The Canva layoffs of November 2026 began like every layoff does. Imagine opening your laptop one morning and reading that your job is gone.
For most workers, that is where the story ends: a short email, an access card that stops working, and a long, scary search for the next job. Many people in the Gulf know that feeling too well – sometimes all you get is a cancellation paper and a deadline to leave.
On 3 November 2026, the design company Canva told its staff that 1,271 people – about 22% of its workforce – would be affected by a major restructuring. Some roles will change, some people will be asked to relocate, and many will leave the company.
But what Canva did next is why this story has gone viral. Instead of a cold goodbye, it gave departing employees one of the most generous exit packages the tech world has seen. Here is everything they got, why it happened, and what it means for you if you work in the Gulf.
“I’m Deeply Sorry”: What Canva’s CEO Told Employees
Canva co-founder and CEO Melanie Perkins did not hide behind corporate language. In her message to staff she wrote:
“This is without doubt the hardest moment in our thirteen-year history… I’m deeply sorry for the pain and disruption this will cause for everyone affected.”
She also promised that the company would “do everything we possibly can to support everyone affected.” And then it actually did.
The 9 Things Canva Gave Every Employee Hit by the Canva Layoffs
| 1. At least 6 months’ pay | A minimum of six months’ salary, including legal entitlements – the same floor in every country, not just where the law demands it. |
| 2. 12 months of health cover | Healthcare continues for a full year in countries where Canva provides it. No panic about a hospital bill while job hunting. |
| 3. Keep the laptop | Staff keep their company MacBook, so anyone without a personal computer can still apply for jobs and attend interviews. |
| 4. 1 year of LinkedIn Premium | Paid job-search tools for twelve months. |
| 5. Career coaching | CV help and interview practice – including from Canva’s own recruitment team, the people who know hiring best. |
| 6. 12 months of mental health support | Canva Care, the employee assistance programme, continues for staff and their families. |
| 7. Shares for new joiners | People who joined less than a year ago still get the company shares they had started to earn. Normally they would lose them. |
| 8. A US$10,000 grant | Former staff can apply to a new Canva Collective Fund for $10,000 to start a business or community project. Canva takes no ownership. Applications close 14 December. |
| 9. An alumni talent list | An opt-in directory of former staff, shared with Canva’s investors and partners, so other companies can hire them directly. |
Read that list again. A laptop to keep. A grant to start something new. Health cover for a year. This is not charity – it is a company deciding that the way you let people go says as much about you as the way you hire them.
Why the Canva Layoffs Happened
Canva is not a company in collapse. It is still a giant, with more than 5,700 employees across 37 countries. But it is facing three hard truths:
- Growth has slowed for the first time in about a decade.
- AI costs are rising. Canva cut its revenue growth forecast from 30% to 20%.
- AI is now a competitor. Tools like ChatGPT and Gemini can create posters and presentations on their own – the very thing Canva was built for.
The company is merging its product, growth and platform teams, removing management layers and returning to smaller teams. From January 2027, most hybrid staff will have to work from the office two to three days a week. If this sounds familiar, read our guide: Will AI kill your job? 5 Gulf jobs at risk and 5 that are growing.
Canva Layoffs vs What UAE Law Requires
No company in the Gulf is forced to match Canva. But every worker should know the minimum the law guarantees. Under the UAE Labour Law, as explained by MOHRE:
| What you get | UAE law (minimum) | Canva (this layoff) |
| Notice or pay in lieu | 30 to 90 days, as written in your contract | Included in at least 6 months’ pay |
| End-of-service gratuity | 21 days’ basic salary per year for the first 5 years, 30 days per year after that (after 1 year of service; capped at 2 years’ wages) | Included in at least 6 months’ pay |
| When it must be paid | Within 14 days of the contract ending | – |
| Health insurance after exit | Not required | 12 months |
| Laptop, coaching, grant | Not required | Yes |
Example: if your basic salary is AED 3,000 and you worked for 3 years, your gratuity is roughly 3,000 ÷ 30 × 21 × 3 = AED 6,300. Use your own basic salary (not your total salary) to check yours.
Lost Your Job in the Gulf? Do These 6 Things in the First Week
- Get everything in writing. Ask for your termination letter, your last working day and a breakdown of your final settlement.
- Check your gratuity and leave balance. Calculate it on your basic salary and compare it with what the company offers. It must be paid within 14 days.
- Know your grace period. After your visa is cancelled, you can stay legally only until the date on your cancellation document. Check it on the paper – do not guess – and plan your next visa before it runs out.
- Update your CV the same week. Add numbers: projects, sales, team size, savings. An ATS-friendly CV gets past company filters.
- Tell your network. Former managers, colleagues and LinkedIn contacts are the fastest route to the next job.
- Be extra careful with “urgent” offers. People who just lost a job are the main target of fake agents. Never pay for a visa or job. Check any offer with our free Fake Job Checker.
The Real Lesson From the Canva Layoffs
Layoffs happen – even at the best companies, as the Canva layoffs show. What Canva has shown is that a company can be in trouble and still treat people with dignity. Six months of pay, health cover, a laptop and a fresh start grant will not take away the shock of losing a job. But they give people time, safety and respect while they find the next one.
Every employer can learn from that. And every employee should know their rights, keep their CV ready, and never let one email decide their future.
Looking for your next role? See today’s walk-in interviews in Dubai and verified jobs on GluJob.com – always free to apply.
Sources: TechCrunch, TheStreet and American Bazaar (4–5 November 2026) on the Canva layoffs; MOHRE guidance on end-of-service gratuity as reported by Gulf News.