Annual Leave in the UAE: What You Are Entitled To

Private-sector employees in the UAE are entitled to 30 days of fully paid annual leave for every completed year of service. If you have worked more than six months but less than a year, you earn two days for each month, according to u.ae and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE).

The entitlement is set by Article 29 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, with further detail in Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022, its Executive Regulations.

This guide covers the federal UAE Labour Law, Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, which applies to mainland private-sector employers. Free zones such as the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) may have their own employment rules, and government employees fall under separate HR rules, so check which regime applies to you.

How much leave you get

Your situationEntitlement One year of service or more30 days a year, fully paid Six months to one year2 days for each month Leaving part-way through a yearLeave for the fraction of the final year Part-timeIn proportion to actual hours worked, minimum 5 working days a year On probationLeave may be granted; if probation is not passed, unused balance is paid

Booking your leave

Dates are set by agreement between you and your employer, taking work needs into account; employers may also rotate leave among staff. MoHRE and u.ae both say the employer must tell you your leave dates at least one month in advance.

Official public holidays that fall during your annual leave count towards it, unless your contract or company rules are more generous.

Carrying leave over

Leave is meant to be taken in the year you earn it. You can carry it forward only with your employer's consent and in line with company rules. Gulf News, citing Article 19(1) of Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022, reported in October 2026 that up to half of the annual entitlement may be carried into the following year, or you may agree to be paid for it instead.

An employer cannot stop you taking leave that has built up for more than two years, unless you have chosen to carry it forward or take cash.

When you leave the job

Whether you resign or are terminated, you are paid for accrued, unused leave, including a pro-rated amount for the final part-year. The payout is calculated on your basic salary only, not your total package with allowances, according to u.ae and Article 19(2) of Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022.

Other paid leave worth knowing

MoHRE lists further paid leave alongside annual leave:

• Bereavement: 5 days for the death of a spouse; 3 days for a parent, child, sibling, grandchild or grandparent.
• Parental: 5 working days for either parent, within six months of the birth. See our guide to maternity and parental leave.
• Study: up to 10 working days a year to sit exams, for workers with at least two years' service enrolled at a state-approved institution.

Sick leave is separate; see how sick leave works in the UAE.

What to check

• Your contract and company handbook for carry-over and cash-in rules.
• Your leave balance before you resign, and that the payout uses your basic salary.
• Whether your employer is mainland, free zone or government.

For general information, not legal advice. Details can change; check with MoHRE or u.ae before relying on them.