By dubailife 
Understanding Leave Entitlements in the UAE
The UAE offers nine different types of leave for employees, ranging from maternity and sick leave to time off for Hajj. While private companies may provide additional leave, the law guarantees the rights to these specific types of leave.
Learn more about your rights and entitlements in the UAE, including options like study leave and paid sabbaticals.
Annual Leave in the UAE
Employees are eligible for annual leave after completing six months of service with their employer.
This entitlement is provided under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations in the Private Sector, also known as the “UAE Labour Law.”
Employees are entitled to fully paid annual leave as follows:
- 30 days after completing one year of service
- Two days per month for those who have completed six months but not yet one year of service.
Sick Leave in the UAE
After completing the probationary period, an employee is entitled to up to 90 days of sick leave per year, which can be taken either consecutively or intermittently. The payment structure during sick leave is as follows:
- Full pay for the first 15 days
- Half pay for the next 30 days
- No pay for the remaining 45 days.
Maternity Leave in the UAE
Female employees in the UAE are entitled to 60 days of maternity leave, which includes:
- 45 days of full pay
- 15 days of half pay
A female employee may begin her maternity leave up to 30 days before the anticipated delivery date.
Parental Leave in the UAE
Private sector employees in the UAE are entitled to five working days of paid parental leave, which can be taken from the day their child is born up to six months after. This leave is available to both mothers and fathers. The policy was introduced following amendments to the Labour Law approved by the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan in August 2020, making the UAE the first Arab country to offer parental leave to private sector employees.
Compassionate Leave in the UAE
Employees are entitled to paid bereavement leave, with five days granted for the death of a spouse and three days for the death of a parent, child, sibling, grandchild, or grandparent.
Hajj Leave in the UAE
Employees may be granted unpaid leave to perform Hajj under the following conditions:
- The leave does not exceed 30 days
- It is granted only once during the employee’s tenure with the company.
Study Leave in the UAE
Employees enrolled in certified educational institutions in the UAE are entitled to 10 days of paid leave per year to take exams. To qualify for this leave, the employee must have completed at least two years of service with their employer.
Sabbatical Leave in the UAE
According to the UAE Labour Law, Emiratis working in the private sector are entitled to a paid sabbatical leave to perform national service.
CREDIT : Arabianbusiness