UAE Labour Law: Essential Guide to 8 Types of Employee Leave Entitlements

Dubai: Understanding the various leave entitlements is crucial for employees in the UAE’s private sector. The UAE Labour Law, specifically Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, outlines eight distinct types of leave available to employees, along with the eligibility criteria for each category. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of these leave types and their associated regulations.

1. Annual Leave

Employees in the private sector are entitled to two days of leave for each month of service after completing six months with their employer. Upon reaching one year of service, employees qualify for a fully paid annual leave of 30 days, as stipulated in Article 29 of the UAE Labour Law. If an employee’s service ends before utilizing their annual leave balance, they are entitled to compensation for any unused leave accrued during their last year of employment.

2. Maternity Leave

Article 30 of the UAE Labour Law specifies the maternity leave entitlements for female employees in the private sector. Female workers are eligible for a total of 60 days of maternity leave, which is divided as follows:

• 45 days of fully paid leave
• 15 days of half-paid leave

Employees may apply for maternity leave up to 30 days prior to their expected delivery date. In certain circumstances, maternity leave can be extended. For instance, if a female employee experiences complications related to pregnancy or childbirth, she may request an additional 45 days of unpaid leave, supported by a medical certificate.

Moreover, if a newborn has health issues or disabilities, the employee can take up to 30 days of fully paid leave, followed by another 30 days of unpaid leave, contingent upon medical verification. Upon returning to work, mothers are entitled to one or two breaks daily for nursing, not exceeding one hour in total.

3. Bereavement Leave

In the unfortunate event of a family member’s death, employees are entitled to compassionate or bereavement leave. The entitlements are as follows:

• 5 days for the death of a spouse
• 3 days for the death of a parent, child, sibling, grandchild, or grandparent

This leave commences from the date of death.

4. Parental Leave

Both new mothers and fathers are entitled to five working days of parental leave. This leave can be taken anytime from the date of the child’s birth up to six months later, as stated in Article 32 (1) of the UAE Labour Law.

5. Study Leave

Employees pursuing studies at accredited educational institutions in the UAE are eligible for a paid leave of 10 days per year to take examinations. However, this entitlement is available only after completing two years of service with their employer.

6. Hajj and Umrah Leave

Under the UAE Labour Law, employees may be granted special leave for performing Hajj, subject to specific conditions:

• The leave may not exceed 30 days.
• It is granted only once during the employee’s tenure with the same employer.

While the law does not explicitly address leave for Umrah, employers have the discretion to approve such requests, either by deducting from the employee’s annual leave balance or granting it as unpaid leave.

7. Leave to Perform National Service

Emirati citizens working in the private sector are entitled to a paid sabbatical leave to fulfill their national service obligations.

8. Sick Leave

After completing the probation period, employees are entitled to a maximum of 90 days of sick leave per year, as outlined in Article 31 of the UAE Labour Law. Sick leave can be taken continuously or intermittently, with the following pay structure:

• Full pay for the first 15 days
• Half pay for the subsequent 30 days
• No pay for the remaining 45 days

While paid sick leave is not available during the probation period, employers may grant unpaid sick leave based on a medical report from a recognized medical authority.

For further details on employee leave entitlements, refer to the official source: www.emirates247.com.

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Published on 2026-07-14 17:42:00 • By the Editorial Desk