UAE Annual Leave and Leave Salary Calculator
Enter your basic salary, start date and leave days already taken to see your remaining balance and its cash value.
Calculate your leave balance
UAE annual leave rules
- Entitlement: 30 days for each year of service, pro rata for part years.
- First year: nothing before six months; 2 days for each month between six months and a year.
- Cash in lieu: at the end of service, unused days are paid at basic salary ÷ 30.
Example: basic salary AED 7,000, started 1 February 2024, 40 days taken by 30 November 2026. Accrued 85 days; remaining 45 days, worth AED 10,500 if paid out.
Leave taken during service is paid at the full wage; only the cash paid for unused days at the end of service is limited to basic salary.
Key rules
- The employer may set leave dates according to work needs in coordination with the employee, giving at least one month's notice.
- Up to half of the leave may be carried over, or the parties may agree on cash in lieu during service.
- Sick leave and public holidays are not deducted from annual leave unless they fall within it.
Combine it with your gratuity and notice pay in the final settlement calculator. Prefer Arabic? Use the Arabic version.
Frequently asked questions
How many days of annual leave do I get in the UAE?
30 calendar days for each year of service under Article 29 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021. Between six months and one year of service, you get 2 days for each month.
How is unused leave paid when I leave?
When your service ends, you are paid for the leave days you have not taken. The daily rate is your basic salary divided by 30.
Is annual leave salary calculated on basic or gross salary?
Cash for unused leave at the end of service is calculated on basic salary. While you are on leave, you receive your full wage.
Can my employer refuse to let me carry forward leave?
The employer may set the dates of leave according to work needs. Carrying leave forward is allowed with the employer's agreement, and unused days are paid in cash when the service ends.
Sources
- Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 — MOHRE (Article 29)
- Government of Dubai — leaves for private-sector employees
Figures and formulas on this page were last reviewed on 2026-11-03.