Sick Leave in the UAE: Your Rights, Pay and Notice Requirements
Sick leave is an earned right, not a privilege. Yet most UAE employees underclaim what they are owed, either from confusion or from fear of consequences. The reality is simpler and fairer than most believe. You are entitled to 90 days of sick leave per year, divided into three tiers: 15 days at full pay, 30 days at half pay, and 45 days unpaid. This is a legal entitlement under Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021. Your employer cannot refuse it without cause. You do not owe an explanation for the first 15 days. But there are rules, and knowing them protects you.
The difference between employees who claim their sick leave and those who do not is knowledge. Inform yourself. Protect your health and your balance sheet.
Your Sick Leave Entitlement After Probation
15 days paid in full
30 days paid at 50% (half pay)
45 days unpaid
This is additional to your annual leave entitlement. Taking sick leave does not reduce your annual leave balance. You have two separate entitlements.
The 90 days is a maximum. You cannot bank unused sick days or carry them forward to the next year. They expire at the end of your contract year. This is by law, not by company policy. If you reach the end of the year with unused sick leave, that time is forfeited.
You are not required to take all 90 days. You take sick leave only when you are genuinely ill.
Probation Period: Limited Entitlement
During your probation period (typically three or six months, as stated in your contract), sick leave entitlements are restricted. According to MOHRE, your employer may grant unpaid sick leave during probation, but is not obligated to pay you for any sick leave taken.
Once your probation period ends and you transition to permanent employment, the full 90-day entitlement kicks in.
This is a critical transition point. If you fall ill during probation, confirm your entitlement in writing before taking leave. Some employers will pay even during probation, but the law does not require it.
Medical Certificate Requirements
For sick leave to be legally recognised, you must notify your employer within three business days and provide a medical certificate issued by a Medical Authority approved by the UAE government.
The certificate must state the date of diagnosis, the condition (you can request the doctor omit details if you prefer privacy), and the recommended rest period. An appointment at your employer’s occupational health clinic, if one exists, may be used. Otherwise, any private clinic or government hospital is acceptable.
For absences of one or two days, some employers may waive the medical certificate requirement, but they are not obligated to. To be safe, provide a certificate for any absence longer than one day.
Forging a medical certificate is grounds for termination. Do not do this.
When Your Employer Can Refuse Sick Leave
Your employer cannot refuse sick leave if you provide a valid medical certificate. However, they can refuse if:
- You do not provide a medical certificate when required (for absence beyond one or two days).
- The medical certificate is forged or fake.
- You take sick leave in a pattern that suggests abuse (for example, always on Fridays or always after payday). MOHRE may investigate patterns of suspicious illness.
- You are dismissed after exhausting your sick leave entitlement. Once you reach 90 days in a year, if you cannot return to work, your employer may terminate your contract and provide end-of-service benefits.
Beyond these narrow exceptions, sick leave cannot be refused.
Pay While on Sick Leave
| Tier | Days Per Year | Pay | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | First 15 days | 100% of salary | Full pay, no questions asked (with medical certificate) |
| Tier 2 | Next 30 days | 50% of salary | Half pay for days 16 through 45 |
| Tier 3 | Remaining 45 days | 0% (unpaid) | No pay, but job protection remains (unless you exceed 90 days in a year) |
If you are on a monthly salary, your employer should calculate this monthly. If you take 10 days of sick leave in one month, all 10 are paid in full (Tier 1). If you take 20 days, 15 are paid in full and 5 are paid at 50% (part of Tier 2). This is calculated across your contract year, not monthly.
Mental Health and Sick Leave
Mental health illness is treated the same as physical illness under UAE Labour Law. If you suffer from depression, anxiety, or burnout, a doctor can issue a medical certificate for sick leave. This leave is entitled to the same 15/30/45 payment structure.
You are not required to disclose the nature of your illness to your employer. The medical certificate can state only that you are unfit for work and need rest, without detailing the diagnosis.
Termination After Sick Leave
If you have taken 90 days of sick leave in your contract year and are still unable to work, your employer may terminate your contract. However, you are still entitled to end-of-service gratuity and other legal entitlements.
Your employer cannot terminate you simply for taking sick leave. The termination can only occur if you have exhausted your 90-day entitlement and cannot perform your duties.
If your employer terminates you on these grounds, you are owed:
- End-of-service gratuity (calculated on full years of service).
- Payment for any unused annual leave.
- Payment for accrued benefits (housing, transportation allowances if they are annual).
What to Do If Your Sick Leave Is Denied
Step 1: Check your contract. Confirm your entitlement is as described here (15/30/45 after probation).
Step 2: Request written explanation from your employer for the denial. Keep the response.
Step 3: If the denial is unjust, file a complaint with MOHRE’s Labour Dispute Resolution Centre. Bring your contract, medical certificate, and employer’s denial letter as evidence.
Step 4: MOHRE will investigate and order your employer to grant the leave and backpay if the denial was unlawful.
FAQ
A: No. Sick leave requires a valid medical certificate for any absence beyond one or two days, regardless of the day of the week. Providing a certificate on a Friday is the same as on a Tuesday.
A: No. Unused sick leave expires at the end of your contract year. You cannot carry it forward or be paid for unused days (unlike annual leave in some cases).
A: Confirm your entitlement with HR before taking leave. During probation, your employer is not obligated to pay for sick leave, though many do. Once probation ends, the 15/30/45 entitlement applies.
A: Yes. Sick leave is considered employment time for the purpose of calculating end-of-service gratuity. Time spent on sick leave does not reduce your gratuity entitlement.
A: No. Your employer can ask for a medical certificate but cannot ask you to disclose the diagnosis. Medical privacy is protected. The certificate can state simply “unfit for work” without naming the condition.
Summary
Sick leave is earned, not begged for. You are entitled to 15 days paid in full, 30 days at half pay, and 45 days unpaid per contract year, after probation. Provide a medical certificate and notify your employer within three business days. Your employer cannot refuse valid sick leave without lawful cause. Claim what you are owed.
For broader context on your employment rights, see the UAE Labour Law Quick Answers. For details on calculating your gratuity entitlement when your employment ends, use the Gratuity Calculator UAE.
Sources
- Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 Concerning Regulating Labour Relations (UAE Labour Law). Articles on sick leave entitlements.
- MOHRE (Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation). Sick Leave Guidelines. Retrieved 2025.
- Gulf News. Sick Leave in the UAE: Rights, Rules, and Key Requirements. 2024.
- Al Ramsy Advocates. Sick Leave In UAE Labour Law: Pay (15/30/45), and Rules. 2024.
- WebHR. Sick Leave Dubai UAE: Leave Policy and Medical Certificate. 2024.
