UAE Sick Leave: Pay Entitlement at a Glance
| Days | Pay | What This Means |
|---|---|---|
| Days 1 to 15 | Full pay (100%) | Full salary. No deductions. |
| Days 16 to 45 | Half pay (50%) | Half your salary for this period. |
| Days 46 to 90 | Unpaid (0%) | Job protection remains. No salary. |
Source: Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Article 31. This applies after probation is complete. Probation period: see below.
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. 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. If you reach the end of the year with unused sick leave, that time is forfeited. You take sick leave only when you are genuinely ill.
Can Your Employer Fire You While You Are on Sick Leave?
This is one of the most searched questions about UAE sick leave, and the answer is clear.
An employer cannot dismiss you, or even issue a termination notice, while you are on valid, certified sick leave. Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 explicitly prohibits termination during sick leave. Any employment contract clause that tries to override this protection is legally void and unenforceable.
There is one exception. If you exhaust all 90 days of your sick leave entitlement and remain unable to return to work, your employer may terminate your contract at that point. This is the only lawful basis for dismissal related to illness. In this case, you are still entitled to:
- End-of-service gratuity calculated on your full years of service.
- Payment for any unused annual leave.
- Payment for any accrued allowances in your contract.
If your employer dismisses you while you are on valid sick leave (before the 90 days are exhausted), that is arbitrary dismissal under UAE law. File a complaint with MOHRE immediately. You are entitled to compensation in addition to all your end-of-service benefits.
Sick Leave During Probation: What the Law Says
During the probationary period (which cannot exceed six months under Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021), your sick leave entitlement is different.
You are not entitled to paid sick leave during probation. The law allows your employer to grant unpaid sick leave at their discretion, but it is not a legal obligation. Many employers will still pay, but they are not required to.
What this means in practice:
- If you fall ill during probation, notify your employer within three business days and provide a medical certificate.
- Your employer may grant unpaid leave, or may count the absence as an unauthorised absence.
- In some cases, excessive sick absence during probation can be grounds for ending the probation period early.
- There is no legal prohibition on terminating a probation-period employee who is ill, as the full 90-day protection does not apply during this window.
Once your probation is complete and you move to a permanent contract, the full three-tier entitlement (15/30/45 days) applies immediately.
What Counts as Valid Proof? Medical Certificate Rules
For sick leave to be legally recognised under Article 31 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, you must meet two requirements:
1. Notify your employer within three business days of becoming ill. This should be in writing (email or message with a timestamp). Inform your line manager and HR. Calling in verbally is common practice but written confirmation protects you.
2. Submit a medical certificate issued by a medical authority approved by the UAE government. The certificate must be from a licensed UAE clinic, hospital, or government health centre. A prescription from a non-UAE or online doctor does not meet this standard.
The certificate must state:
- The date of examination.
- The recommended rest period (number of days unfit for work).
- The stamp and signature of the licensed medical practitioner.
You are not required to disclose your diagnosis to your employer. The certificate can state simply “unfit for work” without naming the condition. Medical privacy is protected under UAE law.
For absences of one or two days, many employers waive the certificate requirement as a matter of HR policy. But the law does not require this waiver. To be safe, obtain a certificate for any absence longer than one working day.
Forging a medical certificate is grounds for immediate termination under UAE law. Do not do this.
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 immediately.
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.
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 (days 16 to 45) | 50% of salary | Half pay. Calculated across the full contract year. |
| Tier 3 | Remaining 45 days (days 46 to 90) | 0% (unpaid) | No pay, but job protection remains (unless you exceed 90 days in a year) |
The 90 days applies per contract year, not per calendar year. The tiers are cumulative. If you take 10 days this month and 8 days next month, you have used 18 of your 90 days: 15 at full pay (Tier 1) and 3 at half pay (Tier 2).
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. Terminating an employee during sick leave (before the 90 days are exhausted) is arbitrary dismissal and is legally actionable.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you be fired for being sick in the UAE?
An employer cannot dismiss you or issue a termination notice while you are on valid, certified sick leave. This protection is guaranteed under Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021. The only exception is if you have exhausted all 90 days of your annual sick leave entitlement and still cannot return to work, at which point your employer may lawfully terminate the contract. In that case, you are still entitled to full end-of-service gratuity and any unused annual leave payment. If your employer fires you during valid sick leave before your 90 days are exhausted, that is arbitrary dismissal. File a MOHRE complaint immediately.
Do you get paid during sick leave in the UAE?
Yes, for the first 45 days. The first 15 days are paid at 100% of your salary. Days 16 to 45 are paid at 50% (half pay). Days 46 to 90 are unpaid, but you retain job protection during this period. This three-tier structure applies to all private sector employees after they complete their probation period, under Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021. During probation, paid sick leave is at your employer’s discretion, not a legal requirement.
How many sick days are you entitled to in the UAE?
You are entitled to up to 90 days of sick leave per contract year after completing your probation period. The breakdown is: Days 1 to 15 at full pay, Days 16 to 45 at half pay, and Days 46 to 90 unpaid. You cannot carry unused sick leave forward to the next year. Sick leave is separate from your annual leave entitlement and does not reduce it.
Can you take sick leave during probation in the UAE?
The law does not guarantee paid sick leave during probation. Your employer may grant unpaid sick leave at their discretion, but is not legally required to pay you during this period. Some employers extend paid sick leave as a matter of policy during probation, but check your contract or HR policy to confirm. Frequent absences during probation can be used as grounds to end probation early. The full three-tier entitlement (15/30/45 days) applies only after probation is successfully completed.
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 dismiss you during valid sick leave. 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). Article 31 on sick leave entitlements.
- MOHRE (Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation). Sick Leave Guidelines. Retrieved 2025.
- u.ae (Official UAE Government Portal). Sick Leave Information. Retrieved 2025.
- Al Ramsy Advocates. Sick Leave In UAE Labour Law: Pay (15/30/45), and Rules. 2024.
