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This flexibility is legally backed by Article (38), Paragraph (6) of Federal Decree-Law No. (57) of 2023 on Pension and Social Security. Under this law, employees can keep their insurance active by paying the total monthly contribution amount, covering both the employee share and the employer’s share. To make the process as straightforward as possible, the GPSSA Board of Directors has issued an official resolution with clear guidelines and simple rules, giving eligible Emiratis maximum clarity and full transparency.
Faras Abdul Karim Al Ramahi, Director-General of the GPSSA, emphasized that the optional contribution scheme marks a major milestone in the UAE’s mission to build a world-class, resilient social safety net. "This scheme is designed to dynamically adapt to the real-life needs of our citizens," Al Ramhi stated. "By securing financial futures during career gaps, we are directly fueling the leadership’s visionary national agenda to continue to advance women’s empowerment, cement family stability and drive the long-term development of Emirati human capital."
He stated that the policy represents a decisive advancement for working mothers across the nation. "Emirati women who take unpaid leave for childcare should never have to choose between family responsibilities and their professional future," Al Ramhi noted. "By enabling mothers to continuously build their retirement funds during these transitions, the framework actively safeguards their career longevity and long-term financial independence."
He further highlighted the scheme as a strategic catalyst for the UAE’s knowledge-based economy and the promotion of lifelong learning. The policy empowers both male and female citizens to pursue advanced postgraduate studies with complete peace of mind, guaranteeing the insured individual's pension trajectory remains entirely uncompromised while upgrading academic and professional qualifications to serve the nation.
Al Ramhi stressed that these progressive benefits are directly aligned with the UAE’s national objectives of the "Year of Family." By removing financial anxiety from career breaks, this initiative serves as a core pillar for strengthening family cohesion, social stability and overall quality of life, ultimately empowering Emiratis to confidently balance the demands of their families, studies and careers.
The optional contribution scheme is built specifically for insured Emiratis who fall under Federal Decree-Law No. (57) of 2023.
The two main groups who qualify include:
• Male and female employees granted approved unpaid leave to complete postgraduate studies.
• Working mothers granted approved unpaid leave to care for their children.
To take advantage of this system, employees must first seek formal approval for unpaid leave from their employer and submit the application on time.
The straightforward criteria for each category include:
• Postgraduate Studies:
o Applicants must show official enrollment at a recognized university inside or outside the UAE.
o The approved unpaid leave must last for at least one year and cannot exceed three years.
• Childcare:
o Mothers must provide standard documentation verifying childcare duties.
o The total leave cannot exceed three years, whether taken all at once or broken into separate periods.
o The child must be under 18 years old. This age limit is completely waived for mothers caring for children who are People of Determination (special needs).
The GPSSA stressed that this scheme acts as a vital shield for an Emirati's career track. By closing any potential gaps in the contribution history during unpaid leave, it keeps the insured individual's retirement plan moving forward smoothly. The Authority highlighted that these optional contribution periods count as active service, plugging directly into the total milestone years needed to qualify for a retirement pension and future insured benefits.
If an employee keeps up with the monthly payments during the approved leave, that period adds straight to the total years of service when it is time to calculate the retirement payout. On the flip side, if an employee chooses not to sign up or fails to make the payments, that unpaid leave period will simply drop off the individual's insurance record.
The GPSSA broke down the top rewards of staying enrolled, which include keeping the insurance track continuous, increasing the overall years of service, hitting the required milestones to lock in retirement faster, boosting the final monthly pension payout, and fully securing all the legal rights and cash privileges guaranteed by UAE pension laws.
The Authority clarified that during this unpaid leave, the employee takes full responsibility to transfer the monthly payments. This is set at a flat rate of 26% of the contribution account salary, locked in exactly at the time the application is approved. Any pay bumps or salary adjustments that happen after the application is approved will not change this payment amount.
The entire process is 100% paperless and managed through GPSSA’s Ma'ashi digital platform. Once an employer approves the unpaid leave, the employer kicks off the digital application, which goes straight to the employee for a quick review and final sign-off.
Payments are automatically handled through a direct debit link to the bank account chosen by the registered member. Insured individuals can easily track everything through automatic smartphone notifications, including instant approvals, successful payment receipts, overdue reminders, or alerts when the optional contribution period is winding down.
The GPSSA concluded by reaffirming that this scheme is a modern blueprint for social protection. It gives UAE citizens the ultimate flexibility to manage life priorities without hurting insurance rights or future pension security, ensuring long-term financial stability for generations to come.
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