Private sector employees in Kuwait are entitled to 30 working days of paid annual leave after completing one continuous year of service, according to Article 70 of the Kuwait Labor Law. The entitlement to annual leave for the first year begins after at least nine months of service with the employer. Workers are also entitled to leave for a fraction of the year in proportion to the period spent in actual service, even within the first year of service. It's worth noting that official holidays and sick leaves are not counted as part of the annual leave entitlement.

Accumulation of Unused Leave

Employees have the ability to accumulate unused annual leave, but the accumulated duration should generally not exceed two years. Any unused leave must be paid out by the employer upon termination of employment.

Coordination of Leave Scheduling

The timing of annual leave should be determined through coordination between employers and employees, taking into account operational needs.

Kuwait celebrates several public holidays that combine civic and religious observances. The most important ones include:

New Year's Day (January 1st)

This day celebrates the beginning of the Gregorian Calendar year.

National Day (February 25th)

This day commemorates Kuwait's independence from the United Kingdom in 1961.

Liberation Day (February 26th)

This day marks the liberation of Kuwait from Iraqi occupation in 1991.

Kuwait also places significant importance on Islamic holidays, with dates determined by the lunar Hijri calendar. Key celebrations include:

Isra and Mi'raj (Date varies)

This day commemorates the Prophet Muhammad's miraculous Night Journey and ascension to heaven.

Eid al-Fitr (Dates vary)

A joyous festival marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. Typically observed over three days.

Eid al-Adha (Dates vary)

The "Feast of the Sacrifice," a major Islamic holiday commemorating Ibrahim's (Abraham's) willingness to sacrifice his son. Observed over four days.

Islamic New Year (Date varies)

This day marks the beginning of the new year according to the Hijri calendar.

Prophet Muhammad's Birthday (Date varies)

This day commemorates the birth of the Prophet Muhammad.

Please note that the exact dates of Islamic holidays may vary slightly due to the lunar calendar system. For up-to-date information and specific yearly dates for upcoming holidays in Kuwait, please refer to reliable resources.

Employees are entitled to various types of leave in accordance with their employment contracts and the labor laws of their respective countries. These include annual leave, sick leave, maternity leave, Hajj leave, and other types of leave such as compassionate/bereavement leave, marriage leave, and study leave.

Annual Leave

Employees are entitled to 30 working days of paid annual leave after completing one continuous year of service. Employees may accumulate unused annual leave, but the total accumulated leave cannot exceed two years. For the first year of service, employees are entitled to pro-rata leave based on their length of service.

Sick Leave

Employees are entitled to paid sick leave as follows:

• First 15 days: Full pay
• Next 10 days: 75% of pay
• Next 10 days: 50% of pay
• Next 10 days: 25% of pay
• Next 30 days: No pay

A valid medical certificate is required to claim sick leave.

Maternity Leave

Female employees are entitled to 70 calendar days of paid maternity leave, including 30 days before the expected due date and 40 days after childbirth.

Hajj Leave

Muslim employees are entitled to a one-time paid Hajj leave of 21 days during their employment, provided they have completed two continuous years of service.

Other Types of Leave

Employees may be granted up to 3 days of paid leave in case of the death of an immediate family member. This is at the employer's discretion, but it is common practice. Employees are also entitled to 3 days of paid leave for their marriage. This is also at the employer's discretion. Employees may be eligible for study leave for examinations or to pursue further education, subject to their employer's approval.