In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), sick leave is regulated under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021.
Employees who are unable to work due to illness may be entitled to statutory sick leave benefits, provided the required medical documentation is submitted in line with local regulations.
Sick Leave Eligibility
Employees become eligible for statutory sick leave after completing their probation period.
Sick Leave Entitlement
Eligible employees may receive up to 90 calendar days of sick leave per year of continuous service.
The entitlement is structured as follows:
First 15 Days: Full pay
Next 30 Days: Half pay
Remaining 45 Days: Unpaid
The 90 day entitlement resets based on the employee’s service anniversary date, not the calendar year.
Unused sick leave days:
Do not roll over to the following year
Are not paid out upon resignation or termination
Sick Leave During Probation
Employees are generally not entitled to paid sick leave during probation.
However, employers may allow unpaid sick leave during probation if supported by a valid medical report issued by a recognized medical authority.
Required Documentation
Employees must notify their employer within 3 working days of becoming ill.
Employees are also required to provide an official medical certificate or medical report issued by a UAE licensed healthcare provider.
The medical document should include:
Employee or patient name
Primary diagnosis
Recommended rest period start and end dates
Medical Certificate Attestation
Sick Leave of 5 Days or Less
Standard electronic medical certificates are generally accepted.
Sick Leave Exceeding 5 Consecutive Days
Medical certificates may require official attestation through:
The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP), or
The relevant regional medical authority or committee
Medical Certificates Issued Outside the UAE
Foreign medical certificates generally require:
Legal attestation by the UAE Embassy in the issuing country
Counter attestation by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA)
Please note that clinics may charge administrative fees for issuing officially attested certificates.
Emirate Specific Medical Systems
While statutory sick leave rules are consistent across the UAE, medical reporting systems may differ by emirate.
Examples include:
Dubai: Dubai Health Authority (DHA) Sheryan System
Abu Dhabi: Department of Health (DOH) platform via TAMM
Employer Considerations
Employers cannot terminate an employee while they are using their statutory 90 day sick leave entitlement.
Termination due to medical incapacity may only occur if the employee remains unable to return to work after exhausting the full 90 day entitlement.
In these cases, employees remain entitled to applicable end of service benefits in accordance with UAE Labour Law.
Please also note that statutory paid sick leave may not apply if the illness or injury resulted directly from employee misconduct, subject to local labor regulations.
Employers may choose to provide enhanced sick leave benefits above the statutory minimum requirements.
Additional Notes
Employees should notify both their manager and Remote People as soon as possible regarding their absence and ensure all required documentation is submitted within the required timeframe.
Please note that sick leave regulations may change in line with local labor laws and government authority requirements.