UAE private-sector sick leave and other leave from the Labour Law, its Implementing Regulation and u.ae: 90 days' sick leave (15 full, 30 half pay), no sick pay in probation, bereavement, Hajj, study, national service and unpaid leave.
Sick leave and the other special leaves for UAE private-sector employees are set by Articles 31–33 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 and Articles 20–21 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.
Sick leave
Quick answer: After probation, up to 90 days a year, continuous or intermittent: the first 15 days on full pay, the next 30 on half pay, and the rest unpaid (Art. 31(3)).
| Rule | What the law says |
|---|---|
| Notify the employer | Within 3 working days, with a medical report from the medical entity (Art. 31(1)) |
| During probation | No paid sick leave; the employer may grant unpaid sick leave on a medical report (Art. 31(2)) |
| After probation | Up to 90 days a year: 15 full pay, 30 half pay, the rest unpaid (Art. 31(3)) |
| Misconduct | No pay if the illness results from the employee's misconduct, such as alcohol or drugs — proven by a report from the authorities — or from breaking safety rules the employee was informed of and acknowledged (Art. 31(4); IR Art. 20) |
| During sick leave | u.ae states the employer may not dismiss the employee or give notice while they are on sick leave |
| After the sick leave is used up | The employer may end employment if the employee cannot return to work, paying all their entitlements (Art. 31(5)) |
Bereavement leave
Quick answer: 5 days on the death of a husband or wife, and 3 days on the death of a mother, father, son, brother, sister, grandson, grandfather or grandmother, starting from the date of death (Art. 32(1)(a)). u.ae words the 3-day list as a parent, child, sibling, grandchild or grandparent. It is paid leave (Art. 32(1)). The employee submits proof of the death after returning to work (Art. 32(4); IR Art. 21(3)).
Parental leave
5 working days of paid leave for either parent, taken within six months of the birth (Art. 32(1)(b)), with proof of the birth (Art. 32(4); IR Art. 21(4)). See our maternity and parental leave guide.
Study leave
A worker enrolled at an educational institution approved in the UAE may be granted 10 working days a year to sit exams, if they have at least two years' service with the employer (Art. 32(2)). The worker must hold an admission from an accredited institution, and the employer may ask for proof of the exam dates (IR Art. 21(1)). The Decree-Law does not say whether study leave is paid; u.ae describes it as paid leave.
National service leave
UAE nationals are entitled to paid leave to perform national and reserve service (Art. 32(3); IR Art. 21(2)).
Hajj and Umrah
The Decree-Law's leave articles do not set Hajj leave. u.ae states that Hajj leave may be granted unpaid, for no more than 30 days, and only once with the same employer; and that the Labour Law has no specific provision for Umrah leave, so the employer may approve it, deduct it from annual leave or grant it unpaid.
Unpaid leave
An employee may take unpaid leave with the employer's approval. It does not count towards the service period or towards pension contribution periods (Art. 33). Bereavement, parental, annual and unpaid leave can be combined (IR Art. 21(5)).
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many days of sick leave do UAE employees get? A: After probation, up to 90 days a year: 15 days on full pay, 30 days on half pay and the rest unpaid (Art. 31(3)).
Q: Is sick leave paid during probation? A: No. The employer may grant unpaid sick leave on a medical report (Art. 31(2)).
Q: How soon must an employee report sick leave? A: Within 3 working days, with a medical report (Art. 31(1)).
Q: Can an employer dismiss an employee on long sick leave? A: Once the sick leave in Article 31 is used up, the employer may end employment if the employee cannot return to work, paying all their entitlements (Art. 31(5)).
Q: How many days of bereavement leave are there in the UAE? A: 5 days for a spouse and 3 days for a parent, child, sibling, grandchild or grandparent, from the date of death (Art. 32(1)(a)).
Q: Is Hajj leave paid in the UAE? A: u.ae states Hajj leave is unpaid, up to 30 days, granted once with the same employer.
Q: Does unpaid leave count towards gratuity? A: No. Unpaid leave is not counted in the service period (Art. 33), and for full-time foreign employees unpaid days of absence are excluded from the gratuity calculation (Art. 51(4)). UAE nationals receive end-of-service benefits under the pension legislation instead.
Related guides
All guidesAbsconding in the UAE (2026): What It Means, How Employers Report It, and the One-Year Ban
Absconding (work abandonment) in the UAE, from MOHRE's service page and the Labour Law: the 7-day rule, how an employer files the report, documents, 2 working days, the one-year work-permit ban and who is exempt.
Annual Leave in the UAE (2026): Days, Pay, Carry-Over and the Rules for Employers
UAE annual leave under Article 29 of the Labour Law and its Implementing Regulation: 30 days a year, 2 days a month after six months, full pay, carry-over up to half, public holidays, part-time leave and pay on exit.
Maternity and Parental Leave in the UAE (2026): 60 Days, Pay, Nursing Breaks and Paternity Leave
UAE maternity and parental leave for the private sector under Articles 30 and 32 of the Labour Law: 60 days (45 full pay, 15 half pay), extra leave for illness or a child needing care, nursing breaks, dismissal protection and 5 days' parental leave.
Notice Period in the UAE (2026): 30–90 Days, Pay in Lieu, and When No Notice Is Needed
The UAE notice period under Article 43 of the Labour Law: 30 to 90 days in writing, full pay during notice, notice-period allowance, the weekly job-search day, probation notice, and the cases where either side can end the contract without notice.
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