Resignation Letter in UAE: Format, Samples and What to Include

Last checked: October 2026 against Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 on the UAE Legislation portal.

A resignation letter in the UAE does two jobs. It tells your employer, in writing, that you are ending your contract, and it fixes the date your notice period starts. If a dispute about your final pay or last working day ever comes up, that dated letter is the first document anyone will ask to see.

This page gives you the format, a checklist of what to include, a simple way to work out your last day, and six samples you can adapt. For the full legal background, including gratuity and settlement rules, read our guide to notice period rules in the UAE.

What the law requires your letter to show

These rules come from the federal Labour Law for mainland private-sector jobs. If you work in the DIFC or ADGM, check that free zone’s own employment rules first.

What to include in a resignation letter in the UAE

Keep the letter short, factual and polite. Your employer only needs to know that you are resigning and when your last day will be. Use this checklist:

• Date the letter is submitted.
• Recipient: your line manager’s name and title, with HR in copy.
• Your details: full name as on your passport, job title and department.
• Employee ID and, optionally, your work permit or labour card number, which helps HR match the letter to your MoHRE record.
• A clear statement that you are resigning. Avoid vague wording such as “thinking of leaving”.
• Your last working day, calculated from the notice period in your contract.
• An offer to hand over your work and return company property.
• A request for your final settlement and an experience certificate.
• Your signature on the printed copy.

Leave complaints out. A resignation letter goes into your personnel file, and criticism of managers or colleagues rarely helps you. If you have a genuine grievance, raise it separately.

How to calculate your last working day

Start with the notice clause in your registered MoHRE contract, not the offer letter. You can confirm it using our guide on how to check your labour contract in the UAE.

Example only: suppose your contract sets 30 days’ notice and you hand in your letter on Sunday 1 November 2026. Counting the next day as day one, day 30 falls on Tuesday 1 December 2026, so you would state that date as your last working day. Weekends are counted here because Article 43 sets notice in days, not working days.

Your contract and company policy govern the exact calculation, so ask HR to confirm the date in writing. Agreeing on one date early prevents most settlement disputes later.

How to submit your resignation and get proof

The law requires written notice but does not set a delivery method. The steps below are practical advice rather than legal requirements:

1. Email the letter as a signed PDF to your manager and HR from your work email, so the send date is recorded.
2. Hand over a signed printed copy if your company uses paper records.
3. Ask HR to acknowledge receipt in writing, either by reply email or by signing and dating your copy.
4. Keep your own copy outside the company system, together with the acknowledgement.

Resignation letter samples

Replace everything in [brackets] with your own details. Choose the sample that matches your situation, then check the dates against your contract.

1. Standard resignation letter (after probation)

[Date]

To: [Manager’s name], [Job title], [Company name]
Cc: Human Resources

Subject: Resignation – [Your full name], [Employee ID]

Dear [Manager’s name],

Please accept this letter as formal notice of my resignation from my position as [Job title]. In line with the [number]-day notice period in my employment contract, my last working day will be [date].

I will complete a full handover of my work and return all company property before that date. I would be grateful if you could confirm my last working day in writing, and arrange my final settlement and an experience certificate.

Thank you for the opportunities I have had during my time with [Company name].

Yours sincerely,
[Signature]
[Your full name]
[Job title], [Department]
Work permit no.: [optional]

2. Resignation during probation (joining another UAE employer)

Dear [Manager’s name],

I am writing to give notice that I am resigning from my position as [Job title] during my probation period, as I will be joining another employer in the UAE. In line with Article 9 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, I am giving one month’s written notice, and my last working day will be [date].

I will hand over my tasks fully before I leave. Please confirm my last working day and let me know the next steps for my final settlement.

Kind regards,
[Signature]
[Your full name], [Employee ID]

Under Article 9, your new employer may owe your current employer recruitment costs unless agreed otherwise. Our probation period guide explains this.

3. Resignation during probation (leaving the UAE)

Dear [Manager’s name],

Please accept this letter as notice of my resignation from my position as [Job title] during my probation period. I intend to leave the UAE. In line with Article 9 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, I am giving at least 14 days’ written notice, and my last working day will be [date].

I will complete my handover before that date. Please let me know the steps for my final settlement and visa cancellation.

Kind regards,
[Signature]
[Your full name], [Employee ID]

Leaving the UAE without following Article 9 can lead to a one-year ban on a new work permit, and returning on a new permit within three months may create a cost for your next employer. Check your position with MoHRE before you travel.

4. Short resignation email

Subject: Resignation – [Your full name], [Employee ID]

Dear [Manager’s name],

Please accept this email and the attached signed letter as my formal resignation from the position of [Job title]. Based on my [number]-day notice period, my last working day will be [date].

I will make sure my handover is complete. Could you please confirm receipt and my last working day?

Best regards,
[Your full name]

5. Resignation when relocating or leaving the UAE (after probation)

Dear [Manager’s name],

I am writing to resign from my position as [Job title], as I will be relocating to [country]. As required by my [number]-day notice period, my last working day will be [date].

Before I leave, I would like to complete my handover and agree the timing of my visa cancellation, final settlement and experience certificate, so that everything is finalised before my departure.

Thank you for your support during my time with [Company name].

Yours sincerely,
[Signature]
[Your full name], [Employee ID]

6. Leaving without notice under Article 45 (use with care)

Article 45 allows a worker to leave without notice, while keeping end-of-service rights, in four limited cases. For example, if the employer breaches its obligations, you must first notify MoHRE at least 14 business days before leaving, and the employer must have failed to fix the breach after MoHRE notified it. Do not use this sample until you have spoken to MoHRE or a UAE employment lawyer. If the grounds are not met, you may owe your employer compensation for the notice you did not serve.

Dear [Manager’s name],

I am writing to inform you that I am ending my employment as [Job title] without notice, under Article 45(1) of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, with effect from [date].

On [date], I notified the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation about [brief, factual description, e.g. unpaid wages for the months of …] (reference number [number]). The breach has not been resolved since the Ministry notified the company.

I request payment of all my end-of-service entitlements in accordance with the law.

Yours sincerely,
[Signature]
[Your full name], [Employee ID]

Mistakes to avoid

• Resigning verbally only. Without a dated letter, nobody can prove when your notice started.
• Guessing the notice period. Check your MoHRE contract before you write the date.
• Resigning before your new offer is confirmed in writing. A verbal promise can change.
• Agreeing to an earlier exit verbally. If your employer offers to shorten notice, get it in writing.
• Stopping work after you hand in the letter. Unexplained absence can lead to a work abandonment report.
• Adding complaints or emotional language. Keep the letter neutral.

After you resign

Your letter starts the exit process. Under Article 53, your employer must pay your wages and other entitlements within 14 days of the contract ending. These guides cover the next steps:

• Check your end-of-service figure with our UAE gratuity calculation guide.
• Understand the employment visa cancellation process and your grace period.
• Request your experience certificate, which your employer must issue free of charge on request.
• Moving straight to a new employer? Read how to change jobs in the UAE.
• Note that ILOE unemployment insurance does not pay out when you resign.

Frequently asked questions

Can my employer refuse to accept my resignation?

Article 43 allows either party to end the contract for a legitimate reason by giving written notice. It does not make a resignation depend on the employer’s approval. Your employer can, however, require you to work through the notice period. If HR will not acknowledge your letter, keep proof of delivery and contact MoHRE.

Does a resignation letter need to be handwritten or signed?

The law requires written notice but does not require handwriting. A typed letter is normal. Signing it, and getting a signed or emailed acknowledgement, gives you stronger proof.

Can I resign by email or WhatsApp?

The law does not name a format for written notice. Email to your manager and HR is widely used and leaves a clear record. A WhatsApp message is harder to rely on, so follow it with a formal email or letter.

Can I withdraw my resignation?

The Labour Law does not set out a rule on withdrawing a resignation. In practice, it depends on your employer agreeing. If they do, get that agreement in writing so your contract clearly continues.

Ready for your next role?

A clear, dated resignation letter protects your notice period, your final pay and your reputation. Once yours is submitted, browse the latest jobs in the UAE or submit your CV to employers hiring now. Legitimate employers never ask you to pay for a job offer or interview.

This guide gives general information based on Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 and is not legal advice. For your own situation, confirm the position with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation or a qualified UAE employment lawyer.