UAE leave entitlements 2026: Every type of paid and unpaid leave private sector workers can take

Dubai: Are you counting down the days to your next vacation? You will need to check how many paid days of leave you are entitled to. The UAE has one of the most robust frameworks in the region, when it comes to employee leave entitlements, with laws like Articles 28 to 32 of the UAE Federal Labour Law (Decree Law No. 33 of 2021) and it’s 2022 Executive Regulations governing the labour rights of employees in the private sector. Your annual leave isn’t the only type of leave available to you, however. We’ve curated all the different kinds of leaves employees are entitled to, under the UAE Labour Law. Depending on the workplace, many employers also offer additional leave benefits and non-statutory leaves in order to attract and retain talent. Learn about all of the options available to you, below: 1. Annual leave Typical duration: 30 calendar days or 22 working days per year Article 29 of the UAE Labour Law lays down the regulations that govern the entitlement of annual leaves for private sector employees. Musa Dayani, a Dubai-based public relations officer, explained: “In the private sector, annual leave is for 30 calendar days, with full salary.” This equates to 22 working days of leave per year for companies that follow a five-day work week, and 26 working days of leave for those who follow a six-day work week. For long-term employees, the same rules apply. Dayani added: “If an employee has been working for 15 or even 20 years, the same rules [apply]: yearly, they receive a 30-day leave with paid salary.” However, according to the UAE Labour Law, if the employee’s service term is longer than six months but less than a year, the person is entitled to two calendar days (or 1.8 working days) for each month served. Learn more about annual leave and its basic provisions. 2. Sick leave Typical duration: As required Article 31 of the UAE Labour Law sets out comprehensive regulations for sick leave. All private sector employees are entitled to up to 90 days of sick leave per year, whether continuous or intermittent, based on the following: First 15 days: Full pay Next 30 days: Half pay Remainder: Unpaid The employee is obligated to inform their employer about their illness within a period not exceeding three working days, and submit a medical report or sick leave certificate from a healthcare professional. In practice, especially for less serious cases, employers usually permit employees to follow the prescribed leave stated by their doctor in the sick leave certificate. Dayani said: “They follow the duration mentioned as per doctors’ advice and a Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) issued sick leave certificate.” Learn more about sick leave rules here. 3. Maternity leave Typical duration: 60 days Female employees in the UAE are entitled to paid maternity leave under Article 30 of the UAE Labour Law, and their leave is not tied to a minimum service period. According to Article 30 of the UAE Labour Law, a working woman is entitled to a maternity leave of 60 days in total, with full pay for 45 days, and half pay for the following 15 days. The leave can begin from the last day of the month immediately before the expected month of delivery, as long as a medical certificate is provided, highlighting the expected due date. The UAE Labour Law also makes special provisions for certain cases: Mothers or newborns suffering from an illness: Additional unpaid leave for a period of up to 45 days (continuous or intermittent), as long as you provide a medical certificate from an authorised medical authority. Mothers whose children are born with a medical condition or disability that requires constant care: Additional 30 days of maternity leave with full pay, with the right to extend the leave for a period of 30 days without pay. A medical report is required here as well, to support extended leave. Mothers who lose their children after six months of pregnancy: The employee is still entitled to the full maternity leave period. Learn more about these provisions and maternity rules here. 4. Shared parental leave Typical duration: Five working days Under Article 32(1) of the UAE Labour Law, employees can avail of paid parental leave for five working days, continuous or intermittent, to allow both parents to care for their newborn. The leave is available for both the father and the mother during a six-month period after the date of the child’s birth. According to Dayani, in the case of female employees, the parental leave entitlement is in addition to the maternity leave. 5. Bereavement or compassionate leave Typical duration: Three to five days Private sector employees in the UAE are entitled to fully paid bereavement leave, following the death of a family member. Dayani clarified that the rule applies to “very close loved ones”, such as spouses, parents, and children. The provision does not extend to relatives like in-laws or aunts and uncles, and providing leave for such relatives depends on the discretion of the employer. Un