Leave entitlements are a frequent source of confusion for employees in the UAE, especially for people moving from countries with different rules. This guide explains annual leave, sick leave, family leave and public holidays for private-sector employees under the UAE Labour Law, Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021.
Your employment contract or company policy can give you more than the legal minimum, but never less. Free zones such as DIFC and ADGM have their own employment laws, so check which rules apply to your employer.
Annual leave
Once you complete one year of service, you are entitled to at least 30 calendar days of paid annual leave each year. If you have worked more than six months but less than a year, you earn two days for each month of service.
Employers can schedule leave around business needs, but they should agree dates with you in advance. You are paid your basic salary plus housing allowance for annual leave days. If your employment ends with unused leave, you are entitled to be paid for the remaining days.
Sick leave
After you pass your probation period, you can take up to 90 days of sick leave per year, continuous or in separate periods, supported by a medical report. Pay works in three stages:
- The first 15 days on full pay
- The next 30 days on half pay
- The remaining 45 days unpaid
Sick leave during probation is generally unpaid, unless your employer's policy says otherwise. Always inform your employer within the time set by company policy and keep copies of your medical certificates.
Maternity, parental and other family leave
The law provides several types of family-related leave:
- Maternity leave: 60 days — 45 days on full pay and 15 days on half pay — with additional unpaid leave possible in certain medical situations
- Parental leave: 5 working days for either parent, to be taken within six months of the child's birth
- Bereavement leave: 5 days on the death of a spouse, and 3 days on the death of a parent, child, sibling, grandchild or grandparent
- Study leave: 10 working days a year for employees with at least two years of service who are studying at an accredited institution in the UAE
Nursing mothers are also entitled to paid nursing breaks during the working day for a period after returning to work.
Public holidays
The UAE Cabinet announces the official public holiday calendar each year, and private-sector employees normally receive the same holidays as the government sector. Typical public holidays include:
- New Year's Day
- Eid Al Fitr
- Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha
- Islamic New Year
- The Prophet's Birthday
- Commemoration Day and National Day
Islamic holidays follow the lunar calendar, so their dates move each year and are confirmed close to the time. If you are asked to work on a public holiday, your employer must give you a substitute day off, or pay your normal wage for that day plus at least 50% of your basic wage.
Leave during probation and notice periods
During probation, you generally cannot take paid annual leave until you have earned it, and sick leave is usually unpaid. During your notice period, you and your employer can agree to use remaining annual leave, but unused days must otherwise be paid out in your final settlement.
Practical tips
- Check your offer letter for leave beyond the legal minimum
- Plan annual leave early if you want to travel during Eid or the winter holidays
- Keep a personal record of leave taken and remaining
- Remember that unused leave is paid out when your employment ends
Know your rights, then find the right employer
Generous leave policies are one of the clearest signs of a good employer. This guide is general information, not legal advice; for your own situation, check the latest MOHRE guidance. Browse jobs on Hire Emirates Hub to find employers that match what matters to you.