Employees in the UAE who lose their jobs or resign often face immediate uncertainty about how long they can remain in the country. Recent legal provisions have clarified the procedures employers must follow when cancelling work permits and the limited grace period available for affected workers to either exit the country or regularise their status.

For mainland employees in Dubai and other emirates, the process is governed primarily by Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022, which implements Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Employment Relations, along with Federal Decree Law No. 29 of 2021 regarding the Entry and Residence of Aliens.

Work permit cancellation comes first

Under UAE labour procedures, an employer must first cancel the employee’s work permit once employment ends — whether due to termination or resignation — provided both parties have fulfilled their legal obligations.

The cancellation must be carried out through the channels specified by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (Mohre). Article 7(3) of Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022 sets out key requirements, including:

Only after the work permit is properly cancelled can the residency visa cancellation proceed.

for more, visit : https://thelawreporters.com/how-long-can-i-stay-after-visa-cancellation-uae