Image credit: Getty Images
Sobha Realty, a leading luxury global real estate developer, has announced a significant enhancement to its maternity leave policy, reinforcing its commitment to employee well-being and workplace excellence. In a bold, people-first move, the company now offers 120 days of maternity leave to its female employees. Throughout this period, all other employment benefits will be fully retained.
This progressive policy far exceeds the UAE Labour Law requirement of 60 days and sets a new benchmark in the private real estate sector.
Read-Sharjah approves new employee leave policy
Sobha Realty now stands out as the first developer in the UAE to offer such a comprehensive and inclusive maternity leave framework—one that supports working mothers while promoting a more equitable and compassionate workplace.
The announcement follows Sobha Realty receiving the prestigious Great Place to Work® certification for the second consecutive year, a recognition that highlights its dedication to cultivating a people-centric culture built on trust, care, and empowerment. The enhanced maternity leave reflects the company’s ongoing efforts not just to meet expectations but to exceed them in ways that matter to its employees.
“At Sobha Realty, we have always believed that true excellence begins with our people,” said Ravi Menon, Chairman, Sobha Group. “This new maternity policy is a statement of our values. It reflects our ongoing commitment to our employees and our desire to stand beside them during life’s most important moments. This is yet another initiative that embodies the core of who we are—driven by compassion, grounded in commitment, and focused on continuous improvement,” added Mr. Menon.
With this announcement, Sobha Realty continues to lead by example in shaping a workplace culture that values human connection and holistic well-being. In an era where talent retention and employee satisfaction are more critical than ever, Sobha’s bold step sets a new gold standard for employer responsibility and progressive leadership in the region.
Dubai-based Alpha Nero announces 70-Day paid maternity leave policy
On February 27, 2024, Dubai-based retail design and production company Alpha Nero announced a new 70-day paid maternity leave policy, effective immediately.
Alpha Nero is the first SME in the region’s manufacturing industry to extend statutory maternity leave, championing improved work environments for women.
Women reportedly hold managerial roles—including CFO and COO positions—at the company. Alpha Nero also boasts an all-female accounts department and a female head of logistics, a department traditionally male-dominated in the Middle East.
The company states that it has witnessed first-hand the impact women make in business and recognizes that being an effective, multi-tasking leader, employee, and decision-maker is not mutually exclusive with being a homemaker, carer, mother, wife, or daughter.
Nestlé Dubai’s maternity leave policy
Nestlé in Dubai and the Middle East offers a comprehensive maternity leave policy, providing a minimum of 14 weeks (98 days) of paid leave for primary caregivers, including fathers and adoptive parents. This can be extended up to six months, with additional support for breastfeeding mothers. These provisions apply to all employees who are the primary caregivers of their newborns.
This policy offers 38 days more than the UAE’s standard private-sector maternity leave.
Maternity leave provisions in the UAE private sector
Under UAE Labour Law, a female worker is entitled to 60 days of maternity leave:
- 45 days of fully paid leave
- 15 days of half-paid leave
She may apply for maternity leave up to 30 days before the expected delivery date.
Additionally:
- She may take up to 45 extra days without pay if illness due to pregnancy or childbirth is certified by a medical authority.
- If the baby is sick or has a disability, she may take an additional 30 days of fully paid leave, extendable by another 30 days without pay (with medical certification).
- Upon returning to work, she is entitled to one or two daily nursing breaks (not exceeding one hour total) for six months post-delivery. These breaks are fully paid.
