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UAE sick leave pay calculator
How much you are paid while off sick in the UAE: 15 days at full pay, 30 at half pay, then unpaid. It counts the sick days you already used this year, which a simple calculator can miss.
Your estimate
UAE sick leave rules (Article 31)
| 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 (unpaid leave possible on a medical report) |
The law gives "not more than (90) ninety continuous or intermittent days per year" after probation. Intermittent means separate illnesses add up: if you were off for 12 days in March and fall ill again in June, only 3 days of full pay are left.
Example: wage AED 7,500, 12 sick days already used, now 8 more days. Day's wage 7,500 ÷ 30 = AED 250 (the law sets no divisor, so we take a month as 30 days). 3 days at full pay = AED 750, then 5 days at half pay (AED 125) = AED 625. Total AED 1,375. A calculator that ignores the 12 days would say AED 2,000.
Sources (checked October 2026): Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 (u.ae), u.ae: types of leave (sick leave). Laws change, and the ministry or a court gives the final figure.
Sick leave pay examples
| Monthly wage | Sick days in the year | Full pay days | Half pay days | Unpaid | Sick pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AED 6,000 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | AED 2,000 |
| AED 9,000 | 25 | 15 | 10 | 0 | AED 6,000 |
| AED 12,000 | 60 | 15 | 30 | 15 | AED 12,000 |
On AED 9,000 a month, 25 days off ill pay AED 6,000 instead of the normal AED 7,500 for those days. On AED 12,000, 60 days pay AED 12,000 instead of AED 24,000.
Which wage: basic or full?
Some pages say sick pay is on the basic salary. Article 31 only says "full pay" and "half pay". The law defines the wage as the basic wage plus the cash allowances in your contract, and it says "basic" where it means basic: overtime (Article 19), unused annual leave (Article 29(9)) and gratuity (Article 51). So the law does not limit sick pay to basic. If your contract or company rules pay more, that applies. Enter the wage your employer uses.
Mistakes other pages make
- "Tell your employer within 2 days." The law today gives 3 working days (Article 31(1)).
- Restarting the 15 full-pay days for each illness. The 90 days are per year, continuous or intermittent.
- Paying unused sick days at the end. The law gives no cash for them.
- Mixing it up with a work injury. A work injury pays full wage for up to 6 months, then half wage for up to 6 more (Article 37).
When there is no sick pay
No wage is due when the illness came from your own misconduct: alcohol or drugs, or breaking safety rules set by law, such as traffic rules, or company safety rules you confirmed you know and follow. For alcohol or drugs the employer needs a report from the authorities (Executive Regulations Article 20). An amendment to the draft communicable diseases law, approved by the Federal National Council in July 2026, would keep full pay for workers kept home as infected, suspected or contact cases in an epidemic, without using their leave. It is not yet confirmed in force.
How to get your sick pay, step by step
- See a licensed doctor at a government hospital or a licensed private clinic, and ask for a medical report that gives the days you must rest.
- Tell your employer within 3 working days and send the report. Keep a copy of the message or email: it is your proof if pay is cut later.
- Count your days in the year. Add the days you were off earlier in the same year (the law says "per year"; most employers count the year of service). The calculator does this for you.
- Check your payslip. Full pay days should show no cut, half pay days half the day's wage, and unpaid days no pay.
- If the sick leave salary is wrong, ask HR in writing first. If it is not fixed, you can complain to the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) through its app, website or call centre 600 590 000.
Questions about one day off
A single day off ill is part of the same 90 days and, after probation, is paid in full while you are within your first 15 days. The UAE labour law does not make an exception for short absences: the 3 working days to report and the medical report apply. Your company rules may be kinder than the law, never stricter.
Probation and long illness
Probation can last up to 6 months (Article 9). During it you have no paid days off for illness, and your employer may still allow unpaid days on a medical report. After probation the full 90 days apply. If a long illness uses all 90 days and you still cannot work, the employer may end the contract, but your gratuity, unused annual leave and any other dues must be paid within 14 days (Article 53).
Annual leave is separate: UAE annual leave calculator. Leaving the job: final settlement calculator.
Sources (checked October 2026): Executive Regulations, Cabinet Resolution 1 of 2022 (Article 20), u.ae: work injury compensation, Khaleej Times: epidemic sick leave amendment (July 2026), Gulf News: sick leave rules. Laws change, and the ministry or a court gives the final figure.
Questions
How many paid sick days do I get in the UAE?
Up to 90 days a year after probation: the first 15 days on full pay, the next 30 days on half pay and the last 45 days unpaid (Article 31(3)).
Is sick leave paid during probation?
No. During probation there is no paid sick leave, but your employer may give you unpaid sick leave on a medical report (Article 31(2)).
Is sick pay on basic salary or full salary?
Article 31 says "full pay" and "half pay" and does not limit it to the basic salary, while the law says "basic" where it means basic (overtime, unused leave, gratuity). Check your contract; the calculator uses the wage you enter.
How soon must I tell my employer?
Within 3 working days, with a medical report from a licensed government or private health provider (Article 31(1)).
Does a second illness start a new 15 days of full pay?
No. The 90 days are "continuous or intermittent" in the year, so all your sick days in the year add up. Enter the days you already used in the calculator.
Can I be fired while I am off sick?
Your employer cannot end your job for ill health before you have used your leave (Article 46), and a notice given during leave only starts after you return (Article 35). After the 90 days, if you still cannot work, the employer may end the contract and must pay all your dues (Article 31(5)).
Are unused sick days paid at the end of service?
No. The law gives no cash and no carry-over for unused sick days, unlike annual leave.
Is a work injury the same as sick leave?
No. An injury or disease from work has its own rule: full wage during treatment for up to 6 months, then half wage for up to 6 more months (Article 37).