Holiday leave
In the UAE, employees who have completed a year of continuous service are entitled to 30 calendar days of paid vacation leave annually. For those with less than a year of service but more than six months, leave entitlement is calculated on a pro-rata basis, offering two days per month worked.
Continuous Service
Vacation leave entitlement is dependent on uninterrupted employment with the same employer. This implies that the employee must have been working continuously for the employer without any significant breaks in service.
Unused Leave
Employees are typically allowed to carry forward a portion of their unused leave to the subsequent year. However, the accumulated leave cannot exceed half of the year's entitlement in most instances. This means that if an employee does not use all of their vacation leave in a given year, they can carry some of it forward to the next year, but the total amount of leave carried forward cannot be more than half of the total leave entitlement for that year.
Scheduling
Employers often have a significant amount of input in determining vacation schedules. This is done within the parameters set out by the labor law, which provides guidelines on how vacation leave should be scheduled and taken.
Public holidays
In the United Arab Emirates, there are several public holidays celebrated throughout the year. These holidays can be categorized into national and religious holidays.
National Holidays
The UAE celebrates three main national holidays:
- New Year's Day: This is celebrated on January 1st every year.
- Commemoration Day (Martyr's Day): The date for this holiday is typically announced close to the event, but it is often observed on November 30th.
- National Day: This holiday is celebrated for two days, on December 2nd and 3rd.
Religious Holidays
The UAE also observes Islamic holidays, which follow the lunar Hijri calendar:
- Eid al-Fitr: This holiday marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting. The dates vary each year, but it is typically a 2-3 day celebration.
- Arafat Day & Eid al-Adha: These are important Islamic holidays with varying dates, often celebrated over 3-4 days.
- Hijri New Year (Islamic New Year): The date for this holiday varies each year.
- Prophet Muhammad's Birthday: The date for this holiday also varies each year.
Important Notes
There are a few important things to note about public holidays in the UAE:
- Private and Public Sector: Some holidays might be observed on slightly different dates in the private sector compared to the public sector.
- Date Variation: The specific dates for religious holidays change each year since they follow the Islamic lunar calendar. It's best to check closer to the time, especially for travel planning.
Types of leave
Employees in the UAE have access to various types of leave, each with its own set of entitlements and legal references.
Annual Leave (Vacation Leave)
Employees who have completed one year of service are entitled to 30 calendar days of paid annual leave. Those with less than a year of service are entitled to 2 days of leave per month worked. This is in accordance with the UAE Federal Labour Law, Article 75.
Sick Leave
After completing three months of continuous service, employees are entitled to paid sick leave. The duration is as follows:
- First 15 days: Full pay
- Next 30 days: Half pay
- Beyond 45 Days: Unpaid
This is as per the UAE Federal Labour Law, Article 81.
Maternity Leave
Female employees are entitled to 45 days of paid maternity leave, including time both before and after birth. This is in line with the UAE Federal Labour Law, Article 30.
Other Notable Leave Types
Hajj Leave
Muslim employees who have completed five years of continuous service are entitled to a special one-time paid leave of 30 days to perform the Hajj pilgrimage.
Paternity Leave
Male employees may be entitled to a short period of paid paternity leave upon the birth of their child, usually 3-5 days, depending on company policy.
Study Leave
This may be granted for employees pursuing further education or training, subject to company policies.
Important Considerations
Company Policies
Some companies may offer enhanced leave provisions, exceeding the minimums set out by law.
Special Circumstances
The Labor Law allows for leave under special circumstances (e.g., marriage or a death in the family), but those provisions may vary by employer.