Is It Possible To Leave The UAE Without Terminating Your Employment Contract Due To Security Concerns?

With rising regional tensions and unusual security conditions, some employees may wish to leave the UAE temporarily for safety reasons or family considerations. From a legal perspective, however, it is important to distinguish between the desire to leave and the legal right to stop working or leave the country without the employer’s approval.

As a general rule, as long as the employment contract remains in force, the employee is not entitled to stop work or leave the UAE unilaterally without obtaining approved leave or the employer’s consent. This is because the employee’s work obligations remain valid, along with the obligation to comply with internal policies and workplace procedures.

In this context, it is worth noting that following the escalation in late February 2026, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation issued an exceptional circular requiring all private sector companies to shift to remote work until 3 March 2026, with the aim of keeping employees away from open