United Arab Emirates
Complete guide to UAE employee leave entitlements under Federal Labour Law including 30 days annual leave, sick leave, and maternity leave.
30
Annual leave
14
Public holidays
country
Location type
2025-01-15
Reviewed
Legal framework
Primary legislation
Governing body
Last updated
Official source
Entitlements overview
Annual leave
Statutory entitlement: 30
Calculation: 30 calendar days after 1 year. 2 days per month for 6-12 months.
Pro-rata: 2 days per month of service
Carryover: Can carry forward with employer agreement
Sick leave
Statutory: Yes
Paid days: 90
Statutory pay: First 15 days: 100%, Next 30 days: 50%, Next 45 days: Unpaid
Eligibility: After probation period (usually 6 months)
Parental leave
Maternity: 60 calendar days
Paternity: 5 working days
Adoption: No statutory adoption leave
Additional leave and compliance
Other leave types
Parental Leave: 5 days (paid)
Bereavement Leave: 3-5 days (paid)
Hajj Leave: Up to 30 days (once) (unpaid)
Study Leave: 10 days per year (unpaid)
Record keeping and notice
Records: Maintain records during employment + 2 years
Penalties: Fines from AED 5,000 to AED 1,000,000
Public holiday sample
New Year's Day: 2025-01-01
Eid Al Fitr (approx): 2025-03-30
Eid Al Fitr Day 2: 2025-03-31
Eid Al Fitr Day 3: 2025-04-01
Eid Al Adha (approx): 2025-06-06
Eid Al Adha Day 2: 2025-06-07
Frequently asked questions
How much annual leave do UAE employees get?
30 calendar days after 1 year of service. For employees with 6-12 months service, it's 2 days per month.
How does UAE sick leave work?
After probation, employees get 90 days sick leave per year: first 15 days at full pay, next 30 at half pay, remaining 45 unpaid.
Related policy guides
Singapore
Complete guide to Singapore employee leave entitlements under Employment Act including annual leave, sick leave, and government-paid maternity leave.
United Kingdom (England)
Complete guide to UK employee leave entitlements including statutory annual leave, sick pay (SSP), maternity, paternity, and shared parental leave.