Can employees claim compensation if terminated within one week of joining?

I recently switched jobs and joined a new company in mainland Dubai. But I was terminated within a week of joining, citing the restructuring of the company. I'm clueless because the previous company is not hiring due to both firms being competitors. Can I take this new company to court and file claims? What are my rights in this case?

- Ashish Mehta

In the UAE, an employer may terminate an employee during probation by serving 14 days of notice to an employee. This is in accordance with Article (1) of the Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Employment Relations, which states, "The employer may employ the employee on probation for a period not exceeding six months from the service commencement date. The employer may terminate the employee during such period by giving the employee 14 days' prior written notice."

If an employer or employee does not comply with the notice period mentioned in the employment law related to the termination of an employment contract, the party breaching such provision of law may have to compensate the other party.