How many sick leave days does a UAE worker get?
Up to 90 continuous or intermittent days a year once probation ends. Article 31 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 pays the first 15 days in full, the next 30 at half pay and the remaining days unpaid. The worker must tell the employer within three working days and give a medical report.
Conditions that change the pay
During probation sick leave is not paid, although the employer may grant unpaid sick leave on a medical report. No wage is due for sickness caused by the worker's own misconduct in the cases the Implementing Regulation lists.
After all 90 days are used and the worker still cannot return, the employer may end the contract, provided it pays every entitlement under the law.
Tiers at a glance
Days 1 to 15: full pay. Days 16 to 45: half pay. Days 46 to 90: unpaid. The count runs across the year, so three separate absences of 10 days each move the worker into the half-pay tier during the second absence.
How SupaJack Construct applies the tiers
The leave ledger counts sick days taken in the year and tells payroll which tier each new day falls in, at 100%, 50% or 0%. The payslip deduction comes from that count, so a payroll officer does not need to track the running total by hand.
Related tools and guides
See the UAE labour law guide for contractors, the final settlement calculator, the gratuity calculator, the annual leave calculator, the unpaid leave deduction calculator, payroll and WPS in SupaJack Construct, time and attendance and the meaning of basic salary.
Worked example
A steel fixer past probation with a daily wage of AED 120 is sick for 20 days in one year. Days 1 to 15 are paid in full, AED 1,800. Days 16 to 20 are at half pay, AED 300. The 20 days cost the worker AED 600 compared with working.
Questions people ask
Is sick leave paid during probation?
No, but the employer may grant it unpaid on a medical report.
Does the 90 days reset each year?
Yes. Article 31 sets the limit per year.
How fast must the worker report sickness?
Within three working days, with a medical report.
Can the employer dismiss a worker on sick leave?
Only after the sick leave is used up and the worker cannot return, with full entitlements paid.