UAE labour law guide
Annual leave in the UAE
Once you've done a full year you get 30 days. The first year works a little differently.
In short
UAE private-sector employees earn 30 days of paid annual leave a year once they've worked a full year, and 2 days a month between six months and a year. Leave is paid at the full wage before it starts. Unused leave is paid out on basic salary when the job ends.
Updated
- Law
- Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Article 29
- Annual leave
- 30 days a year after one year
- First year
- 2 days a month after six months
- Leave pay
- Full wage, paid before the leave
- Unused leave
- Basic salary ÷ 30 a day
Written by Sukaina Sehar, CMO at LeagrowUpdated
How many days of annual leave do you get in the UAE?
30 days a year once you've completed a full year of service. Public holidays are on top of this.
| Your service | Annual leave |
|---|---|
| Under 6 months | None yet |
| 6 months to 1 year | 2 days for each month |
| Each full year | 30 days |
| Last part year when you leave | In proportion to the time worked |
How is annual leave paid?
At your full wage, basic salary plus allowances, and before the leave starts. A day's pay is your monthly wage ÷ 30.
Example: on AED 8,000 basic and AED 4,000 in allowances, 30 days of leave pays AED 12,000.
If your leave salary hasn't come through before you travel, ask HR. It's meant to be paid first, not after you're back.
Can you carry annual leave forward?
Yes, up to half of the year's leave (15 days) if your employer agrees. Your employer also can't stop you from taking your leave for more than two years in a row.
What happens to unused leave when you leave your job?
It's paid out with your final settlement, on your basic salary only. Each unused day is worth your basic salary ÷ 30, and it's due within 14 days of the contract ending.
Example: 12 unused days on AED 10,000 basic pays AED 4,000.
Can your contract give you more leave?
Yes. The law sets the minimum, so a contract can give you more days or a bigger carry-forward, never less. In DIFC and ADGM, their own employment laws apply instead.
Sources
- UAE legislation portal: Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021
- Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE)
- Gulf News: UAE annual leave rules and carry-forward
- Khaleej Times: annual leave, how many days and carry-forward
Checked . We explain the law as it applies to most private-sector jobs. It isn't legal advice, so for your own case, check with MOHRE or a lawyer.
Leave balances your team can check themselves.
Leagrow HR adds leave as people earn it and applies your carry-forward cap at year end. When someone leaves, payroll pays out what's left.
- Accrual every month or year, pro-rata for new joiners
- Carry-forward with a cap and an expiry date
- Encash leave when your policy allows it
- Unused leave paid out in the final settlement
Keep reading
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UAE final settlement calculator
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UAE labour law guide
Leave, notice, pay and end-of-service rules for the private sector.
Questions, answered.
Do I get annual leave in my first year in the UAE?
After six months, yes: 2 days for each month you've worked. Before six months you don't earn annual leave.
Is annual leave paid on basic or full salary?
Leave you take is paid at your full wage, with allowances. Leave still unused when your job ends is paid on basic salary only.
Are public holidays part of my 30 days?
No. Public holidays are separate from annual leave, so you get both.
How many days can I carry forward?
Up to half of a year's leave, which is 15 days, if your employer agrees.
When is leave salary paid?
Before your leave starts. Unused leave is paid with your final settlement, within 14 days of your contract ending.
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