UAE Special Leave Calculator (Article 32)
Choose the type of leave, the date and your weekend to see the leave days and your return date.
Calculate your leave dates
Special leave under Article 32
| Leave | Length | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Bereavement — spouse | 5 days, paid | From the date of death |
| Bereavement — parent, child, sibling, grandchild or grandparent | 3 days, paid | From the date of death |
| Parental | 5 working days, paid | Within 6 months of the birth, father or mother |
| Study | 10 working days a year, paid | Accredited UAE institution, 2 years of service |
| National and reserve service | As set by law | For Emiratis, paid leave |
The employer may ask for official proof of the event. Annual leave is separate; see the annual leave calculator.
Examples:
An employee's mother dies on Sunday 1 November 2026: three days' leave to Tuesday 3 November, back at work on Wednesday 4 November.
A father starts parental leave on Monday 2 November with Saturday and Sunday off: it ends on Friday 6 November and he returns on Monday 9 November.
Expecting a baby? See the maternity leave calculator. Prefer Arabic? Use the Arabic version.
Frequently asked questions
How much bereavement leave is there in the UAE private sector?
5 paid days for the death of a spouse, and 3 paid days for the death of a parent, child, sibling, grandchild or grandparent, starting from the date of death, under Article 32 of Federal Decree-Law 33 of 2021.
How much paternity leave is there in the UAE?
Parental leave is 5 paid working days for the father or the mother to care for the newborn, taken in one block or separately within 6 months of the birth, on top of the mother's maternity leave.
Is there study leave in the UAE?
Yes: 10 working days a year to sit exams for employees studying at an accredited institution in the UAE, provided they have at least two years of service with the employer.
Does bereavement leave include weekends?
The text counts the leave in days starting from the date of death, so it runs as consecutive days. Parental and study leave are set in working days, so weekends are not counted.
Is there Hajj leave under the new UAE labour law?
Article 32 does not provide Hajj leave for the private sector, so it depends on the contract or company policy, or is taken from annual leave or as unpaid leave by agreement.
Sources
- UAE Government portal — compassionate (bereavement) leave
- Gulf News — special leave under the new labour law (Article 32)
- Government of Dubai — leaves for private-sector employees
Figures and formulas on this page were last reviewed on 2026-11-03.