UAE Labour Law: Essential Guide to 8 Types of Employee Leave, Including Annual, Sick, and Maternity

Dubai: Understanding leave entitlements is crucial for employees in the UAE’s private sector, particularly for those who have recently commenced their roles. The UAE Labour Law, specifically Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, outlines eight distinct types of leave that employees can apply for, along with the eligibility criteria for each category.

1. Annual Leave

Private sector employees are entitled to two days of leave for each month of service after completing six months in their position. Upon reaching one year of service, employees qualify for a fully paid annual leave of 30 days, as specified in Article 29 of the UAE Labour Law. If an employee’s service ends before they have utilized their annual leave balance, they are still entitled to leave for the portion of the last year worked.

2. Maternity Leave

Article 30 of the UAE Labour Law details the maternity leave provisions for female employees in the private sector. Female workers are entitled to 60 days of maternity leave, broken down as follows:

• 45 days of fully paid leave
• 15 days of half-paid leave

Employees can submit their application for maternity leave up to 30 days before the expected delivery date. In certain circumstances, maternity leave may be extended. For instance, if a female employee experiences complications due to pregnancy or childbirth, she may apply for an additional 45 days of unpaid leave, supported by a medical certificate.

If a newborn has health issues or disabilities, the employee can take up to 30 days of fully paid leave, along with an additional 30 days of unpaid leave, contingent upon medical verification. Upon returning to work, female employees are entitled to one or two breaks each day for nursing, with a total duration not exceeding one hour.

3. Bereavement Leave

In the unfortunate event of a family member’s death, employees are entitled to paid bereavement leave as follows:

• 5 days for the death of a spouse
• 3 days for the death of a parent, child, sibling, grandchild, or grandparent

The leave entitlement begins from the date of death.

4. Parental Leave

New parents, regardless of gender, are eligible for five working days of parental leave. This leave can be taken any time from the birth of the child up to six months later, according to Article 32 (1) of the UAE Labour Law.

5. Study Leave

Employees pursuing studies at accredited educational institutions in the UAE are entitled to 10 days of paid leave per year for examination purposes. However, this leave is only available after completing two years of service with their employer.

6. Hajj and Umrah Leave

As per the UAE Labour Law, employees may be granted special leave to perform Hajj, subject to specific conditions:

• The leave may not exceed 30 days.
• It is granted only once during the employee’s tenure with the same employer.

For Umrah, the Labour Law does not specify provisions. Employers have the discretion to approve such leave, deduct it from the employee’s annual leave balance, or classify it as unpaid leave.

7. Leave to Perform National Service

Emiratis employed in the private sector are entitled to a paid sabbatical leave to fulfill national service obligations.

8. Sick Leave

Once the probation period is completed, employees are entitled to a maximum of 90 days of sick leave per year, as outlined in Article 31 of the UAE Labour Law. Sick leave can be taken continuously or intermittently, with the following pay structure:

• Full pay for the first 15 days
• Half pay for the next 30 days
• No pay for the remaining 45 days

While paid sick leave is not available during the probationary period, employers may grant unpaid sick leave based on a medical report from a recognized medical authority.

For further details on employee leave entitlements, refer to the comprehensive guide available at www.emirates247.com.

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Published on 2026-07-14 17:42:00 • By FAME Delivered News Desk