Annual Leave in the UAE (2026): Days, Pay, Carry-Over and the Rules for Employers

Annual leave for UAE private-sector employees is set by Article 29 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 and by Articles 18–19 of its Implementing Regulation (Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022). This guide is built from MOHRE's consolidated text of both, and from u.ae's Types of leaves page, read on 25 October 2026. To work out the pay, use our leave salary calculator.

How many days of annual leave

Quick answer: At least 30 days for each year of service. When service is more than six months but less than a year, it is 2 days for each month. If employment ends before the balance is used, the employee is entitled to leave for the part of the last year worked (Art. 29(1)).

For part-time staff, the Regulation converts the contracted hours into working days, divides by the working days in the year and multiplies by the statutory leave, counting a fraction of a day as a full day.

How annual leave is paid

Quick answer: Annual leave is taken with full wage (Art. 29(1)), and the employee is entitled to their wage for the leave period (Art. 29(6)). The Decree-Law defines the wage as the basic wage plus cash allowances and benefits in kind.

When employment ends, unused days — and leave for the part of the year worked — are paid on the basic wage (Art. 29(9); IR Art. 19(2)). A cash allowance agreed during employment instead of carrying leave forward follows the wage received at the time (IR Art. 19(1)).

Who sets the dates

• The employee takes leave in the year it is due (Art. 29(4)).
• The employer may set the dates according to work needs, in agreement with the employee, or rotate leave among staff to keep the business running.
• The employer must tell the employee the dates at least one month in advance.
• Leave during probation is possible if the employer agrees; an employee who does not pass probation keeps the right to be paid for the rest of their balance (Art. 29(3)).

Carrying leave forward

Quick answer: Only with the employer's approval and under company rules (Art. 29(5)), and the Implementing Regulation limits it to half of the annual leave (IR Art. 19(1)). Instead, the parties can agree a cash allowance.

The employer may not stop an employee from using leave accrued for more than two years, unless the employee chooses to carry it forward or take a cash allowance (Art. 29(8)).

Public holidays during annual leave

Public holidays that fall inside annual leave count as part of it, unless the contract or company rules give the employee something better (Art. 29(7)). Separately, employees get public holidays off with full pay; working one earns another day off or the day's wage plus at least 50% of the basic wage (Art. 28).

Other leave types

Annual leave is separate from sick leave (up to 90 days a year after probation: 15 days full pay, 30 days half pay, the rest unpaid), maternity leave (60 days: 45 full pay, 15 half pay), parental leave (5 working days within six months of the birth), bereavement leave (5 days for a spouse, 3 for listed relatives) and study leave (may be granted: 10 working days a year to sit exams, for employees enrolled at an approved institution with at least two years' service). See the leave table in our UAE Labour Law guide.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How many days of annual leave do employees get in the UAE? A: At least 30 days for each year of service, or 2 days a month when service is more than six months and under a year (Art. 29(1)).

Q: Is annual leave paid on basic salary or full salary? A: Leave you take is paid at full wage — basic plus cash allowances and benefits in kind. Unused leave paid out when employment ends is calculated on the basic wage (Art. 29(9); IR Art. 19(2)).

Q: Can an employer refuse annual leave? A: The employer can set the dates according to work needs, in agreement with the employee, with at least a month's notice (Art. 29(4)). It may not stop an employee using leave accrued for more than two years unless the employee chooses to carry it forward or take cash (Art. 29(8)).

Q: Can unused annual leave be carried forward? A: With the employer's approval, up to half of the annual leave, or the parties can agree a cash allowance instead (Art. 29(5); IR Art. 19).

Q: Do I get annual leave during probation? A: The employer may agree to grant leave from the balance during probation. If the employee does not pass probation, they keep the right to be paid for the rest of their balance (Art. 29(3)).

Q: Do public holidays count as annual leave days? A: Yes, if they fall inside the annual leave, unless the contract or company rules are more favourable to the employee (Art. 29(7)).

Q: How much annual leave do part-time employees get? A: Leave in proportion to the hours they work, with a minimum of five working days a year (Implementing Regulation, Art. 18).