What Article 31 says
UAE labour law sick leave is set by Article 31 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, which covers private sector staff. Article 31 of the UAE labour law is the one to quote to HR. The English translation on u.ae is marked "not an official translation", so use it as a guide and check the Arabic text for a dispute.
- Tell your employer. You must inform your employer or their representative within 3 working days and give a medical report from a medical entity (Article 31(1)).
- Probation. No paid sick leave during probation. Your employer may still give unpaid sick leave if a medical report says you need it (Article 31(2)).
- After probation. Up to 90 days a year, "continuous or intermittent" (Article 31(3)).
- Misconduct. No pay if the sickness came from your own misconduct, in the cases the Implementing Regulation defines (Article 31(4)).
- Ending the job. The employer may end your service after your sick leave if you cannot return, but you keep all your financial entitlements (Article 31(5)).
| Sick days in the year | Pay |
|---|---|
| Days 1 to 15 | Full pay |
| Days 16 to 45 | Half pay |
| Days 46 to 90 | Unpaid |
| During probation | No paid sick leave |
- 1Days 1 to 15: full pay
- 2Days 16 to 45: half pay
- 3Days 46 to 90: unpaid
- 4After 90: no sick leave left
How much is a sick day worth?
The law says "full pay" and "half pay" and does not give a divisor. Most payroll systems use monthly wage ÷ 30, and so does the UAE sick leave calculator. That makes it an estimate of UAE sick leave pay. Half pay is half of that day's amount, so UAE sick leave half pay is AED 100 on a wage of AED 6,000.
The article does not say "basic wage" here, unlike the overtime and unused leave rules. So a full day's pay is your normal day's pay. Your contract may be more generous, and then the contract wins.
How many sick days do you get, and do separate illnesses add up?
You get up to 90 sick days a year, and yes, illnesses add up. The 90 days are "continuous or intermittent", so one 15 day fever in March and a second illness in September draw from the same pool. A new illness does not give you a fresh 15 days of full pay.
Take a wage of AED 6,000, so a day is 6,000 ÷ 30 = AED 200. You were off 10 days in March and are now off 20 days in September.
- March: 10 days at full pay = 10 × 200 = AED 2,000.
- September, days 11 to 15 of the year: 5 × 200 = AED 1,000 at full pay.
- September, days 16 to 30 of the year: 15 × 100 = AED 1,500 at half pay.
- September total: AED 2,500. March and September together: AED 4,500.
A page that treats September as a new illness would give 15 full days and 5 half days, which is 3,000 + 500 = AED 3,500. That is AED 1,000 too much, and it would not match your payslip.
Example: one long illness of 50 days
Wage AED 6,000, a day is AED 200, and you have used no sick days yet this year.
| Part of the leave | Days | Working | Pay (AED) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full pay | 15 | 15 × 200 | 3,000 |
| Half pay | 30 | 30 × 100 | 3,000 |
| Unpaid | 5 | 5 × 0 | 0 |
| Total | 50 | 6,000 |
Your normal pay for those 50 days would be 50 × 200 = AED 10,000. So the illness costs you AED 4,000 in lost pay.
Notice the chart goes flat after day 45. The last 45 days of the 90 add nothing to your pay.
Work out your own sick leave pay →
Can I be fired on sick leave?
Two articles protect you, and one limits the protection.
- Article 46. The employer may not end your service for lack of health fitness before you have used your legally accrued leaves. A deal to the contrary is void, even if signed before the law came into force.
- Article 35. If either side gives notice while you are on leave, the notice period starts only the day after you are due back, unless both sides agree otherwise.
- Article 31(5). After your sick leave is finished and you still cannot return, the employer may end your contract. You then get all your dues, including gratuity and unused annual leave. See UAE final settlement explained.
The law does not say whether "accrued leaves" in Article 46 means only annual leave or also sick leave. Ask MOHRE or a lawyer before you rely on one reading.
Is a work injury the same as sick leave?
No. An injury or disease from work falls under Article 37. The employer pays your full wage for the treatment period or 6 months, whichever is less. If treatment goes beyond 6 months, you get half wage for another 6 months, or until you are cured or the disability is proven. Sick leave under Article 31 is for illness that does not come from work.
Mistakes people make
- Starting the count again with each illness. The 90 days are for the whole year.
- Forgetting probation. Paid sick leave starts only after probation ends.
- Missing the 3 working days. Report the illness in time and keep the medical report.
- Expecting cash for unused sick days. Unused annual leave is paid when you leave. Unused sick days are not.
- Mixing up work injury and sickness. Article 37 pays more than Article 31.
If your sick days push you past your annual leave, read UAE annual leave rules and how to calculate leave salary in the UAE.
This is an estimate under the published law, not legal advice. Your employer, MOHRE or a court gives the final figure.
Questions people ask about UAE sick leave
How many paid sick days do I get in the UAE? Up to 45 paid days a year after probation: 15 on full pay and 30 on half pay. UAE sick leave of 90 days a year is allowed, but days 46 to 90 are unpaid.
Is sick leave during probation paid? No. Your employer may give unpaid sick leave on a medical report (Article 31(2)). Your company sick leave policy may be better than the law, so read it.
Do I need a medical report? Yes. You must tell your employer within 3 working days and submit a report from a medical entity (Article 31(1)).
Is the 90 day limit per calendar year or per year of service? For UAE sick leave 90 days is the cap, and Article 31(3) says "per year" and does not say which. Some news reports say year of service. Ask your HR which one they use.
Are unused sick days paid when I leave? No. The law gives no cash and no carry-over for sick days.
Sources
- Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, English translation on u.ae (Articles 31, 35, 37, 46)
- Gulf News: how sick leaves are calculated under the new law
- Khaleej Times: how long can an employee apply for medical leave
This guide is general information, checked in November 2026. Rules can change, so confirm with MOHRE.