How much sick leave do you get in the UAE?

After your probation, up to 90 days of sick leave a year: the first 15 days on full pay, the next 30 on half pay, and the rest unpaid (Article 31 of the UAE Labour Law).

The 90 days, broken down

The days can be continuous or spread through the year (Art. 31(3)).

What you have to do

Tell your employer, or whoever represents it, within three working days, and give a medical report from a medical entity (Art. 31(1)).

During probation

There is no paid sick leave during probation. Your employer may give you unpaid sick leave on the strength of a medical report saying you need it (Art. 31(2)). The probation rules are in probation period in the UAE.

When sick pay is not due

If the illness resulted from your own misconduct, in the cases the Implementing Regulation defines, the leave is unpaid (Art. 31(4)). An injury at work is a separate matter under Article 37, not sick leave.

After the 90 days

If you still cannot return to work when the sick leave is used up, your employer may end your service, but you receive all your financial entitlements under the law (Art. 31(5)), including your gratuity if you have a year’s service. The end-of-service gratuity calculator works it out.

These rules cover the UAE private sector. They do not apply to federal and local government employees, the armed forces, police and security services, or domestic workers (Article 3). Your contract can give you more than the law, never less.

Checked against the text of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 on 24 September 2026. The 2024 amendment replaced Articles 54 and 60 only; none of the articles cited here. General information, not legal advice. See our editorial policy.