Health and Safety Policy — Corporate (UAE)

A Corporate Health and Safety Policy in the United Arab Emirates is a formal employer document that sets out the organisation's commitment, organisation, and arrangements for managing occupational health and safety — protecting employees, contractors, visitors, and other persons from work-related harm. The policy is the foundation of the company's occupational health and safety management system, required under UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 8 of 2022 on Occupational Health and Safety in the Workplace (the OHS Law).

The OHS Law, which came into force in October 2023, consolidated and strengthened the UAE's existing occupational health and safety framework. Administered by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE), the OHS Law applies to all employers in the UAE private sector — mainland and free zone entities alike — employing workers on UAE-resident visas. The law imposes duties on both employers and employees: employers must provide safe workplaces, conduct risk assessments, provide training and PPE, and report accidents; employees must take reasonable care for their own safety and for others, use safety equipment provided, and report hazards.

The UAE Labour Law, Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, and its implementing Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022 add specific health and safety provisions, most notably the outdoor work ban during peak summer heat — prohibiting outdoor work between 12:30 pm and 3:00 pm from 15 June to 15 September — and general obligations on employers to protect workers from heat stress throughout the year. MOHRE Ministerial Decree No. 47 of 2023 updates specific heat stress management requirements.

In addition to the federal framework, emirate-level authorities impose specific health and safety requirements. Dubai Civil Defence administers fire safety, emergency evacuation, and dangerous installations regulations. Abu Dhabi's Department of Health and the Abu Dhabi Occupational Safety and Health Centre (OSHAD) administer the Abu Dhabi Occupational Safety and Health Framework — a thorough risk-based system modelled on international standards — which applies to all entities operating in Abu Dhabi emirate. The Abu Dhabi government is Abu Dhabi's most demanding OHS regulator, and companies working on Abu Dhabi government or ADNOC projects are typically subject to the OSHAD Integrated Management System requirements.

A well-drafted Corporate Health and Safety Policy demonstrates the company's commitment to zero harm, defines responsibilities at all levels, and provides the framework for the day-to-day health and safety activities — risk assessments, safe systems of work, training, incident reporting — that keep workers safe. The forms-legal.com Health and Safety Policy (UAE) template covers all key requirements under the OHS Law and UAE Labour Law, available in PDF and Word format.

A Corporate Health and Safety Policy is needed in the UAE for all employers, but is particularly critical in the following situations.

Constructors and contractors working on projects in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or other emirates must maintain a formal health and safety management plan as a condition of project owner approval — whether for ADNOC, Dubai Roads Authority, Aldar Properties, or Emaar. The absence of a documented health and safety policy will disqualify a contractor from pre-qualification and may result in mid-project suspension.

Manufacturing and industrial facilities are required by the OHS Law and MOHRE regulations to have documented health and safety management systems, risk assessments for all processes, and specific safe work procedures for hazardous tasks. The Ministry of Health and Prevention and emirate-level public health authorities may also conduct workplace health inspections at manufacturing facilities.

Hospitality employers — hotels, restaurants, and event venues — face specific health and safety risks including slips and trips, food safety, chemical handling, and fire safety. The UAE Civil Defence conducts annual fire safety inspections of all licensed premises, and a corporate health and safety policy is evidence of the employer's systematic management of these risks.

Companies employing outdoor workers — construction, landscaping, agriculture, telecommunications, maintenance — must comply with the summer outdoor work ban and year-round heat stress management requirements under MOHRE regulations. A health and safety policy that specifically addresses heat stress is a practical compliance necessity for these employers.

Any company subject to the Abu Dhabi Occupational Safety and Health Framework administered by OSHAD must maintain a formal OHS management system aligned with the OSHAD System Framework Document, which is a thorough risk-based standard. The forms-legal.com template provides a solid baseline for OSHAD compliance that can be supplemented with activity-specific procedures.

A complete UAE Corporate Health and Safety Policy must contain the following elements to satisfy the OHS Law, UAE Labour Law, and MOHRE regulatory requirements.

Commitment statement: A clear, signed statement from the general manager or CEO committing the company to providing a safe working environment, zero harm, and compliance with all applicable UAE health and safety laws. Senior management commitment is the most important indicator of an effective health and safety programme.

Organisation and responsibilities: A clear allocation of health and safety responsibilities — from the board and CEO down to the Health and Safety Officer, line managers, and individual employees. The HSO's specific responsibilities — risk assessment, training, incident investigation, liaison with MOHRE — and the emergency contact should be specified.

Risk assessment process: A description of how the company conducts risk assessments, the hierarchy of controls applied, and the sectors and activities covered. Specific mention of heat stress risk assessment — mandatory for all UAE employers with outdoor workers — and reference to activity-specific safe work procedures.

Incident reporting and investigation: The procedure for employees to report accidents, near misses, dangerous occurrences, and work-related illnesses; the company's investigation process; and the obligation to notify MOHRE of reportable incidents under the OHS Law.

Training and competence: Commitment to OHS induction training for all new employees, regular refresher training, and specific training for workers in high-risk roles. First aid provision in compliance with OHS Law requirements.

Welfare provisions: Commitment to providing adequate welfare facilities — sanitation, drinking water, shade, rest areas — as required by MOHRE standards. The forms-legal.com Health and Safety Policy (UAE) template covers all mandatory elements including heat stress, MOHRE reporting, and Abu Dhabi OSHAD alignment.

Completing the UAE Health and Safety Policy begins with entering the company's full registered name, the emirate, the effective date, and the primary business activity. The business activity field is important because it contextualises the hazards addressed in the policy and the risk management activities described.

Designate the Health and Safety Officer. Enter the name and title of the person responsible for implementing and monitoring the health and safety programme. For most UAE private sector companies, this is a dedicated HSEQ Manager or, for smaller companies, the operations manager with assigned HSO responsibilities. The HSO must have sufficient authority, knowledge, and resources to carry out the role effectively. Enter the emergency contact — a specific email address or hotline through which employees can report hazards, accidents, or concerns outside normal working hours.

Select the policy review period. Annual review is required for all companies and is strongly recommended for high-risk industries — construction, manufacturing, oil and gas, and outdoor services. The review should consider: MOHRE inspection findings; the results of incident investigations; changes to legislation (particularly MOHRE Ministerial Decrees on heat stress and PPE); changes to the company's activities; and employee consultation.

After completing the wizard, have the policy signed by the general manager and the HSO. Display the policy — or a summary — in all workplace locations. Provide OHS induction training to all employees before they start work. Conduct the initial workplace risk assessment for all work areas and activities within 30 days of policy adoption. Register the HSO with MOHRE if required by applicable regulations. For companies operating in Abu Dhabi, register with the OSHAD system and align the policy with the OSHAD Integrated Management System requirements.

Legal requirements for a UAE Health and Safety Policy arise from multiple layers of legislation and regulation.

Federal Decree-Law No. 8 of 2022 on Occupational Health and Safety is the primary legislation. The OHS Law requires employers to: provide a safe working environment and eliminate or control hazards to the extent reasonably practicable; conduct risk assessments; provide PPE; deliver safety training; report accidents to MOHRE; maintain health and safety records; cooperate with MOHRE inspectors; and display the OHS Law at the workplace. The OHS Law provides employees with the right to refuse unsafe work and to report hazards without fear of dismissal.

UAE Labour Law, Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, adds the outdoor work ban (15 June to 15 September, 12:30-3:00 pm), heat stress provisions, and specific protections for workers in extreme weather. Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022 implements the Labour Law's welfare and safety provisions, including requirements for accommodation, transport, and health monitoring for certain categories of worker.

MOHRE Ministerial Decree No. 47 of 2023 updates the specific requirements for heat stress management, including mandatory provision of shaded rest areas, cool drinking water, and heat stress monitoring for outdoor workers.

For Abu Dhabi: the Abu Dhabi Occupational Safety and Health System Framework Document (OSHAD SF), issued by the Abu Dhabi Department of Health and administered through the Occupational Safety and Health Centre (OSHAD), establishes a thorough risk-based OHS management system requirement for all entities operating in Abu Dhabi emirate. OSHAD compliance is mandatory for entities regulated by Abu Dhabi, and the OSHAD SF is broadly equivalent to the international standard ISO 45001.

For construction: Dubai Municipality's Construction Safety Regulations and the Abu Dhabi Department of Urban Planning and Municipalities' construction safety standards impose specific OHS requirements on construction project sites, typically enforced through project health and safety plans.

Civil Defence Fire Safety: UAE Civil Defence regulations require all employers to maintain fire safety systems, conduct fire drills, train fire wardens, and obtain periodic fire safety approvals. Non-compliance can result in closure orders.

Common mistakes in UAE health and safety policies and practice include the following.

Adopting a generic health and safety policy that does not address the specific hazards of the company's actual operations is a fundamental error. A construction company's policy must address working at height, excavations, crane operations, electrical hazards, and heat stress. A hospitality company's policy must address slips and trips, food safety allergens, chemical cleaning products, and fire safety. A manufacturing company must address machinery guarding, noise, vibration, and hazardous substances. A generic 'safe office' policy that does not reflect the actual work activities provides no practical protection and fails to satisfy the MOHRE and OHS Law requirement for activity-specific risk assessment.

Ignoring heat stress management outside the formal outdoor work ban period is a dangerous compliance gap. While the summer outdoor work ban — prohibited outdoor work between 12:30 pm and 3:00 pm from 15 June to 15 September under UAE Labour Law Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 and MOHRE Ministerial Decree No. 47 of 2023 — is the most visible heat stress measure, employers have a year-round duty under Federal Decree-Law No. 8 of 2022 on Occupational Health and Safety to assess and manage heat stress for all outdoor workers and workers in hot indoor environments. MOHRE labour inspectors enforce heat stress provisions throughout the year, and employers who have not conducted heat stress risk assessments, provided shade and cool water, and implemented monitoring for vulnerable workers face enforcement action outside the formal ban period.

Failing to ensure that employees actually receive and understand the health and safety training mandated by the OHS Law — rather than just signing an acknowledgement form — leaves workers without the knowledge to protect themselves. Training records must show that training was delivered and understood, not merely that documents were signed. Induction training before commencement of work is a specific legal requirement; an employee who starts work without completing induction training and subsequently suffers an injury creates significant liability for the employer.

Not reporting workplace accidents to MOHRE in the required manner and timeframe is a specific compliance failure under Federal Decree-Law No. 8 of 2022. Some employers attempt to manage incidents internally without notifying MOHRE, either to avoid scrutiny or out of uncertainty about the reporting threshold. The OHS Law requires prompt reporting of serious injuries, deaths, and dangerous occurrences, and failure to report is a separate offence. An unreported fatality or serious injury discovered by MOHRE inspectors during a routine visit will result in significantly greater penalties than a promptly reported, properly investigated incident with documented corrective actions. Abu Dhabi employers are also subject to OSHAD (Occupational Safety and Health Center Abu Dhabi) reporting requirements, which must be complied with in addition to the federal MOHRE reporting obligations.