How long is annual leave in the United Arab Emirates?

The labor law in the United Arab Emirates provides the following minimum entitlement to annual leave for employees:

• 2 calendar days per month for employees who have completed more than 6 months but less than 1 year of service.
• 30 calendar days per year for employees who have completed more than 1 year of service.

Regardless of these provisions, most employers in the UAE provide employees with annual leave in their first year of employment, calculated on a pro-rata basis according to their full annual leave entitlement. While the labor law refers to annual leave in terms of "calendar days," the minimum entitlement of 30 calendar days is generally accepted as equating to 22 working days. Consequently, most international companies operating in the UAE offer employees 22-25 working days of annual leave.

How is annual leave accrued in the United Arab Emirates?

Velocity Global UAE's holiday year runs from January 1 to December 31. If employment commences partway through the holiday year, the employee's holiday entitlement during that holiday year is calculated on a pro-rata basis.

What is the carry-over policy for annual leave in the United Arab Emirates?

In the United Arab Emirates, the carry-over policy for annual leave is as follows:

• Employees may carry forward up to half of their annual leave to the following year with the consent of the employer.
• Alternatively, employees can agree with the employer to receive a cash allowance for the remaining leave, calculated based on the wage at the time of the employee's entitlement.
• UAE law does not allow for the carry-over of full accrued annual leave from previous years. The entitlement applies only to half of the current year's leave that may be carried into the next year.

How is paid time off (PTO) calculated in the United Arab Emirates?

In the United Arab Emirates, paid time off is calculated based on the following formula set by law:

• Annual basic salary divided by 12, then divided by 365
• Multiply the result by the number of unused PTO days

At the customer's discretion, the calculation can also be based on the total monthly salary instead of the annual basic salary.

What is the process to request annual leave in the United Arab Emirates?

To request annual leave in the United Arab Emirates, the supported employee must follow this process:

1. Obtain internal approval for the leave from the customer.

2. Submit the approved leave request to our Global Work Platform™.

This ensures all necessary approvals and documentation are in place for the annual leave to be processed appropriately.

Is time off usage required in set increments in the United Arab Emirates?

In the United Arab Emirates, time off usage is not required to be taken in set increments.

Is it necessary to track leave accrual on employee payslips in the United Arab Emirates?

No, it is not necessary to track leave accrual on employee payslips in the United Arab Emirates.