Types of Leave for Employees in the UAE: A Practical Guide

The main types of leave, step by step

1. 1

   Annual leave

   Employees are entitled to a fully paid annual leave of 30 days, if they have completed one year of service. If the period of service exceeds six months but is less than one year, the employee is entitled to 2 days of leave for each month of service. Your employer must tell you the leave dates at least one month in advance, so you can plan ahead.

   Documents:Employment contractEmirates ID
2. 2

   Maternity leave

   A female worker may apply for her maternity leave up to 30 days prior to the expected date of delivery. If you are planning your maternity leave, speak with your employer early so the timing is agreed in writing.

   Documents:Medical certificateEmployment contract
3. 3

   Parental leave

   Employees of the private sector are entitled to a parental leave of 5 working days, from the day of the birth of their child up to six months. Both parents can use this leave to care for a newborn.

   Documents:Birth certificate
4. 4

   Study leave

   An employee who is studying in one of the UAE's accredited educational institutions is entitled to a paid leave of 10 working days per year to sit for examinations, provided that they have completed at least two years of service with their employer.

   Documents:Proof of enrolmentExam schedule
5. 5

   Sick leave

   After completing the probationary period, an employee is entitled to a sick leave of not more than 90 days, whether continuous or intermittent, per year of service. Sick leave pay is calculated as follows: full pay for the first 15 days, half pay for the next 30 days, and no pay for the remaining 45 days.

   Documents:Medical certificate

Fees and timelines may change, verify with the official source.

Real companies from Google Maps, live ratings and reviews.