How to Claim UAE Unemployment Insurance (ILOE)
The Involuntary Loss of Employment (ILOE) scheme is unemployment insurance. It is mandatory for federal government and private-sector employees. You must pay into it for at least 12 months in a row before you can claim. If you then lose your job through no fault of your own, you can claim. You get 60% of your average basic salary from the last six months before you lost your job. You get this for up to 3 months per claim. The most you can get is AED 10,000 or AED 20,000 per month. The cap depends on your salary band. You must file your claim within 30 days of losing your job.
At a glance
- Cost:
- Subscription AED 5 or AED 10 per month by salary band
- Total time:
- Claim processed within 2 weeks of submission
- Steps:
- 6 steps
- Where to apply:
- mohre.gov.ae
Last reviewed October 2026 against official sources. Re-checked every 6 months · next review due April 2027.
The Steps
Follow these in order
Each card shows the phase, expected time, and any cost. Data checked against official UAE sources(October 2026).
0 of 6 steps
- Before You Go Self-check
Confirm you are covered
You must have paid in for at least 12 consecutive months. You must also have paid your premiums on time. Some people do not have to join. These are investors and owners of the business they work in, and domestic workers. They also include employees on temporary contracts, juveniles under 18, and retirees who get a pension and started a new job. If you do not subscribe, you will pay penalties. Check the current amounts on MOHRE or iloe.ae.
Click to mark as done
- Fill / Prepare Self-check
Check your category and premium
Category 1 is for a basic salary of AED 16,000 or less. You pay AED 5 per month, which is AED 60 a year. Your compensation is capped at AED 10,000 per month. Category 2 is for a basic salary above AED 16,000: you pay AED 10 per month, which is AED 120 a year. Your compensation is capped at AED 20,000 per month.
Click to mark as done
- Submit & Pay Minutes
Subscribe if you have not yet
Subscribe on iloe.ae or in the ILOE app. You can also subscribe at kiosks, business service centres, and exchange houses. You can use bank apps or pay by SMS. You can pay monthly, quarterly, twice a year, or once a year. Subscribing is your duty as the employee. Your employer does not pay it.
Click to mark as done
- Submit & Pay Within 30 days of job loss
File the claim within 30 days of job loss
Submit your claim within 30 days of losing your job. Use the ILOE channels: the website, the app, or the contact centre. You can only claim if you lost your job through no fault of your own. You cannot claim if you resigned, if you were dismissed for bad behaviour, or if your claim is fraudulent.
Click to mark as done
- Wait Within 2 weeks
Claim is processed
Your claim is processed within two weeks of the day you submit it. You lose your right to compensation if you cancel your residency and leave the country during this time. You also lose it if you start a new job during this time.
Click to mark as done
- Receive Up to 3 months
Receive monthly compensation
Your compensation is 60% of your average basic salary from the last six months before you lost your job. It is capped by your category. You are paid for a maximum of 3 months per claim. Payments stop if you find a new job or leave the UAE.
Click to mark as done
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Does ILOE cover resignation?
No. ILOE only covers job loss through no fault of your own. It does not cover resignation, disciplinary dismissal, absconding, or fraudulent claims.
How much will I receive?
You get 60% of your average basic salary from the last six months before you lost your job. The cap is AED 10,000/month for Category 1 and AED 20,000/month for Category 2, the band for people with a higher basic salary. You are paid for up to 3 months.
What if I find a new job during the claim?
Payments stop. You also lose your right to compensation if you cancel your residency and leave the UAE during the time your claim is being processed.
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