Annual leave is a legal right in the UAE, not a favour from the employer. Here is how it works under Article 29 of Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021.
How much leave you earn
| Length of service | Leave |
|---|---|
| Less than 6 months | No paid annual leave yet |
| 6 to 12 months | 2 days for each month |
| After 1 year | 30 calendar days per year |
Part-time workers earn leave in proportion to their hours. Your contract can give more than the legal minimum but never less.
Leave salary
You are entitled to your wage for the leave period, and it should be paid before you go on leave. Leave pay normally follows your full contractual wage. Public holidays that fall during your annual leave are generally counted as additional days off.
Planning and carrying forward
The employer may set the timing of leave according to work needs, but should agree dates with you and give notice. You may carry forward unused leave to the next year with your employer’s agreement, but the employer cannot prevent you from using accrued leave for more than two consecutive years.
Payment for unused leave
When employment ends, every day of accrued, unused leave must be paid. This includes leave for the fraction of the final year. The payment is calculated on the basic wage: basic salary ÷ 30 × unused days. You can check your figure with the annual leave salary calculator.
Other types of leave
- Sick leave: up to 90 days a year after probation: 15 days on full pay, 30 days on half pay and 45 days unpaid.
- Maternity leave: 60 days (45 on full pay and 15 on half pay).
- Paternity (parental) leave: 5 working days within six months of the birth.
- Bereavement leave: 5 days for a spouse, 3 days for a parent, child, sibling, grandchild or grandparent.
- Study leave: 10 working days a year for employees with at least two years of service studying at a UAE institution.
Keep a record of the leave you take each year. It is the quickest way to settle a disagreement about your balance.
UAE annual leave salary calculator
How much leave pay you’re owed, including leave you haven’t taken.