Understanding Employee Leave Entitlements in the UAE

Navigating the United Arab Emirates' labor regulations is essential for both employers and employees operating in this dynamic market. The UAE provides clear guidelines for various types of leave, ensuring workers receive adequate time off while maintaining business continuity.

Annual Leave Provisions

Employees in the UAE are entitled to annual leave based on their length of service. Workers who have completed six months but less than one year receive two days per month of service. After one full year of employment, employees are entitled to 30 days of paid annual leave annually. Part-time workers receive pro-rated leave according to their working hours as specified in their employment contracts.

Employers must schedule annual leave dates in consultation with employees, providing at least one month's notice. Employees may carry over unused leave to the following year with employer approval, though accumulated leave cannot exceed two years. Upon termination, any unused leave is calculated based on basic salary.

Sick Leave Regulations

Following probationary periods, employees qualify for up to 90 days of sick leave annually, which may be taken continuously or intermittently. Compensation structure follows this pattern:

Full pay for the first 15 days
Half pay for the subsequent 30 days
Unpaid leave for the remaining 45 days

Paid sick leave is not provided during probation periods or when illness results from employee misconduct. Employers may terminate employment if workers cannot return after exhausting their sick leave entitlement, with applicable end-of-service benefits.

Maternity and Parental Leave Benefits

Female employees in private sector companies receive 60 days of maternity leave—45 days at full pay followed by 15 days at half pay. Additional provisions include:

45 days of unpaid leave for pregnancy-related illnesses
30 days of paid leave for infant illness or disability
Daily nursing breaks for six months post-return

Federal government employees receive enhanced benefits, including 90 days of maternity leave. The UAE also introduced parental leave for both mothers and fathers—five working days—making it the first Arab nation to offer this benefit to private sector workers.

Special Leave Categories

The UAE recognizes several other leave types:

Study Leave: Employees with two years of service receive 10 working days annually for educational purposes.

Bereavement Leave: Five days for spouse's death; three days for immediate family members.

Hajj Leave: While not mandated by law, employers may grant up to 30 days of unpaid leave for pilgrimage once during employment.

Public Holidays in the UAE

The UAE observes numerous public holidays throughout the year, with 2025 including:

Holiday	Date
New Year's Day	January 1
Eid al-Fitr	March 30-April 1*
Arafat Day	June 5*
Eid al-Adha	June 6-8*
Islamic New Year	June 26*
Prophet's Birthday	September 5*
UAE National Day	December 2-3

*Dates based on lunar calendar

Understanding these regulations helps companies like SailGlobal assist international businesses in establishing compliant HR practices in the UAE market.

UAE Employee Leave Guide: Annual, Sick, Maternity & Public Holidays 2025