Being unwell is stressful enough without paperwork adding to the worry. In the UAE, the documents required for sick leave are straightforward, but many employees only discover what’s needed after they’ve already called in sick — and that’s when confusion, delayed salaries, or a rejected leave request can creep in. Knowing the list in advance saves you a rushed trip back to the clinic.
This guide walks through every document you might need when you take sick leave in the UAE: the medical certificate itself, what it must contain to be accepted, supporting paperwork like your health insurance card, how employers want these documents submitted, and the special cases — hospitalisation, chronic conditions, and treatment abroad — where the paperwork looks a little different. If you’re still unsure about your basic entitlements, our sick leave rules explained guide covers how much leave you get and how it’s paid.
Quick Answer
The single most important document for sick leave in the UAE is a medical certificate (also called a sick leave report) issued by a licensed medical facility. For most short illnesses, this one document is enough. Depending on your employer and the situation, you may also need your Emirates ID, your health insurance card, a completed company sick leave form, and — for longer or special cases — additional reports such as hospital discharge summaries or attested foreign medical certificates. Submit them to your employer as early as your company policy requires, ideally on the first day you’re absent. The official u.ae page on leave entitlements in the private sector confirms the statutory basis these employer policies rest on.
| Document | When You Need It | Where You Get It |
|---|---|---|
| Medical certificate / sick leave report | Every sick leave absence (policies differ on day thresholds) | Licensed hospital, clinic, or telehealth provider |
| Emirates ID | Shown at the clinic to verify your identity | Already issued to you |
| Health insurance card | At the clinic for billing under your employer’s insurance | From your employer or insurer |
| Company sick leave form | When your employer requires its own form alongside the certificate | HR department or HR portal |
| Hospital discharge summary | After inpatient treatment or surgery | The hospital |
| Attested foreign medical report | When you fell ill outside the UAE | Issued abroad, then attested and translated |
The Documents Required for Sick Leave, Explained
The documents required for sick leave vary slightly from company to company, because the UAE Labour Law sets out your sick leave rights without prescribing a single national paperwork format. What matters is that your employer can verify you were genuinely unfit for work during the days you were absent. Here’s what that looks like in practice.
1. The medical certificate (sick leave report)
This is the core document. A medical certificate is a short, official note from a licensed doctor or medical facility stating that you were examined, found unfit for work, and the dates covered by the certificate. It is issued after a consultation — in person at a clinic or hospital, or through an approved telehealth service for suitable cases.
The certificate must come from a medical facility licensed by the relevant UAE health authority (such as the Department of Health in Abu Dhabi, the Dubai Health Authority, or the Ministry of Health and Prevention). A certificate from an unlicensed practitioner or a friend who happens to be a doctor won’t hold up if your employer checks. Many employers also specify whether they accept telehealth certificates, so it’s worth asking HR before you rely on one.
Timing matters: most companies expect you to inform them on the first day of absence and provide the certificate promptly — typically within the first couple of days. Your request for sick leave should go in as early as possible; the certificate can follow once you’ve seen a doctor, but don’t leave it too long.
2. Emirates ID
You won’t usually hand your Emirates ID to your employer for sick leave, but you’ll need it at the clinic. Medical facilities ask for your Emirates ID to register the consultation and issue the certificate in your name. Keep it with you whenever you visit a doctor — a photo of the card on your phone is often accepted, though some facilities prefer the physical card.
3. Health insurance card
UAE employers are required to provide health insurance for their employees, and your insurance card (physical or digital) lets the clinic bill your visit correctly. Without it, you may have to pay upfront and claim reimbursement later. Some insurers also require pre-authorisation for certain consultations, so showing the card at reception helps avoid billing surprises.
4. Your company’s own sick leave form
Many UAE employers — especially larger companies — have an internal sick leave request form that sits alongside the medical certificate. This is usually a simple form in the HR portal or an email template asking for your name, employee number, dates of absence, and an attachment of the certificate. Check your employee handbook or ask HR; the form itself takes two minutes, but forgetting it can stall the approval.
5. Supporting reports for longer or complex cases
For extended absences, surgery, or ongoing treatment, employers may ask for more than a standard certificate:
- Hospital discharge summary — after inpatient treatment, showing the diagnosis in general terms, the treatment given, and the recommended recovery period.
- Specialist letters — if your condition requires ongoing appointments (physiotherapy, oncology, and similar), a letter outlining the treatment plan can justify repeated short absences.
- Fit-to-work certificates — some employers ask for a clearance note from the doctor before you return after a long absence, particularly for roles involving safety, food handling, or heavy machinery.
- Chronic condition documentation — if you live with a condition that causes recurring short absences, a doctor’s letter explaining the condition can reduce friction each time it flares up.
6. Medical reports issued outside the UAE
If you fell ill while travelling abroad, your employer will usually accept a foreign medical report — but it needs to be credible. A report in Arabic or English from a recognised hospital is straightforward. If it’s in another language, have it professionally translated; see our guide on legal translation requirements in the UAE. For longer absences, some employers ask that the document be attested, which is a formal verification process explained in our guide to document attestation. Getting this sorted before you return to work avoids an awkward first day back.
What Makes a Medical Certificate Valid in the UAE
Not every doctor’s note qualifies. A certificate your employer must take seriously generally includes:
- The facility’s name, stamp, and contact details — confirming it’s a licensed provider.
- Your full name and Emirates ID number — matching your employment records.
- The date of examination — so HR can confirm you saw the doctor when you said you did.
- The exact dates you’re certified unfit for work — including start and end dates. Vague notes like “needs rest” without dates get questioned.
- The doctor’s name, signature, and license number — the standard authentication.
- Whether a follow-up visit is required — useful for planning a possible extension.
Note what usually doesn’t appear: the specific diagnosis. Doctors typically certify that you’re unfit for work without disclosing your medical condition, and that’s normal. Your employer is entitled to know you were unwell — not the details of your illness. If an employer demands your full medical records for a routine absence, that’s worth questioning; ask HR to point to the policy that requires it, and remember the limits we cover below.
How to Submit Your Sick Leave Documents
The submission process depends on your employer, but most UAE companies use one of these channels:
- HR portal or app — upload a clear scan or photo of the certificate and complete the digital form. Most common in larger companies.
- Email to HR or your manager — attach the certificate and state your absence dates. Keep the email short and professional.
- Company messaging channels — some smaller companies accept documents via the team chat or WhatsApp group. Screenshot the confirmation if your chat doesn’t keep a history.
- In person on return — occasionally accepted for very short absences, but this is the riskiest option since there’s no paper trail if the document is misplaced.
Whichever channel you use, keep a copy of everything you send — the certificate, the submission, and any acknowledgement from HR. A clear photo taken on your phone is fine as a backup. As our guide to how sick leave is recorded explains, having your own copies makes it far easier to fix errors if HR logs the wrong dates or the wrong leave type.
What Your Employer Cannot Ask For
Employers have a legitimate interest in verifying sick leave, but that interest has limits:
- Your full medical history — a routine sick leave certificate doesn’t require you to hand over years of medical records.
- Details of a sensitive diagnosis — doctors deliberately keep certificates general. An employer insisting on knowing the exact condition for a standard absence is overstepping in most cases.
- A different doctor’s opinion — some company policies allow a second medical opinion at the employer’s expense in genuine disputes, but your employer can’t simply reject a licensed certificate because they don’t feel like accepting it.
- Proof beyond what’s in company policy — if the handbook says a certificate is required after three days, HR can’t demand one for a single-day absence on a whim. Your contract and the staff handbook set the rules; see our overview of UAE employment contract types for how those obligations are framed.
If a request feels unreasonable, ask for the written policy it comes from and, if needed, raise it with HR in writing so there’s a record.
Mistakes That Get Sick Leave Rejected
Most rejected sick leave claims come down to avoidable paperwork errors:
- Submitting the certificate too late — waiting a week or more invites questions and can breach company policy.
- Date mismatches — the certificate covers Monday to Wednesday, but you were actually absent Thursday too. Ask the doctor to correct the dates before you leave the clinic.
- Name or ID mismatches — your name on the certificate must match your employment records exactly.
- Unclear scans — a blurry phone photo where the stamp and dates can’t be read will be sent back.
- Certificates from unlicensed sources — notes from unlicensed clinics or informal letters from a doctor friend don’t count.
- Not informing your manager — the certificate proves the illness, but failing to notify anyone on day one is a separate attendance issue.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do I need a medical certificate for one day of sick leave?
It depends on your employer’s policy. Many UAE companies only require a certificate for absences of more than one to three days, while others ask for one every time. Check your employee handbook or employment contract — the threshold should be written there. When in doubt, getting a certificate is the safer choice.
Can my employer reject a medical certificate from a licensed doctor?
Generally no — a certificate from a licensed UAE medical facility is the standard proof of illness. An employer that doubts its authenticity can verify it with the issuing facility or request a second medical opinion at their own cost, but they can’t simply dismiss a valid certificate without cause.
Is a telehealth sick certificate accepted in the UAE?
Often yes, provided it comes from a licensed provider and your employer’s policy doesn’t exclude telehealth certificates. Telehealth consultations became widely accepted in recent years, but some companies still prefer in-person certificates for absences beyond a few days. Confirm with HR first.
What if I’m too ill to get a certificate on the first day?
Notify your employer on day one by phone or message, then get the certificate as soon as you’re able to see a doctor. Most employers accept this sequence — what they won’t accept is silence followed by paperwork a week later with no explanation.
Do I need to translate a foreign medical report into Arabic?
Not always, but English or Arabic reports are the safest. If your report is in another language, have it professionally translated before submitting it, and for longer absences be prepared for your employer to ask for attestation as well.
The Bottom Line
The documents required for sick leave in the UAE boil down to one essential item — a valid medical certificate from a licensed facility — plus a few supporting pieces (your Emirates ID and insurance card at the clinic, your company’s form, and extra reports for longer or foreign cases). Get the certificate promptly, check that the dates and details are correct before you leave the clinic, and keep a copy of everything you submit. That small bit of diligence protects your pay and keeps your absence record clean. For how those documents turn into official records, read our guide on how sick leave is recorded.
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.