UAE labour law guide
Sick leave in the UAE
You can take up to 90 days a year, but only part of it is paid. Here's how it works.
In short
After probation, a UAE private-sector employee can take up to 90 days of sick leave a year, all at once or in parts. The first 15 days are on full pay, the next 30 on half pay, and the last 45 are unpaid. Paid sick leave doesn't start until probation ends.
Updated
- Law
- Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Article 31
- Sick leave
- Up to 90 days a year after probation
- Full pay
- First 15 days
- Half pay
- Next 30 days, then 45 days unpaid
- Probation
- No paid sick leave
Written by Sukaina Sehar, CMO at LeagrowUpdated
How many sick days do you get in the UAE?
Up to 90 days a year, once your probation is over. You can take them in one stretch or a few days at a time.
| Days of sick leave in a year | Pay |
|---|---|
| Days 1 to 15 | Full pay |
| Days 16 to 45 | Half pay |
| Days 46 to 90 | Unpaid |
Is sick leave paid during probation?
No. Paid sick leave starts after probation. During probation your employer can still give you unpaid sick leave if you have a medical report.
Do you need a medical certificate for sick leave in the UAE?
Yes. Tell your employer you're sick as soon as you can, within three days, and give them a medical report from a licensed clinic or hospital.
Some employers ask for the report to be attested by the health authority in your emirate, so check your company policy.
Keep a copy of every report you hand in. If a sick day ever turns into a pay dispute, that copy is your proof.
How is sick pay worked out?
On your wage for each day of sick leave. A full-pay day pays your normal day's wage, a half-pay day pays half of it, and an unpaid day pays nothing.
Example: on AED 9,000 a month, a day's wage is AED 300 (9,000 ÷ 30). Twenty days of sick leave in a year means 15 days at AED 300 and 5 days at AED 150, so AED 5,250 for those days.
Does sick leave count towards gratuity?
Paid sick leave counts as service. Days of unpaid absence don't count towards your end-of-service gratuity, so long unpaid sick leave can lower it a little.
Is it the same in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the free zones?
Yes on the mainland and in most free zones, because they all follow the federal UAE Labour Law. DIFC and ADGM have their own employment laws, and government jobs have their own rules.
Sources
- UAE legislation portal: Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021
- Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE)
- Gulf News: sick leave certificates, pay and employer rules
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.
Keep sick leave records straight.
Leagrow HR tracks each person's sick days and asks for the medical report on the request. Unpaid days go to payroll on their own.
- Custom leave types with their own limits and rules
- Required documents on a leave request, like a medical report
- Approval chains and a balance ledger for every person
- Unpaid leave flows into the next pay run
Keep reading
More on UAE labour law.
UAE leave salary calculator
Annual leave pay, and unused leave when you leave. Free, no sign-up.
UAE gratuity calculator
End-of-service pay under the 2021 UAE Labour Law. Free, no sign-up.
UAE annual leave
30 days a year, and what happens to the days you don't use.
UAE notice period
30 to 90 days, and what happens if it's cut short.
UAE labour law guide
Leave, notice, pay and end-of-service rules for the private sector.
Questions, answered.
How many days of sick leave are paid in the UAE?
45 of the 90 days carry pay: the first 15 days at full pay and the next 30 at half pay. The last 45 days are unpaid.
Can I take sick leave during probation in the UAE?
Not paid sick leave. Your employer can give you unpaid sick leave during probation if you have a medical report.
How soon must I tell my employer I'm sick?
Within three days, with a medical report from a licensed health facility. Your company policy may ask for it sooner.
Does unused sick leave carry over or get paid out?
No. The 90 days are a yearly limit, not a balance you build up. Unused sick leave isn't paid out when you leave.
Is sick leave the same in Dubai and Abu Dhabi?
Yes, for private-sector employees under the federal UAE Labour Law. Only DIFC and ADGM, which have their own employment laws, are different.
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