UAE Annual Leave Rules 2026: Carry Over, Payouts and Your Rights Explained

In February 2026, the UAE’s Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) clarified how annual leave works, especially around carrying over unused days to the next year. This has become a key topic for workers planning time off or negotiating leave with employers.

Standard leave entitlement in the UAE

Employees in the UAE are entitled to at least 30 days of fully paid annual leave for each completed year of service after six months on the job. If you have worked more than six months but less than a full year, you earn 2 days of leave for each month worked.

UAE Employers Can Now Limit Your Annual Leave: What You Need to Know

Most full-time workers thus see their 30 days credited once they hit a year on the job and employers typically schedule this in agreement with staff or on a rotational basis with at least one month’s notice.

Can you carry leave forward to the next year in the UAE?

Yes but only with employer approval. The ministry confirms that unused annual leave can be carried forward to the next year if both the employee and employer agree. However, key legal interpretations (under Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022) say:

These rules reflect Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 on labour relations and its executive regulations.

UAE’s two-year leave rule: What it means

The law also states that employers cannot stop employees from using their accrued annual leave for more than two years unless the employee asks to carry it forward or to be paid instead. In practice this means many employers will try to schedule a worker’s unused leave within two years or negotiate a carry-forward or payout well before that deadline and they must grant at least some leave in any two-year period.

Cash in lieu of leave

If you and your employer agree, unused leave days can be converted into cash instead of time off. The payout is based on your basic salary at the time the leave was due.

Can You Really Carry Over Your UAE Annual Leave? New Rules Clarified

This option often comes up when workers and employers cannot agree on leave dates but legally, cash in lieu is not automatic. It depends on mutual consent or company policy.

Key takeaways for employees

As workplaces in the UAE continue adapting in 2026, with a strong emphasis on employee wellbeing and compliance with updated labour laws, understanding your annual leave rights can help avoid disputes, support better work–life balance planning, and ensure you receive full benefits you are legally entitled to.