UAE Annual Leave Rules 2026: 30 Days, Leave Salary and Carry Forward

The UAE annual leave rules give private sector employees 30 days of paid annual leave for every full year of service. If you have worked more than six months but less than a year, you earn 2 days of leave for each month. Unused leave is paid in cash when you leave the job, based on your basic salary. These rules come from Article 29 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Article 19 of its Executive Regulation and the UAE Government portal.

This guide explains your annual leave entitlement, how leave days are counted, carry forward and leave encashment, and how to estimate your annual leave salary.

UAE Annual Leave Rules at a Glance

Rule	What applies
Full year of service	30 days paid annual leave
More than 6 months, less than 1 year	2 days for each month
Part time employees	In proportion to hours worked, at least 5 working days a year
Rest days and public holidays inside leave	Count as leave days, unless your contract is more favourable
Carry forward	Up to half of the annual leave, with employer approval
Notice of leave dates	At least one month from the employer
Unused leave when you leave	Paid in cash on basic salary

Latest Updates (October 2026)

• Checked 20 October 2026: Article 29 of the labour law has not been amended. The 2022 amendment changed contract duration only.
• The UAE Government portal confirms that public holidays falling inside annual leave count as leave days, and that unused leave is paid on basic salary.
• Updated 30 October 2026: the links to the UAE Government portal now point to its current leave page, and the Hajj and Umrah wording was corrected to match it.

Annual Leave Entitlement Under UAE Labour Law

Your annual leave entitlement depends on how long you have worked for your employer.

Length of service	Annual leave entitlement	Example
Up to 6 months	The law sets no monthly accrual for this period. Your employer may still let you take leave during probation.	Depends on employer
More than 6 months, less than 1 year	2 days for each month worked	9 months = 18 days
1 year or more	30 days for each year of service	Full year = 30 days
Final part year before leaving	Leave for the fraction of the year worked	Paid if not taken

Part time employees earn leave in line with the hours in their contract. Article 18 of the Executive Regulation sets a minimum of five working days a year, and part days count as full days.

These are minimums. Your contract can give you more annual leave, but never less. Employees in the DIFC and ADGM follow separate employment laws, so check the rules of your free zone.

Do Weekends and Public Holidays Count as Annual Leave in the UAE?

Yes. Annual leave in the UAE is counted in calendar days. Weekly rest days that fall within your leave count as part of it. Public holidays set by law or by agreement also count if they fall within your annual leave, unless your contract or company rules give you a better arrangement. This is the rule in Article 29 and on the UAE Government portal.

So a public holiday during your annual leave does not automatically add an extra day. Check your contract and company leave policy before you work out your return date.

Working on a public holiday is a separate matter. Under Article 28, if your employer asks you to work on an official holiday, you get another rest day for each day worked, or your normal pay plus at least 50 percent of your basic wage for that day. Our overtime calculator shows the maths. For next year’s dates, see the UAE public holidays 2027 list.

Who Decides When You Take Annual Leave?

Your employer sets the leave dates based on work needs. It can agree them with you or rotate leave among staff. Either way, the employer must tell you the date of your leave at least one month in advance.

Leave should be used in the year it is earned. Your employer cannot stop you from taking your earned leave for more than two years in a row, unless you chose to carry it forward or take cash for it under company rules.

How to Apply for Annual Leave

1. Check your leave balance on your HR system or payslip.
2. Read your contract and company leave policy for notice rules.
3. Submit a written leave request to your manager or HR.
4. Keep the written approval, with the exact dates.

Can You Carry Forward or Cash In Annual Leave in the UAE?

You have the right to use your leave in the year it is earned. Carry forward and cash in lieu are options, not automatic rights. They depend on your employer’s approval and company rules.

• Carry forward: under Article 19 of the Executive Regulation, you can move up to half of your annual leave into the next year, with your employer’s approval.
• Cash instead of leave during employment: you can agree with your employer to receive the cash value of leave instead. The regulation bases it on the wage you earn when the leave falls due.
• Unused leave when you leave the job: paid in cash based on your basic salary.

The law defines basic wage as the contract salary without allowances, and wage as basic salary plus cash allowances. Our guide to basic salary explains why this split changes your payout.

Annual Leave Salary Calculation in the UAE

During annual leave, you are paid your wage for the leave days. A different rule applies to unused leave paid out when your job ends. That payout is calculated on basic salary under clause 9 of Article 29 and Article 19 of the Executive Regulation, so allowances are not included.

For a simple estimate of your unused leave payout, divide your monthly basic salary by 30 and multiply the result by your unused leave days. Check the final figure against your contract, the law and your payroll records.

Step	Example
Monthly basic salary	AED 6,000 (total salary AED 10,000)
Daily basic salary (divide by 30)	AED 200
Unused leave days	18
Estimated payout	18 x AED 200 = AED 3,600

This is an illustration. Unused leave is one line in your final dues, which also include your gratuity. See our final settlement guide for the full picture.

Annual Leave During Probation

Your employer may let you take leave from your balance during probation. If you then do not pass probation, you keep the right to be paid for any leave balance you had not used.

Annual Leave When You Resign or Are Terminated

If your job ends before you use your leave, you must be paid for all leave days you are owed, including leave for the part of the final year you worked. This applies whether you resign or are terminated. Article 53 says your dues must be paid within 14 days of the contract ending.

If either side ends the contract while you are on annual leave, Article 35 says the notice period starts the day after your leave was due to end, unless you both agree otherwise. Read our notice period guide before you resign during a holiday.

Other Types of Leave in the UAE

Leave type	Entitlement	Legal basis
Maternity leave	60 days: 45 on full pay, 15 on half pay	Article 30
Parental leave	5 working days within 6 months of the birth	Article 32
Mourning leave	5 days for a spouse, 3 days for a parent, child, sibling, grandchild or grandparent	Article 32
Study leave	Up to 10 working days a year for exams, after 2 years of service, if you are enrolled at an accredited educational institution	Article 32 and Regulation Article 21
Sick leave	Up to 90 days a year after probation: 15 on full pay, 30 on half pay, the rest unpaid	Article 31

Annual, mourning, parental and unpaid leave can be combined under Article 21 of the Executive Regulation. Hajj leave is unpaid special leave of up to 30 days, which can be taken only once with the same employer, according to the UAE Government portal. The law has no specific rule for Umrah leave, so your employer decides whether to approve it, deduct it from your annual leave or treat it as unpaid. For new mothers, see our maternity leave guide.

What to Do If Your Employer Refuses Your Annual Leave

1. Ask HR in writing for your leave balance and the reason for the refusal.
2. Check your contract and company rules. They can give more than the law but not less.
3. If the issue is not solved, file a complaint through the MOHRE app, website or call centre on 600 590000.

Common Mistakes With UAE Annual Leave Rules

• Assuming weekends and public holidays inside your leave are extra days off. They count as leave unless your contract says otherwise.
• Expecting allowances in the payout for unused leave. That payout uses basic salary.
• Carrying forward all your leave. The regulation allows up to half, with approval.
• Booking flights before the employer confirms your dates.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the UAE annual leave rules in 2026?

Private sector employees get 30 days of paid annual leave for each full year of service, and 2 days a month after six months. Up to half can be carried forward with approval, and unused leave is paid on basic salary when you leave.

How many days of annual leave do you get in the UAE?

30 calendar days for each full year of service. Between six months and one year, you earn 2 days for each month.

Is annual leave salary paid on basic or full salary in the UAE?

You are paid your wage while on leave. Unused leave paid out when your job ends is calculated on basic salary.

Do public holidays count as annual leave in the UAE?

Yes. Public holidays and rest days that fall inside your annual leave count as leave days, unless your contract or company rules are more favourable.

Can I carry forward annual leave to next year in the UAE?

Yes, up to half of your annual leave, with your employer’s approval and under company rules.

Can my employer refuse my annual leave?

Your employer decides the dates, but it cannot stop you from taking earned leave for more than two years unless you carried it forward or took cash for it.

Do I get annual leave during probation?

Your employer may allow leave from your balance during probation. If you do not pass probation, you are paid for any unused balance.

References

• Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations
• Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022, Executive Regulation of the Labour Law
• UAE Government portal, Annual leave in the private sector