GulfDues / UAE annual leave calculator
UAE annual leave calculator
How many days of annual leave you have earned, how many are left, and what unused leave is worth on your basic salary.
Pay for unused leave
How it is worked out
| Service | Annual leave earned |
|---|---|
| Under 6 months | None yet |
| 6 to 12 months | 2 days for each month |
| After 1 year | 30 days a year (part years in proportion) |
Example: basic AED 4,500, 2 years of service, 40 days taken: earned about 60 days, about 20 left; daily basic 150; pay for unused leave about AED 3,000.
Sources (checked October 2026): Gulf News: cash for unused leave (Article 29) · Khaleej Times: encashing paid leave · Gulf News: leave before one year. Laws change - the ministry or a court gives the final figure.
Questions
How much annual leave do I get in the UAE?
Under Article 29 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021: 30 calendar days of paid leave for each year of service after the first year, and 2 days for each month of service between 6 months and 1 year. In the last year you earn leave for the part of the year you worked.
Is unused leave paid when I leave the job?
Yes. Leave days you have not taken are paid at the end of service. Sources explaining Article 29 say this pay is worked out on the basic salary.
Can my employer stop me taking leave?
The employer sets the dates (with at least one month's notice) but cannot keep you from taking accrued leave for more than two years, unless you agree to carry it over or be paid for it under the company's rules.
Basic only, or basic + housing?
For the pay of unused leave at the end of service, the explanations of Article 29(9) say basic salary. While you are working, leave days are paid at your normal wage. Your contract or company rules may be more generous.