If you work in the UAE’s private sector, questions about leave come up constantly: how many days you get, whether sick leave is paid, what happens to unused annual leave, and what to do when a leave request goes unanswered. This guide collects the Common Leave Questions Answered in one place, based on the UAE Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021) and how these rules work in practice.
Every employee’s situation is a little different — your contract, your company’s internal policy, and your length of service all matter. Think of this as your first port of call: the short, plain-English answers to the questions UAE employees ask most often about time off.
Quick Answer
Private-sector employees in the UAE are entitled to at least 30 days of paid annual leave per year after completing one year of service, 90 days of sick leave per year (15 fully paid, 30 half-paid, the rest unpaid), 60 days of maternity leave, 5 days of parental leave, bereavement leave of 3–5 days depending on the relationship, and unpaid leave for Hajj once during employment. Unused annual leave is paid out when employment ends, calculated on basic salary. Most leave must be requested in advance through your employer’s normal process, and employers generally decide the timing of annual leave.
Common Leave Questions Answered: Annual Leave
Annual leave is the topic that generates the most questions, so let’s start there.
How many annual leave days do I get?
The law sets a minimum of 30 calendar days of paid annual leave for every year of service, once you have completed one year with the employer. If you have worked between six months and one year, you accrue 2 days per month. During the first six months (which usually overlap with probation), employees generally do not take annual leave, though some companies allow it by agreement.
Can my employer decide when I take my leave?
Yes — the timing of annual leave is ultimately the employer’s call, and they can split it into periods. In practice, most reasonable employers try to accommodate your preferences, especially if you request early. Putting your request in writing and giving plenty of notice is the best way to get the dates you want.
Do weekends and public holidays count as leave days?
Annual leave is counted in calendar days under the law, so if your leave period includes a weekend, those days normally count. However, if an official UAE public holiday falls during your annual leave, that holiday day is typically not counted against your leave balance — company policy and your contract decide the exact treatment, so check both.
Can I carry unused leave into next year, or get paid for it?
Unused annual leave can be carried forward or paid out in cash, depending on your employer’s policy. Many companies allow a limited carryover (for example, a set number of days into the next year) and lapse the rest. When your employment ends for any reason, any unused annual leave balance must be paid to you, calculated on your basic salary. This payout is separate from your end-of-service gratuity, so don’t confuse the two.
Can I take annual leave during my notice period?
This is one of the most argued-over questions. Annual leave taken during the notice period is generally possible only if both you and your employer agree. Some employers prefer you work the notice in full; others are happy for you to use up leave. Get the agreement in writing to avoid a dispute over your final settlement.
Sick Leave Questions
How does sick leave pay work?
After completing probation, employees are entitled to up to 90 days of sick leave per year of service, paid on a sliding scale: the first 15 days at full pay, the next 30 days at half pay, and any remaining days unpaid. You need a medical certificate from a licensed medical facility to support the absence — a casual message to your manager is not enough for anything beyond a day or two, depending on company policy.
Do I get sick leave during probation?
Paid sick leave under the statutory scale applies after the probation period. If you fall ill during probation, talk to your employer: some grant unpaid time off, and company policies vary. Either way, keep your medical documentation — it matters if there is ever a question about your sick leave records later.
Can my employer ask for proof of illness?
Yes, and they routinely do. Employers can require a medical certificate, and for longer absences they may ask for reports from a government health facility. If your leave request runs into problems, missing or late documentation is the most common cause, so submit certificates promptly.
What if I’m sick for more than 90 days?
Once the 90-day sick leave entitlement is exhausted, further absence is generally unpaid, and your employer may eventually terminate the contract under the law’s provisions on extended absence. This is rare and usually follows a long, documented process — but it is another reason to keep every medical report filed and your HR department informed.
Maternity, Parental and Family Leave Questions
How long is maternity leave in the UAE?
A female employee is entitled to 60 days of maternity leave: 45 days at full pay followed by 15 days at half pay. After returning, she is entitled to nursing breaks of up to one hour per day for six months. There are also provisions for additional unpaid leave where a medical condition related to the pregnancy or delivery requires it, supported by a medical report. For the full detail, see our guide to maternity leave rules.
Do fathers get parental leave?
Yes. Both parents — mother and father — are entitled to 5 working days of parental leave, to be taken within six months of the child’s birth. This is separate from maternity leave and applies to private-sector employees. Our parental leave rules explained guide walks through eligibility and timing.
Is there bereavement leave?
Yes. Employees get 5 days of paid leave on the death of a spouse, and 3 days on the death of a parent, child, sibling, grandchild, or grandparent. Notify your employer as soon as you can and provide any documentation they request, such as a death certificate.
Other Leave Types People Ask About
Is there Hajj or Umrah leave?
Muslim employees who have not previously performed Hajj may take up to 15 days of unpaid leave once during their employment to perform the pilgrimage, subject to conditions including a period of continuous service. Umrah trips are normally taken as annual leave. Plan well ahead and confirm the arrangement in writing with HR.
What about study or exam leave?
The law provides study leave for employees enrolled in accredited educational institutions in the UAE — typically around 10 days per year for sitting exams, subject to conditions. Check whether your situation qualifies and what your employer requires as proof of enrolment and exam schedules.
Can I take unpaid leave for personal reasons?
Leave without pay is possible when your employer agrees — it is not an automatic entitlement the way annual or sick leave is. Employers often grant it for genuine needs, but it can affect benefits that depend on continuous service. Read our guide to leave without pay before you ask, so you know what to expect.
Leave Requests, Records and Pay Questions
How should I submit a leave request?
Follow your company’s stated process — usually an HR system, an email to your manager and HR, or a paper form. Whatever the channel, keep a copy of every request and every approval. Written records are what protect you if a dispute arises later about whether leave was approved or how many days were taken.
What should I do if my leave isn’t showing in my records?
Act quickly: compare your own records (request emails, approvals, attendance logs) against what HR shows, then raise the discrepancy in writing. Payroll and leave-balance errors compound over time. Our step-by-step guide on what to do if leave is not recorded covers exactly how to escalate this.
Does leave affect my salary or benefits?
Paid leave does not reduce your salary. Unpaid leave, extended unpaid absences, and certain types of leave can affect allowances and service-linked benefits, so check your employment contract and company handbook. If you work remotely, note that remote work rules treat working-from-home days as work days, not leave days — the two are often confused.
Where can I verify the official rules?
The most reliable source is the UAE government’s official portal, which publishes plain-language summaries of employment rights, alongside guidance from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation. Company handbooks sometimes lag behind legal updates, so when in doubt, check the official source.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can my employer refuse my annual leave request?
An employer can decline specific dates — the law gives them the final say on scheduling — but they cannot refuse your annual leave entitlement altogether. If your leave keeps getting postponed indefinitely, raise it in writing with HR.
Is annual leave paid at full salary including allowances?
Annual leave pay is based on your basic salary plus the housing allowance if you receive one, following the standard calculation. Check your contract for how your employer computes it.
Can I encash my annual leave every year instead of taking it?
Only if your employer agrees or company policy allows it. There is no automatic right to convert leave to cash each year while still employed; the guaranteed payout applies to unused leave when employment ends.
Do I earn leave while on maternity or sick leave?
Annual leave generally continues to accrue during periods of paid leave such as maternity leave. Accrual during long unpaid absences depends on company policy and contract terms.
What happens to my leave if the company terminates me?
Your unused annual leave balance is paid out with your final settlement, calculated on basic salary. This is separate from notice-period pay and gratuity — verify all three appear correctly in your final payslip.
Can I take leave in hours instead of full days?
Some employers allow half-days or hourly leave for appointments; the law itself deals in days. This is entirely a matter of company policy, so ask HR what your system supports.
Does my probation period count toward my one year for full annual leave?
Yes — the one-year service threshold includes the probation period. Probation is part of your continuous employment, not a separate engagement.
The Bottom Line
Most leave questions have straightforward answers once you know the statutory minimums: 30 days of annual leave, the 90-day sick leave scale, 60 days of maternity leave, 5 days of parental leave, and paid bereavement leave. The complications almost always come from company policy layered on top — carryover limits, approval workflows, and notice-period rules. So learn the legal baseline from this guide, then read your contract and handbook for the specifics that apply to you, and keep written records of every request. That’s how you turn common leave questions into non-issues.
Last Updated: 8 October 2026
About the author: Zaviyar Sultan is a UAE-focused writer at Paxi, covering driving, visas, banking, insurance and everyday UAE life. His guides are researched from official UAE government and regulator sources and updated regularly.
Paxi is an independent informational website, not affiliated with the UAE government or any agency mentioned; content is general information only, not legal, immigration or financial advice; verify critical details with official sources before acting.