Under Article 29 UAE Labor Law, private sector companies must offer paid time off based on an employee’s service duration. Employees who have worked for the same company for a year straight have the right to get thirty days of yearly leave. The law mandates that workers who have worked for more than six months but less than a year must have two days off per month.
HR managers must comply with the rules. They must inform employees about their leave schedules at least a month in advance. Workers are urged to spend leave days during the year, although they can carry over or encash them if both parties agree.
These annual leave UAE 2025 rules ensure that workers stay healthy while keeping the business operating smoothly through structured schedules.
What Does UAE Labor Law Article 29 Mean?
Article 29 of the UAE Labor Law sets out the rules for private-sector employees’ annual leave. It declares that workers who have worked for a year are eligible for thirty days of fully compensated time off each year.
For those employed for more than six months but less than a year, the entitlement is two days per month. This law, part of Federal Decree Law 33 of 2021, grants employers the right to determine the start date of leave in accordance with work requirements, while ensuring employees are notified at least one month in advance.
Governing Legislation-UAE Federal Decree Law
Federal Decree Law 33 of 2021 is the main legislation that governs UAE jobs in the private sector. It officially substituted Federal Law 8, which had been in effect for a long time. Cabinet Resolution 1 adds to this legislative foundation by giving more precise executive rules.
Article 29 UAE Labor Law Annual Leave Rules
Article 29 of the labor law specifies that all private sector employees must get annual leave entitlement in the UAE. Staff members must inform their employer at least a month in advance when they plan to take time off.
Yearly Leaves throughout the Probationary Period
Employers may grant paid time off to employees throughout the probation period. The employee is paid for unused leave days if the contract terminates.
Workers Worked for One Year
Article 29 declares that workers who finish one full year of service will get an annual leave in the UAE, 30 days. This calculation covers weekends, which is a major shift from past UAE labor laws.
Part-Time Workers
Part-time workers get annual leave based on how many hours they really work. Executive regulations set the exact duration and procedures for calculating it. However, job contracts must clearly state all these terms.
Workers Worked for Six Months or Less Than One Year
The regulation indicates that workers who have been working for more than six months but less than a year must get two days of paid leave for every month they work.
Basic Leave Categories in the UAE According to Labor Law
Under the UAE labor law leave types, these are the most crucial leave categories.
- After their probation period, employees can take ninety days off each year for sick leave in the UAE. Time off for illness is paid in full for the first fifteen days and half for the next thirty days.
- Parents can take five days off work for parental leave. You can take between three and five days off for the death of a family member. It relies on the relationship with the person. Employees with two years of service can take ten days off for educational leave.
- Pregnant women get sixty days of maternity leave in the UAE. Workers in all Emirates, including Dubai, get full compensation for the first forty-five days and half pay for the next fifteen days.
Unused Leave: Carry-Forward and Leave Encashment
According to the law, employees can either carry forward annual leave in the UAE or cash in all unused annual leave, depending on their primary income.
- The Two-Year Limit on Withholding Time Off: Employers can’t prohibit employees from taking their earned yearly leave for more than two years in a row. Employees have the option to carry over leave days or get paid for unused yearly leave in the UAE.
- The Law of 50 percent Carry-Forward: Cabinet Resolution No. 1 clarifies that workers can carry over half of their yearly leave with their employer’s permission or get a financial allowance.
- Cash Payment on Resignation or Dismissal: If you quit a job, you may get unused annual leave UAE encashment. This last payment is based exclusively on the basic income and includes any fractions of a year.
Calculating the Annual Leave Salary in the UAE
- For leave salary calculation, officials utilize this leave salary formula in the UAE: Divide the monthly basic salary by 30 to find the daily rate, then multiply by leave days.
- The UAE leave salary calculation is based only on the initial wage at the time of eligibility. But contracts or rules may include allowances if they are more beneficial for the employee.
Employer Obligations According to Article 29 of the UAE Labor Law
- Public Holidays and Leave Arrangements: According to MOHRE’s annual leave rules, public holidays or national days off that fall during a yearly leave duration are counted as part of the time off, unless the job contract specifies these terms.
- Advance Schedules and Notifications: Under the UAE labor law, annual leave employer obligations are mandatory. At least a month before workers take time off. Companies must give them written notice of their leave dates.
- Fines on Labor law Violations: The changes made in labor laws raised the sanctions for breaking the law based on how many employees were affected. The MOHRE online platform lets workers report issues, while the WPS system ensures that salaries are paid on time.
File a Dispute with MOHRE For Entitled Leave
To start a UAE labor law dispute resolution, employees should file a lawsuit through the official MOHRE website. The time limit for filing a labor dispute is now two years after the end of employment, due to recent changes in the law. This window gives workers enough time to take legal action if they have incurred compensation or disagreements with leave entitlements.
The Court of First Instance is the final location to proceed for small claims. This move makes things more convenient by replacing the Court of Appeal for cases with smaller values. If dispute resolution through the MOHRE complaint annual leave doesn’t work, the issue goes to court for a final ruling on the leave salary dispute.
Conclusion
Understanding Article 29 of the UAE Labor Law is more than just a matter of counting vacation days—it is about ensuring a balanced, legally protected relationship between employers and employees. As the UAE continues to refine its private sector regulations in 2026, staying informed about your 30-day annual leave entitlement, sick leave tiers, and the nuances of leave encashment is essential for every professional.
A critical part of this evolving landscape is the Emiratisation Gateway. For UAE nationals, this platform serves as a vital bridge, not only for finding roles within the private sector but for ensuring that their employment terms—including annual leave and the newly adjusted minimum wage—align with the latest federal mandates.
FAQs
How is the annual leave figured out in the UAE?
To calculate the daily standard, the basic wage is divided by thirty. After that, you multiply this rate by the number of days of yearly leave you require.
Should my employer force me to revoke or acquire my yearly leave?
Employers can legally set up annual leave based on the specific business requirements. However, they do not have the right to force the workers to revoke their annual leave.
How many annual leave days can I get in the UAE?
After working for a year, employees get thirty paid days off. If you’ve been with the company for six months to a year, you earn two days off each month.
What happens to my unused vacation days if I quit?
When an employee quits, they can get paid for any unused time off. The fundamental wage at the end of the employment period is used to figure out this payment.
Do Free Zone workers have to adhere to Article 29 of the UAE Labor Law?
Article 29 applies to most Free Zones that don’t deal with financial matters.
May I take my yearly leave next year in the Emirates?
With your employer’s permission, you can carry forward half of your annual vacation leave to the next year. Employers cannot prevent anyone from taking leave for more than two years in a row.
Can I get paid time off while I’m on probation in the UAE?
If the employer allows, you can take paid time off during your probation period. The worker still has the right to pay for the rest of their leave if they don’t pass.
