Sick leave in UAE private-sector jobs comes with clear legal rules, and most employees know only part of them. How many days you get, which days your employer pays, what happens during probation and when an employer can end your contract after a long illness all come straight from federal law.
This guide explains sick leave under Article 31 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, the law that covers most private-sector workers, with a worked pay example and a practical checklist.
Sick leave in UAE: the quick answer
| Rule | What the law says |
|---|---|
| Total sick leave | Up to 90 days a year, taken in one block or in parts |
| Days 1–15 | Full pay |
| Days 16–45 | Half pay |
| Days 46–90 | Unpaid |
| During probation | No paid sick leave; your employer may give unpaid sick leave |
| Notice to employer | Within 3 business days, with a medical report |
| Illness caused by your own misconduct | Unpaid |
| After all 90 days | Your employer may end the contract if you cannot return, but must pay all your dues |
How many sick leave days you get in the UAE
Once you have finished probation, you can take up to 90 days of sick leave a year. The days can run in one continuous block or in separate periods. The law pays them in three stages:
- First 15 days: full pay
- Next 30 days: half pay
- Remaining 45 days: no pay
In other words, 90 days is the maximum period your employer must allow, not 90 days of full pay. Many employers offer more generous terms in their contracts or company policies. A better contract term applies on top of the legal minimum, so check your offer letter and HR policy as well as the law.
Sick leave pay: a worked example
Article 31 says “full pay” and “half pay” without a formula. As an illustration, suppose your monthly salary is AED 6,000 and your employer uses a 30-day month (AED 200 a day). If you take 20 days of sick leave in a year:
- Days 1–15 at full pay: 15 × AED 200 = AED 3,000
- Days 16–20 at half pay: 5 × AED 100 = AED 500
- Total paid for the 20 days: AED 3,500
Ask HR which daily rate it uses and whether it counts total salary or basic salary, then check your payslip against it. Your salary for sick leave should still arrive through the Wage Protection System on the usual date.
Sick leave during probation
This is the biggest gap in protection. During probation, you have no right to paid sick leave. Your employer may grant unpaid sick leave based on a medical report that states you need it, but the law does not require it to.
If you have a planned operation or a known condition, discuss it with HR before or early in probation. Our probation period guide covers your other rights during this stage.
How to report sick leave correctly
Article 31 sets two conditions. You must tell your employer, or its representative, about your illness within 3 business days, and you must give a medical report from the medical authority. In practice:
- Tell your manager straight away by email or message, so you have a written record.
- See a licensed doctor or clinic and ask for a sick leave certificate or medical report covering the dates.
- Send the certificate to HR within 3 business days.
- Ask whether you need attestation. Some employers want the local health authority to attest certificates, especially for longer absences or certificates from abroad.
- Keep copies of every certificate and message.
Staying silent is risky. A long unexplained absence can lead to dismissal under Article 44, and in some cases to an absence report. Our guide to absconding in UAE explains why staying in contact matters.
Can you take sick leave without a medical certificate?
The law requires a medical report for sick leave. Some employers accept a single day without one under their own policy, but that is a company choice, not a legal right. Without a certificate, your employer can treat the day as unpaid absence or deduct it from annual leave if you agree.
When sick leave is unpaid
Beyond probation and the final 45 days of the 90, Article 31 removes pay in one more case: when the illness results from the worker’s own misconduct, in situations set out in the Executive Regulation. Illness caused by a work injury falls under the separate work-injury rules in Article 37, not under this sick leave article.
Can your employer end your contract after sick leave?
Only in a narrow case. Article 31 lets the employer end your service after you have used up the full sick leave allowance and still cannot return to work. Even then, it must pay all your financial dues, including end-of-service gratuity.
An employer cannot treat a few days of certified sick leave as grounds for dismissal. If that happens, our termination of employment guide explains what your employer owes you, and our gratuity calculation guide shows how to check your end-of-service pay.
How sick leave fits with other leave
- Annual leave: sick leave is separate from your 30 days of annual leave. Sick days that fall inside a period of annual leave count as annual leave, unless your contract says otherwise. Our annual leave guide explains this rule.
- Maternity: illness caused by pregnancy or childbirth has its own extra leave. See our maternity and paternity leave guide.
- Government employees follow separate HR laws, so check the rules for your federal or local government employer.
What to do if your employer refuses sick leave or pay
First, send HR a written request that quotes Article 31 and attaches your medical certificate. If your employer still refuses the paid sick leave the law gives you, or deducts pay wrongly, file a complaint with MoHRE through its app, website or call centre on 600590000.
Sick leave in UAE: frequently asked questions
How many sick leave days are allowed per year in UAE?
Up to 90 days a year after probation: 15 days on full pay, 30 days on half pay and 45 days unpaid.
Is sick leave paid during probation in UAE?
No. During probation you have no right to paid sick leave. Your employer may grant unpaid sick leave if a medical report shows you need it.
How many days do I have to submit a sick leave certificate?
You must tell your employer about your illness within 3 business days and submit a medical report from the medical authority.
Does sick leave reduce my annual leave?
No. Sick leave and annual leave are separate allowances. Sick days that fall during annual leave count as annual leave unless your contract says otherwise.
Can I be fired for taking sick leave in UAE?
Your employer can end your contract only after you have used the full sick leave allowance and still cannot return to work, and it must pay all your dues.
Look after your health and your rights
Sick leave in UAE follows a simple pattern: 15 days full pay, 30 days half pay, 45 days unpaid, and nothing paid during probation. Report your illness within 3 business days with a medical report, keep copies, and check your payslip.
Comparing offers? Sick leave terms are worth asking about at the offer stage. Browse the latest UAE jobs or submit your CV.
This guide summarises Article 31 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 as checked in October 2026. It is general information, not legal or medical advice. For your own situation, contact MoHRE or a qualified UAE employment lawyer.
