ABU DHABI — UAE President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed on Sunday approved amendments to the labor law, granting private sector employees paid paternity leave, reported the Emirates News Agency (WAM).

According to the new law, male employees in private sector companies will get five days of paid parental leave, to be taken within six months of the child’s birth.

At present, female employees of the private sector get a 45-day maternity leave.

The paid parental leave is the latest benefit for employees in the private sector, and the UAE will be the first Arab country to grant patrnity leave to private sector employees, the latest benefit for private sector staff, the WAM report said.

The decree aims to further cement family cohesion and stability, enhance UAE’s position and competitiveness in the field of gender balance, and encourage young talent to work in the private sector.