on the job.
- Commuting accidents, when the route was normal and uninterrupted.
- Occupational diseases listed in Schedule 1 of Cabinet Resolution No. 33 of 2022. The schedule lists 17, including poisoning by lead, mercury, arsenic and benzene, radiation illnesses, chronic skin disease, eye damage from heat and light, pneumoconiosis (silicosis, asbestosis, byssinosis), anthrax, pulmonary tuberculosis and enteric fever. Each is linked to the occupation that causes it.
An illness that has nothing to do with work is not a work injury. That falls under sick leave, which we explain in our guide to UAE sick leave rules.
What the Employer Must Do
Article 37(2) of the Decree-Law and Cabinet Resolution No. 33 of 2022 put several duties on the employer. Ministerial Resolution No. 657 of 2022 adds how they are carried out.
| Duty | Rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Pay for treatment | Until the worker recovers and can return to work, or the disability is established | Article 37(2)(a) |
| Pay wages during treatment | Full wage for the treatment period or six months, whichever is less. If treatment exceeds six months, half wage for another six months, or until cure, disability or death is established | Article 37(2)(b) |
| Report to the medical authority | As soon as the employer knows of the injury or suspected disease | Ministerial Resolution 657, Article 2 |
| Report to the police | Immediately, for the police station covering the workplace | Cabinet Resolution 33, Article 3; Ministerial Resolution 657, Article 2 |
| Report to MOHRE | Within 48 hours from the date the employer learns of the injury or disease | Cabinet Resolution 33, Article 3 |
| Pay compensation | Within 10 days after the medical report that sets the disability level | Ministerial Resolution 657, Article 3 |
| Do not terminate early | The employer must not end the work relationship or cancel the contract of an injured or sick worker before giving all dues | Ministerial Resolution 657, Article 2 |
The MOHRE report must include the worker’s name, age, occupation, address and nationality, with a short description of the accident, the circumstances and the medical help arranged. It can be filed on the MOHRE digital system, through an approved business service centre or on the MOHRE app.
For serious events, such as a building collapse, fire, explosion, fall from a height or a traffic accident while going to or from work, Ministerial Resolution No. 657 says the employer must inform MOHRE immediately, and in every case within 48 hours.
Establishments with 50 or more workers must also run a system to monitor work injuries and occupational diseases, including injury records, preventive training for high-risk jobs and a periodic medical examination log. Records of workers exposed to occupational hazards must be kept for at least five years after their service ends.
What Treatment and Wages Cover
According to the UAE Government portal, the employer’s treatment duty covers hospital stays, surgery, medical tests, medication, rehabilitation, prosthetics and orthopaedic devices, and transport to medical facilities. If the employer and worker agree on treatment outside the UAE, the employer must give MOHRE evidence of that agreement.
During treatment the worker stays an employee. Wages follow the rule above:
| Treatment period | Wage payable |
|---|---|
| Up to 6 months | Full wage |
| Months 7 to 12 (if treatment continues) | Half wage |
| After cure, or once disability or death is established | The wage rule stops and the compensation rules apply |
Our guide to the UAE Wage Protection System explains how salary payments are tracked.
How Compensation Is Calculated
Compensation depends on the worker’s last basic wage, not the total package. Ministerial Resolution No. 657 of 2022, Article 3, says the value is calculated on the last basic wage received. The Decree-Law fixes the death benefit, and the Ministerial Resolution links disability to it.
| Outcome | Compensation |
|---|---|
| Death | 24 months of basic wage, minimum AED 18,000, maximum AED 200,000 |
| Permanent total disability | Same amount as death |
| Permanent partial disability | Disability percentage from Schedule 3 of Cabinet Resolution 33 of 2022 multiplied by 24 months of basic wage, within the same minimum and maximum |
Death compensation goes to the worker’s dependents under the laws in force, or as the worker directed before death. The Decree-Law says the family keeps its right to the worker’s end of service benefits and other financial dues. Our guide to end of service gratuity explains that part.
Worked examples
These use round numbers for illustration only.
- Basic wage AED 5,000, permanent total disability. 24 x 5,000 = AED 120,000. This is inside the range, so compensation is AED 120,000.
- Basic wage AED 5,000, loss of sight in one eye. Schedule 3 lists loss of sight of one eye at 45%. 45% of AED 120,000 = AED 54,000.
- Basic wage AED 600, death. 24 x 600 = AED 14,400. That is below the floor, so the minimum of AED 18,000 applies.
- Basic wage AED 12,000, death. 24 x 12,000 = AED 288,000. That is above the ceiling, so the cap of AED 200,000 applies.
Reading the disability tables
Schedule 2 lists permanent total disabilities at 100%, for example loss of both arms from the shoulder, total loss of sight, total paralysis and total mental deficiency. Schedule 3 lists partial disabilities with lower percentages. Examples include total and permanent loss of hearing at 50% and loss of sight of one eye at 45%. The medical authority decides the disability degree, and its report must be approved by the competent health authority. The treating medical authority prepares the report in triplicate: one copy to the worker, one to the employer, one to MOHRE.
If an injury is not in the tables, such as disfigurement or unnatural alteration of an organ, Cabinet Resolution No. 33 says the competent medical authority estimates the disability rate.
When a Worker Loses the Right to Compensation
Article 38 of the Decree-Law lists five cases in which the worker is not entitled to compensation, if the competent authorities’ investigation proves them:
- The worker deliberately injured himself or herself.
- The injury happened under the influence of alcohol, narcotics or other psychotropic substances.
- The injury resulted from a deliberate violation of preventive instructions displayed in visible places at the workplace.
- The injury resulted from the worker’s wilful misconduct.
- The worker refused, without a serious reason, a medical examination or the treatment set by the medical entity.
The word “proven” matters. An employer’s allegation is not enough. The police investigation must state whether the injury was self-inflicted, caused by wilful misconduct, linked to alcohol or drugs, or the result of deliberate violation of posted instructions. The medical authority has the final say on whether a work injury occurred.
Step by Step: What to Do After an Accident
For the worker
- Get medical help first. Ask the employer to send you to a licensed medical entity, and keep every document.
- Tell the employer in writing, even by message, giving the date, place and what happened.
- Ask whether the police and MOHRE have been informed. The employer has 48 hours to report to MOHRE.
- Keep your own file: photos, witness names, medical reports, the police report number, payslips and your contract.
- Obtain the final medical report that states the injury, cause, treatment period and whether any permanent disability exists, and the degree.
- Check the 10-day payment deadline after that report.
- Do not sign a resignation or settlement you do not understand. The employer may not end your contract before giving all dues.
For the employer
- Arrange treatment and report to the medical authority.
- Report to the police immediately.
- Submit the MOHRE report within 48 hours.
- Keep paying wages under Article 37.
- Pay compensation within 10 days of the medical report.
- Keep records. MOHRE inspection visits can follow a registered injury, and failure to report within 48 hours, failure to compensate or giving wrong data are the listed grounds for a violation report.
If the Employer Refuses to Pay
Rights under the Labour Law can be pursued through Article 54 of the Decree-Law, as amended by Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2023.
- The worker, the employer or the worker’s beneficiaries can submit the dispute to MOHRE, which first tries to reach an amicable settlement.
- MOHRE gives a final decision if the claim is not more than AED 50,000, or if neither party complies with an amicable settlement decision, whatever the value.
- A party unhappy with MOHRE’s decision can file a case before the Court of Appeal within 15 working days of being notified. The court schedules a hearing within three working days and decides within 15 working days. Its decision is final.
- If amicable settlement fails in other cases, the dispute goes to the competent court with a memorandum from MOHRE.
- During the process, MOHRE may order the employer to pay the worker’s withheld wages for up to two months.
- A claim cannot be heard after one year from the date the right fell due.
- Under Article 55, labour claims are exempt from court fees at all stages, and so are requests filed by workers or their heirs for amounts not above AED 100,000.
Because of the one-year limit, do not wait. File early if the 10-day payment period passes without payment. Our guide to the MOHRE labour complaint process walks through the complaint steps.
Work Injury and Your Job, Contract and Visa
The rule that matters most: the employer may not terminate the work relationship or cancel the contract of an injured or sick worker before granting all dues. If the worker wants to leave before the medical committee report is issued, the employer must tell MOHRE, and the worker keeps rights under the report.
We did not find a separate official rule in the sources reviewed about what happens to the residence visa during treatment, so we do not state one. Because the employment relationship continues, the usual contract rules still apply. Read our employment contract rules for notice and termination, and our guide to mandatory health insurance for medical cover that is separate from the employer’s work-injury duty.
Common Mistakes
- Waiting for the employer to act. Keep your own record of dates and documents.
- Not asking for the medical report. Disability compensation is paid after it.
- Confusing sick leave with work injury. They follow different rules.
- Calculating on the total salary. The base is the last basic wage.
- Missing the one-year limit for bringing a claim.
- Employers reporting late. The 48-hour clock starts when the employer learns of the injury.
- Signing a quick settlement for less than the legal amount.
- Terminating the worker during treatment, which the rules prohibit before dues are paid.
- Ignoring the commute rule. A normal-route commute accident can qualify.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who pays for treatment after a work injury in the UAE?
The employer. Article 37(2) of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 requires the employer to bear treatment costs until the worker recovers and can return to work, or the disability is established. Employers who also review their spending on staff and community causes may want Qaspro Global’s guide to UAE Corporate Tax on donations and charitable contributions.
How long must the employer report a work injury?
Within 48 hours from the date the employer learns of the injury or occupational disease. The report goes to MOHRE through its digital system, an approved business service centre or the MOHRE app. The employer must also tell the medical authority and report to the police.
Do I get my full salary while recovering?
Yes, if the injury stops you from working. You receive your full wage for the treatment period or six months, whichever is shorter. If treatment goes beyond six months, you receive half wage for up to another six months, or until cure, disability or death is established.
How much compensation is paid for death?
24 months of the worker’s basic wage, with a minimum of AED 18,000 and a maximum of AED 200,000. It is paid to the dependents under the laws in force or as the worker directed before death.
How is compensation for permanent disability calculated?
For total disability, the amount equals the death compensation. For partial disability, the percentage in Schedule 3 of Cabinet Resolution No. 33 of 2022 is multiplied by 24 months of basic wage, within AED 18,000 to AED 200,000.
When must the employer pay compensation?
Within 10 days after the medical report that states the disability level, according to Ministerial Resolution No. 657 of 2022.
Does an accident on the way to work count?
Yes, if it is proven that it happened during the commute to or from work, without interruption or deviation from the normal route.
Can the employer cancel my contract while I am being treated?
No. Under Ministerial Resolution No. 657 of 2022, the employer must not end the work relationship or cancel the contract of an injured or sick worker before granting all dues.
In what cases can I lose compensation?
Article 38 lists five: deliberate self-injury, injury under the influence of alcohol or drugs, deliberate violation of posted safety instructions, wilful misconduct, and refusing a medical examination or treatment without a serious reason. These must be proven by the authorities’ investigation.
What if my employer refuses to pay?
Submit a dispute to MOHRE under Article 54. MOHRE first tries an amicable settlement and decides finally on claims up to AED 50,000. Larger claims may go to court. The claim must be brought within one year of the right falling due.
Do I pay court fees for a labour claim?
Under Article 55, labour claims are exempt from judicial fees at all stages, and requests by workers or their heirs for amounts not above AED 100,000 are exempt.
Is an occupational disease treated like an accident?
Yes, if it appears in Schedule 1 of Cabinet Resolution No. 33 of 2022 and arises from the listed occupation. The same duties on treatment, reporting and compensation apply.
Related Reading
- UAE Corporate Tax on Donations and Charitable Contributions 2026 (Qaspro Global)
- UAE sick leave rules 2026
- MOHRE labour complaint in the UAE
- End of service gratuity calculation
- Employment contract rules: probation, notice and termination
- Mandatory health insurance and the residence visa
- UAE Wage Protection System
- UAE employment contract types
- Labour ban in the UAE
Need Help With Your Papers After a Workplace Injury?
If you need help understanding your documents, your MOHRE report or your next step, message Yalah Dubai on WhatsApp: https://wa.me/971525802100.
Sources: Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 Regarding the Regulation of Employment Relationship and its amendments (Articles 37, 38, 54 and 55), MOHRE; Cabinet Resolution No. 33 of 2022 concerning Work Injuries and Occupational Diseases and its schedules, MOHRE; Ministerial Resolution No. 657 of 2022 on Rules and Guidelines to Deal with Work Injuries and Occupational Diseases (unofficial translation), MOHRE; UAE Government portal, Work Injury Compensation in the UAE (u.ae). This article is general information, not legal advice for your case.