UAE Annual Leave, Sick Leave and Overtime for Pakistani Workers: 30 Days, 90 Days and 25% Extra
UAE labour law for Pakistani workers: 30 days paid annual leave, 90 days sick leave, overtime at 25% or 50% at night, a 2 hour daily cap and Hajj leave rules.
A private sector worker in the UAE gets 30 days of fully paid annual leave after one year, up to 90 days of sick leave a year (15 full pay, 30 half pay, 45 unpaid), and overtime at basic pay plus 25 per cent, or plus 50 per cent between 10 pm and 4 am. Normal hours are 8 a day or 48 a week, and overtime may not go past 2 extra hours a day. These rules come from the UAE Labour Law, Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021.
We read every figure here on the UAE government portal, u.ae, on 9 November 2026: its pages on types of leave (updated 14 October 2026) and on working hours and overtime (updated 12 August 2026). They apply to private sector employees. Domestic workers have a separate law, and government staff have their own rules.
UAE annual leave is 30 days after one year
You earn 30 days of fully paid annual leave once you finish one year of service. If you have worked more than six months but less than a year, you get 2 days for each month worked.
The employer can set the dates to suit the work, in agreement with you, but must tell you at least one month before. Public holidays that fall inside your annual leave count as part of the leave, unless your contract gives better terms.
| Service | Annual leave |
|---|---|
| Less than 6 months | No set entitlement listed |
| 6 to 12 months | 2 days for each month worked |
| One year or more | 30 days, fully paid |
| Contract ends before leave is used | Paid for unused days, on basic salary |
Unused leave can be carried to the next year only with the employer's consent. The employer may not stop you using your accrued leave for more than two years in a row, unless you chose to carry it over or take cash for it. When you leave the job, you are paid for every unused day, on basic salary.
UAE sick leave is 90 days a year, on a sliding scale
After probation, you can take up to 90 days of sick leave in a year, in one stretch or in parts. The pay steps down:
- full pay for the first 15 days
- half pay for the next 30 days
- no pay for the remaining 45 days
During probation there is no paid sick leave. The employer may still allow unpaid sick leave on a medical report. You must tell the employer within three days that you are sick and give a medical report, under Article 31 of the law.
There is one strong protection here. The employer may not dismiss you or serve a termination notice while you are on sick leave. Only after all 90 days are used, and you still cannot return, may the employer end the contract, and you keep your end of service benefits. Sick leave is not paid if the illness came from your own misconduct, such as alcohol or drugs, or from breaking safety rules you were told about. An injury at work follows separate rules, and you claim UAE work injury compensation under those instead.
UAE working hours are 8 a day, overtime pays 25 per cent extra
Article 17 sets normal hours at 8 a day or 48 a week. Some sectors can have different hours under the regulations. Time spent travelling from home to work does not count, except for some groups.
Ramadan is different. The u.ae page says: "During the holy month of Ramadan, working hours are reduced by 2 hours, every day." So a normal 8 hour day becomes 6 hours during Ramadan.
| Rule | What u.ae says |
|---|---|
| Normal hours | 8 a day or 48 a week |
| Ramadan hours | Reduced by 2 hours every day |
| Break | At least one hour after 5 hours in a row, not counted as work time |
| Overtime limit | No more than 2 extra hours a day |
| Overtime pay | Basic pay for the hour plus 25 per cent |
| Overtime 10 pm to 4 am | Basic pay plus 50 per cent, not for shift workers |
| Work on your rest day | A substitute rest day, or basic pay plus 50 per cent |
| Outdoor work 15 June to 15 September | Not allowed in the sun between 12:30 pm and 3 pm |
Note the word "basic". Overtime is worked out on basic salary, not on your full package with housing and transport. For example, a worker paid a basic of AED 1,500 inside a total of AED 2,500 should check which figure the payslip uses.
Rest days, public holidays and Hajj leave
You get at least one paid rest day a week, as set in your contract, and paid leave on official public holidays. If you are made to work on a holiday or a leave day, you get another day off or that day's pay plus at least 50 per cent of basic wage, under Article 28.
For Pakistani workers, two religious leave rules matter:
- Hajj leave: unpaid, up to 30 days, and only once while you work for the same employer.
- Umrah leave: the law has no special rule. The employer may approve it, take it from your annual leave, or give it as unpaid leave.
Bereavement leave is paid: 5 days for the death of a spouse, and 3 days for a parent, child, brother or sister, grandchild or grandparent. It starts from the date of death, which matters if you need to fly home to Pakistan for a funeral.
Parental, maternity and study leave
Both parents get 5 working days of paid parental leave, to be taken within six months of the birth. A female worker gets 60 days of maternity leave: 45 at full pay and 15 at half pay, and can start up to 30 days before the due date. Workers studying at an accredited UAE institution get 10 paid working days a year for exams, after two years with the employer.
What to do if your leave or overtime is not paid
Start with the evidence and a written request. Then go to MoHRE.
- Keep your contract, payslips and a log of the hours you actually worked.
- Ask HR in writing for the missing leave pay or overtime, citing the rule.
- If nothing changes, file a MoHRE labour complaint.
- When the job ends, check that unused leave is in your final settlement, next to your UAE end of service gratuity.
Common questions
How many days of annual leave do I get in the UAE?
30 fully paid days after one year of service, and 2 days a month if you have worked between six months and one year.
Is sick leave paid during probation in the UAE?
No. Paid sick leave starts after probation, though the employer may allow unpaid sick leave on a medical report.
What is the overtime rate in the UAE?
Basic pay for the hour plus 25 per cent, rising to plus 50 per cent for hours between 10 pm and 4 am, except for shift workers.
How many overtime hours are allowed in the UAE?
No more than 2 extra hours a day, on top of the normal 8.
Is Hajj leave paid in the UAE?
No. It is unpaid, up to 30 days, and allowed once with the same employer.
Can my employer fire me while I am on sick leave?
No. The u.ae page says an employer may not dismiss you or give notice while you are on sick leave.
Last checked 9 November 2026 against the u.ae pages on types of leave and on working hours and overtime in the UAE private sector.
About the author
Global Affairs & Political Economy Writer
Muhammad Hatim is a book lover who started writing because he enjoys it. At Pakistan Era he writes about international relations, geopolitics and the global economy, with a particular interest in South Asia and the forces behind current events.
