UAE Annual Leave: How Many Vacation Days Are You Entitled To?

June 30, 2026 · 1 min read · Employment & Gratuity

Annual leave in the UAE is generous by international standards, but the accrual rules change depending on how long you've worked — here's how to know exactly how many days you've earned.

Check your accrued leave days

Enter your start date to see how many vacation days you've earned.

Use the tool

The core entitlement

Under UAE Labour Law, once you've completed 1 year of service, you're entitled to 30 calendar days of paid annual leave per year.

Before your first year

If you've worked between 6 months and 1 year, you accrue leave at a rate of 2 days per month. Under 6 months of service, you're not yet entitled to annual leave.

What happens to unused leave

Unused annual leave doesn't just disappear — when your employment ends, you're generally entitled to be paid out for any accrued but untaken leave days, calculated at your basic salary rate (plus applicable allowances, per your contract terms).

Frequently asked questions

Are UAE public holidays counted as part of annual leave?

No — official public holidays are separate from your 30-day annual leave entitlement.

Can my employer force me to take leave at a specific time?

Employers can generally schedule the timing of leave based on business needs, but must provide reasonable notice as set out in the law and your contract.