After one year, annual leave is at least 30 days on full wage. Service over 6 months and under a year earns 2 days monthly. After probation, sick leave may be up to 90 days a year: 15 on full pay, the next 30 on half pay, then unpaid. For illness that is not a work injury, tell your employer within 3 working days and provide a medical entity’s report.
Go to: Annual leave · Sick leave · Other leave · Public holidays · Unused leave
This covers workers under Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021. Federal and local government employees, armed forces, police, security and domestic workers are excluded. DIFC and ADGM have independent employment frameworks. ADGM says the federal decree does not apply there.
Annual leave
Unused leave includes the last year’s proportion. In probation, the employer may agree to annual leave; if you fail, compensation for the remainder remains due.
Part time: convert hours to working days, divide by annual working days, multiply by legal leave. At least 5 working days a year; a fraction counts as a full day (regulation, Article 18).
Take leave in its entitlement year. The employer may set dates with you or by rotation, giving at least 1 month's notice. Legal or agreed holidays count unless your contract or workplace rules are more favourable.
Carry-forward: with your employer's approval and under workplace rules, you may carry forward no more than half to the next year. Or you may agree on cash based on your wage when the leave is due. Leave accrued for more than 2 years cannot be blocked unless you choose carry-forward or cash.
Sick leave
Sick leave may be consecutive or intermittent. During probation, paid sick leave is unavailable; unpaid leave may be granted if a medical entity’s report says it is necessary (Article 31).
If your employer asks for an attested certificate, one step is now easier. Since November 2026, a health facility licensed by the Ministry of Health and Prevention sends the attestation request itself; patients no longer apply. Sick leave of 5 days or less is attested immediately. Longer leave needs a medical report and takes up to 5 working days. The service is free. A certificate already attested by the Department of Health in Abu Dhabi, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai Health, Sharjah Health Authority or Emirates Health Services needs no second attestation (MoHAP attestation service).
Sick leave is unpaid in the regulation’s misconduct cases. For alcohol or drugs, an authority report must link the illness to misconduct. It also addresses safety violations, including establishment instructions you were informed of and acknowledged (Article 20). After the Article 31 leave, the employer may end service if you cannot return, while paying your financial entitlements.
For a work injury or occupational disease preventing work, full wage is due for treatment or 6 months, whichever is less. If treatment exceeds 6 months, half wage follows for another 6 months or until recovery, proven disability or death, whichever comes first.
Other leave
- Maternity: 60 days, first 45 on full wage and next 15 on half wage. It also applies if birth occurs at 6 months of pregnancy or later and the baby is stillborn or dies after birth. With a medical entity’s certificate, leave can start on the last day of the month before expected delivery. No dismissal or notice because of pregnancy, maternity leave or related Article 30 absence.
- Further absence: up to 45 unpaid days after maternity leave, consecutively or intermittently, if illness of the mother or child from pregnancy or childbirth prevents her return. A medical entity’s certificate is required; the period does not count for gratuity or retirement contributions.
- A sick child or child of determination: if a medical entity’s report requires a constant companion, the mother gets 30 days on full pay after maternity leave, extendable by 30 unpaid days.
- Nursing: after returning, for no more than 6 months from birth, one or two breaks a day totalling no more than 1 hour.
- Parental: 5 paid working days for either parent, consecutively or intermittently, within 6 months of birth. Provide proof of birth.
- Bereavement: 5 paid days for a spouse and 3 for a parent, child, sibling, grandchild or grandparent, starting on the date of death. Submit proof after returning to work.
- Study: 10 working days a year may be granted for exams after at least 2 years with the employer, if enrolled or studying regularly at an approved UAE institution.
- National service: paid leave for nationals’ national and reserve service. Article 32 leave requires proof from concerned authorities. Other unpaid leave needs approval and is excluded from service and retirement contributions (Articles 32 and 33).
Public holidays
Official holidays are on full pay. The government portal says Islamic holidays depend on moon sighting. Its list for both sectors gives 1 January, Eid Al Fitr, Arafah Day on 9 Thu Al Hijjah, Eid Al Adha on 10 to 12 Thu Al Hijjah, Hijri New Year on 1 Muharram, the Prophet's birthday on 12 Rabi Awwal, and 2 and 3 December. Its Eid Al Fitr ranges differ by language; check announcements.
MoHRE's 2026 private-sector announcements include Thursday 1 January 2026, Thursday 19 March 2026 to Saturday 21 March 2026 for Eid Al Fitr, with Sunday 22 March 2026 added if Ramadan reached 30 days, and Tuesday 26 May 2026 to Friday 29 May 2026 for Arafah and Eid Al Adha.
If you work a holiday: receive another day off, or a normal day's wage plus at least 50 percent of that day's basic wage. For example, AED 400 daily basic wage means at least AED 200 extra. The portal says a holiday is not moved if it falls on another holiday or a weekend.
Unused leave
Wage includes basic wage and applicable cash allowances and benefits in kind. Leave taken is paid as wage. On leaving, the legal balance, including the last year’s proportion, is paid on basic wage (regulation, Article 19). Unpaid absence is excluded from service for full-time foreign workers’ gratuity. More favourable contracts apply.
MoHRE advises complaining within 30 days of a legal breach. Use its app or call 600590000; for advice, call 80084. MoHRE usually settles disputes within 14 days of submission before referring unresolved cases to court. Compare a new offer with these rights on open jobs at TalenDir.
Official sources checked on 10 November 2026. Cover generated with AI for illustration.
