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UAE ILOE — Current 2026 Framework

UAE ILOE Unemployment Insurance Guide

Understand ILOE subscription categories, premiums, compensation, eligibility, exclusions, claim deadlines, fines and the aggregate lifetime benefit limit.

Based on current ILOE, MoHRE, UAE Government and UAE legislation information checked for 2026.

What is ILOE?

The Involuntary Loss of Employment scheme provides insurance compensation to qualifying employees who lose their employment for reasons other than resignation or disciplinary dismissal. The worker pays the insurance premium and, when the policy conditions are satisfied, can receive temporary cash compensation.

The current official ILOE portal states that compensation is 60% of the average basic salary over the six months before involuntary loss of employment, subject to the category caps and other policy conditions.

ILOE Compensation Calculator

Enter the average basic salary for the six months before the job loss. The screening below also checks important eligibility conditions.

This is a hypothetical calculation only. The official ILOE calculator states that its result is not proof of entitlement; an actual claim is decided from recorded data and supporting documents.

Category A: Basic Salary AED 16,000 or Below

Basic-salary bandAED 16,000 or below
PremiumAED 5 per month + VAT
Annual premiumAED 60 + VAT
Maximum monthly compensationAED 10,000 per month
Maximum per claim3 consecutive months
Aggregate lifetime cap12 monthly benefits
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Current ILOE benefit examples

Average basic salaryCategory60% calculationMonthly benefitMaximum for one claim
AED 8,000AAED 4,800AED 4,800AED 14,400
AED 16,000AAED 9,600AED 9,600AED 28,800
AED 20,000BAED 12,000AED 12,000AED 36,000
AED 40,000BAED 24,000AED 20,000AED 60,000

Compensation eligibility conditions

Minimum subscription period
At least 12 consecutive months of subscription before the loss of employment.
Premiums paid
All premiums due under the selected payment schedule must have been paid.
Qualifying involuntary job loss
The loss must be for a reason other than resignation or disciplinary dismissal.
Legal presence in UAE
The insured worker must be legally present in the UAE when claiming.
No existing absconding complaint
An existing absconding complaint can prevent compensation eligibility.
No fraudulent or fictitious arrangement
Claims involving fraud/deception or a fictitious employer are excluded.
No non-peaceful strike/stoppage cause
Loss of work resulting from a non-peaceful labour strike or stoppage is excluded.

Circumstances that do not qualify

Resignation
Disciplinary dismissal
Existing absconding complaint
Fraudulent/deceptive claim
Fictitious employer arrangement
Loss caused by a non-peaceful strike or stoppage

Who is excluded from ILOE?

Excluded categoryCurrent ILOE description
Investors / ownersInvestors who own the establishment in which they work.
Domestic helpersDomestic workers are excluded.
Temporary-contract workersWorkers employed under temporary contracts are excluded.
Juveniles under 18Employees below 18 years of age are excluded.
Retirees with pension taking a new jobRetirees entitled to a pension who subsequently join a new job are excluded.

Premium-payment options

Payment scheduleStatus
MonthlyAvailable
QuarterlyAvailable
Semi-annuallyAvailable
AnnuallyAvailable

Subscription channels

Current ILOE materials list direct and authorised channels including the ILOE website, mobile application, exchange companies, business service centres, kiosks/ATMs, bank applications, SMS and telecom-bill routes, subject to the channel's availability.

Filing an ILOE claim

  1. Confirm that the employment relationship has actually ended and that the reason is a qualifying involuntary termination.
  2. Make sure at least 12 consecutive months of subscription have been completed.
  3. Ensure the required premiums are paid and there is no payment interruption exceeding three months.
  4. Submit the claim within 30 days from termination.
  5. Use the ILOE portal, mobile application, call centre or another channel designated by MoHRE/Insurance Pool.
  6. Provide the information and supporting documents requested by the insurer.

Fine rules

SituationCurrent amount / consequence
Failure to subscribeAED 400 fine, plus the outstanding subscription obligations. The applicable amount can be collected through the mechanisms established by the Ministry.
Premium unpaid for more than 3 monthsInsurance certificate cancellation, AED 200 fine and re-subscription through a new policy.

Frequently Asked Questions

The ILOE scheme is mandatory for employees in the private sector and federal government sector, subject to the statutory exclusions. The official ILOE portal identifies excluded categories including investors who own the establishment in which they work, domestic helpers, temporary-contract workers, juveniles under 18 and retirees receiving a pension who join a new job. Financial free zones such as DIFC and ADGM have separate employment frameworks, so their workforce should be checked against the applicable rules rather than being automatically included in every federal labour rule.

The monthly compensation is 60% of the insured employee’s average basic salary during the six months immediately before the loss of employment, subject to the category cap. Category A has a maximum of AED 10,000 per month and Category B a maximum of AED 20,000 per month. One claim can be paid for up to three consecutive months. Across the insured person’s entire work life in the UAE, aggregate claim payments cannot exceed 12 monthly benefits.

Current ILOE materials list investors who are owners of the establishments in which they work, domestic helpers, workers on temporary contracts, juveniles under 18 and retirees receiving a pension who have joined a new job. Other eligibility conditions can also prevent compensation even for someone who is required to subscribe, so subscription eligibility and compensation eligibility should not be treated as identical.

Cabinet Resolution No. 97 of 2022 provides an AED 400 fine for failure to subscribe and an AED 200 fine if the insured fails to pay the required premiums for more than three months. After more than three months of non-payment, the insurance certificate is cancelled and the employee must subscribe again through a new policy. The legislation allows the Ministry to set procedures for collection and to permit instalment or exemption arrangements.

The insured worker must submit the claim within 30 days from the termination/end of the employment relationship. The current ILOE channels include the official ILOE portal, the mobile application and the ILOE call centre at 600 599 555, with other channels that may be designated by MoHRE in coordination with the Insurance Pool.

The current ILOE eligibility rules require at least 12 consecutive months of subscription before the loss of employment. The policy also requires continuity: an interruption in subscription of more than three months can affect entitlement. All required premiums under the selected payment schedule must also have been paid.

Official ILOE sources

These sources are provided for direct verification. This webpage is not certified or approved by MoHRE, Dubai Insurance or the ILOE Insurance Pool.

ILOE customer helpline currently published by the scheme: 600 599 555.
Last reviewed for this page: 22 August 2026.