UAE sick leave in the private sector is up to 90 days a year after probation: 15 days on full pay, 30 on half pay and 45 unpaid, according to the UAE government portal. During probation there is no paid sick leave.
Annual leave is 30 days after a year of service, and probation cannot run past six months. We read the portal’s two official pages on 8 October 2026, and this is general information, not legal advice.
| Leave | Entitlement | Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Sick leave | Up to 90 days a year, after probation | 15 days full, 30 half, 45 unpaid |
| Annual leave | 30 days after one year of service | Fully paid |
| Annual leave, 6 to 12 months of service | 2 days for each month | Fully paid |
| Bereavement, spouse | 5 days | Paid |
| Bereavement, parent, child, sibling, grandparent or grandchild | 3 days | Paid |
| Study leave | 10 working days a year, after two years of service | Paid |
UAE sick leave: 90 days and how it is paid
The UAE government portal says an employee gets up to 90 days of sick leave per year of service, continuous or in pieces, after completing probation. The page was last updated on 24 September 2026.
Pay tiers down as the days add up. The first 15 days are on full pay, the next 30 on half pay, and the last 45 unpaid.
The employee must tell the employer within a maximum of three days and provide a medical report from the relevant medical authority, under Article 31. Paid sick leave does not apply when an illness comes from misconduct such as alcohol or narcotics, or from breaking safety instructions.
An employer may not dismiss or serve notice on someone who is on sick leave. If all 90 days are used and the employee still cannot return, the employer may end the contract, and the employee keeps end-of-service benefits. Work injuries fall under separate laws.
Annual leave rules
Annual leave is 30 fully paid days once an employee has completed a year of service. Between six months and a year, it is 2 days for each month worked, and an employee who leaves before using the leave is paid for the part of the year worked.
The employer sets the dates, may rotate leave among staff and must give at least a month’s notice of them. Leave should be used in the year it falls due.
With the employer’s consent an employee can carry unused leave forward, and unused days are then paid on basic salary. The portal says an employer may not stop someone using accrued leave for more than two consecutive years unless the employee chooses to carry it over or take cash. A public holiday inside the leave period counts as part of it, unless the contract is more generous.
UAE probation period rules
Probation cannot exceed six months and cannot be extended, according to the portal’s employment contracts page, updated on 12 August 2026. If the employee stays on, probation counts toward service.
- An employer ending the contract during probation must give 14 days’ written notice.
- An employee leaving to join another UAE employer must give at least one month’s written notice, and the new employer compensates the old one for recruitment costs unless they agree otherwise.
- An employee who leaves both the job and the UAE gives 14 days’ written notice. If they return within three months on a new work permit, the new employer owes the same compensation.
No paid sick leave applies in probation. The employer may grant unpaid sick leave on a medical report from a recognised authority.
Other leave the portal lists
Bereavement leave is paid: 5 days for a spouse and 3 days for a parent, child, sibling, grandparent or grandchild, counted from the date of death. Study leave is 10 working days a year, for exams, after two years of service.
Hajj leave is unpaid, up to 30 days, once with the same employer. The portal says the law has no specific provision for Umrah leave, so the employer decides whether to approve it, deduct it from annual leave or treat it as unpaid. Our UAE maternity leave guide covers parental leave, and the UAE National Day guide covers public holidays.
What we could not confirm
The portal leaves several practical points open, and we did not find an official answer to any of the four below.
- Whether sick pay is based on basic or total wage. Annual-leave payout is stated as basic salary, but sick pay is not.
- Whether the three-day notice means calendar or working days. The portal says three days, while two guides say three working days.
- Sick leave for mental health conditions. One guide says it is treated like any illness, and the portal does not address it.
- Free-zone and government rules. The pages describe the private sector, and we did not check the rest.
The portal also links the Executive Regulations in Arabic only, which we did not open. For a contract question, check the decree or ask HR or a lawyer.
Quick answers on UAE sick leave
How many days of sick leave in the UAE?
Up to 90 days a year after probation: 15 on full pay, 30 on half pay and 45 unpaid.
Is there paid sick leave during probation?
No, but the employer may grant unpaid sick leave on a medical report.
How soon must I tell my employer I am sick?
Within a maximum of three days, with a medical report, per Article 31 as the portal states it.
How much annual leave do I get?
30 days after a year of service, or 2 days per month if you have worked more than six months but under a year.
Last checked on 8 October 2026. Rules can change, so confirm with the labour ministry before relying on any figure.
