Annual Leave Calculator UAE 2026: Calculate Your Leave Balance & Salary
Estimate your annual leave entitlement, remaining balance and unused-leave payment at the end of employment.
Calculate Your Leave Balance
Use your employment dates and existing leave records.
Estimate Termination Leave Encashment
Use this only if employment is ending and you have unused accrued leave.
Use this UAE annual leave calculator to estimate your annual leave entitlement, remaining leave balance, and unused leave payment at the end of employment. The calculator is designed for UAE private-sector employees and follows the annual leave rules under Article 29 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 and its implementing rules. For a broader explanation of notice periods, resignation, leave and other employee rights, see our UAE Labour Law 2026 guide.
Enter your employment start date, calculation date, leave already taken, and any carried-forward balance. For termination leave encashment, you can also enter your basic monthly salary.
Annual Leave Entitlement Formula
| Service Period | Annual Leave Rule |
|---|---|
| Up to 6 months | No statutory annual-leave entitlement under the standard Article 29 accrual rule |
| More than 6 months but less than 1 year | 2 days for each month of service |
| 1 year or more | 30 days for each year of extended service |
| Employment ending during a year | Leave is due for the applicable part of the final year, subject to the statutory rules |
Article 29 also allows an employer to grant annual leave from the employee’s annual leave balance during probation, subject to employer approval.
How to Calculate Annual Leave in UAE
UAE annual leave entitlement depends on the employee’s length of service. The standard rules provide 2 days of annual leave for each month when service is more than six months but less than one year, and at least 30 days for each year of extended service. When employment ends, the law also provides leave for the applicable part of the final year.
More Than 6 Months but Less Than 1 Year
If your service is more than six months but less than one year, the statutory entitlement is 2 days of annual leave for each month of service.
Example
8 Months of Qualifying Service
An employee completes 8 months of qualifying service with their employer.
The 16-day figure is before deducting any annual leave already taken. The final balance should be checked against the employer’s HR records and applicable rules.
After 1 Year of Service
Once an employee completes a year of extended service, the statutory annual leave entitlement is 30 days for each year of extended service.
Example
1 Full Year of Service
An employee completes one full year of extended service with their employer.
The 30-day entitlement is before deducting any annual leave already taken. The final balance should be checked against the employer’s HR records and applicable rules.
When Employment Ends
If employment ends before the employee has used the full annual leave balance, Article 29 provides for leave for the applicable part of the final year. Accrued unused annual leave is also subject to compensation under the rules governing termination. You can also estimate your end-of-service payment with our Gratuity Calculator UAE.
UAE Annual Leave Salary: Basic Salary or Full Wage?
When You Take Annual Leave
Employees are entitled to their wage for the period of annual leave. The UAE Government states that annual leave salary is based on the employee’s basic wage plus any allowances normally received during a normal working month.
The official UAE Government FAQ also states that the employee should be paid the full wage before taking annual leave, including the wage for the leave days.
When Employment Ends
When employment ends, unused accrued annual leave is treated differently from the wage paid while an employee is taking annual leave. Article 29 provides for compensation for the applicable unused annual leave balance at the end of employment, according to the rules applicable to termination.
Unused Annual Leave and Leave Encashment
If your employment ends while you have accrued unused annual leave, you may be entitled to cash compensation for the legally due balance. Article 29 provides for leave for the applicable part of the final year and compensation for the relevant unused leave balance at the end of employment.
UAE Leave Encashment Example
Example
Estimated Leave Encashment
An employee leaves their job with 10 days of accrued unused annual leave.
This is an estimate for calculator purposes. The final payment depends on the employee’s approved leave balance, HR and payroll records, employment terms, and applicable legal rules.
Does UAE Labour Law Have Emergency Leave?
UAE Labour Law does not establish a general statutory “emergency leave” category with a fixed number of days under Article 29. Depending on the circumstances, an employee may need to use annual leave or another applicable leave category, subject to the relevant legal rules and employer procedures.
Annual Leave During Probation
Annual leave during probation is subject to employer approval. Article 29 allows an employer to grant annual leave from the employee’s annual leave balance during probation. The law also provides for compensation for the remaining annual leave balance if the employee does not pass the probationary period.
Common UAE Annual Leave Calculation Mistakes
Using Gross Salary for Termination Leave
When estimating unused annual leave compensation at termination, make sure you understand which wage basis applies to the final settlement rather than automatically using gross salary.
Forgetting Annual Leave Already Taken
Your estimated remaining balance should account for annual leave already used and recorded by your employer.
Ignoring Carried-Forward Leave
Check your HR records for any approved balance carried forward from an earlier leave year before calculating your remaining days.
Assuming Public Holidays Are Always Added Back
Public holidays falling within annual leave are generally included in the annual leave period unless the employment contract or establishment regulations provide a more favourable arrangement.
Treating the Calculator as Your Official HR Balance
This calculator provides an estimate. Your employer’s approved leave records, payroll records, contract and applicable rules determine the final entitlement and payment.
Public Holidays During Annual Leave
Public holidays do not automatically sit outside your annual leave period. Under Article 29, holidays prescribed by law or agreement are included in the annual leave period when they fall within the employee’s annual leave, unless the employment contract or establishment regulations provide a more favourable arrangement.
Annual Leave for Part-Time Employees
Part-time employees have annual leave entitlements based on their actual working hours. The Implementing Regulation provides a specific calculation method for part-time workers, so the standard full-time 30-day entitlement should not automatically be applied to every part-time arrangement. This calculator is designed as a standard estimate and does not calculate the separate part-time formula.
Carrying Forward Unused Annual Leave
An employee may carry forward an annual leave balance or part of the balance to the following year with employer approval and in accordance with the applicable establishment regulations.
Under the Implementing Regulation, the worker may carry forward not more than half of the annual leave to the following year. For this calculator, enter the carried-forward balance recorded in your employer’s HR or payroll records.
When Can an Employer Schedule Annual Leave?
The employer may specify annual leave dates according to work requirements and in agreement with the employee, while taking the continuity of work into account. Article 29 requires the employee to be notified of the specified leave date with sufficient notice of at least one month.
How to Track Your Annual Leave Balance
Since payroll systems occasionally undercount leave days, especially across multiple approvals or partial day requests, it helps to keep your own simple record alongside whatever your employer’s HR system shows.
Start With Your Opening Balance
Record the annual leave balance shown in your HR or payroll system at the beginning of the leave year or your employment period.
Record Approved Leave
Keep a record of each approved annual leave request, including the dates and number of days used.
Compare With Your HR System
Periodically compare your own record with the balance shown in your employer’s HR or payroll system to catch discrepancies early.
Resolve Differences Early
If your records do not match, raise the difference with HR while the leave dates and approvals are still easy to verify.