UAE Sick Leave Calculator — Medical Leave Salary & Maternity Leave 2024

Sick leave in the UAE is a statutory right for private sector employees under Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, which governs employment relations across the country. Understanding how sick leave salary is calculated, what documentation is required, and how maternity leave interacts with these entitlements is essential for both employees planning absences and HR professionals managing payroll. **The Three-Tier Sick Leave Pay Structure** Article 31 of the UAE Labour Law establishes a clear three-tier system for sick leave entitlements after the completion of the probation period: - **Days 1 to 15**: Full basic salary is paid. - **Days 16 to 45**: Half of the basic salary is paid. - **Days 46 to 90**: No salary is payable. These 90 days can be taken consecutively or intermittently over the course of a single year of service. The entitlement resets with each new year of service — not by calendar year. This distinction matters: an employee who joined in July and exhausted their sick leave by March has not yet reached a new year of service in January of the following year. **How Sick Leave Salary Is Calculated** The daily rate for sick leave pay in the UAE is calculated using the basic salary only — not the gross salary. Allowances, whether for housing, transport, education, or other purposes, are excluded entirely. The formula is: **Daily Rate = Monthly Basic Salary ÷ 30** For example, an employee earning AED 8,000 basic salary who takes 25 days of sick leave would be entitled to: 15 days × AED 266.67 (full pay) + 10 days × AED 133.33 (half pay) = AED 4,000 + AED 1,333.33 = AED 5,333.33 total sick pay. This is exactly the calculation performed by this UAE sick leave calculator — automatically splitting your requested days across the three tiers and showing the precise formula behind each figure. **Probation Period: No Paid Sick Leave** A critical and often overlooked rule is that employees in their probation period have no entitlement to paid sick leave under federal law. If an employee falls ill during probation, the employer may exercise discretion and grant unpaid leave upon receipt of a valid medical report, but this is not mandated by law. Employers may also choose to terminate employment if the illness extends probation unreasonably. Employees should review their contract for any contractual enhancements to this baseline. **Documentation and Notification Requirements** To claim sick leave under UAE law, employees must: 1. Notify their employer within **3 business days** of the start of the illness. 2. Submit a medical report from a **recognized medical authority** — either a government hospital, licensed clinic, or approved authority. Failure to meet these requirements may result in the absence being classified as unauthorized, which can lead to disciplinary action or salary deductions. The law is explicit that sick leave arising from misconduct or unlawful acts does not entitle the employee to pay. **Sick Leave and End-of-Service Gratuity** The unpaid portion of sick leave — days 46 through 90 — does not count toward the service period for the purposes of end-of-service gratuity calculation. This is consistent with how unpaid leave is treated across UAE labour law generally. The paid sick leave days (1 through 45) do form part of the continuous service period. **Work-Related Injuries: Different Rules Apply** If a sick leave claim arises from a work-related injury or occupational disease, different provisions under the UAE Labour Law apply. These are governed separately and may entitle the employee to extended protections and compensation. This calculator covers standard sick leave only. Employees with work-related illness or injury should contact MOHRE directly. **Maternity Leave in UAE: A Separate but Overlapping Entitlement** While maternity leave is governed by Article 30 rather than Article 31, it is frequently searched alongside sick leave calculation in UAE due to its salary structure, which mirrors the tiered approach: - **Days 1 to 45**: Full basic salary - **Days 46 to 60**: Half basic salary - **Total statutory maternity leave**: 60 days Maternity leave may begin up to 4 weeks before the expected delivery date. After the 60-day entitlement is exhausted, an employee may apply for an additional **45 days of unpaid leave** if she is suffering from a pregnancy or childbirth-related illness, subject to submission of a medical certificate. This unpaid leave is in addition to, not included within, the 60-day statutory entitlement. Additional protections apply for mothers of children with a disability or serious illness: they may receive further leave entitlements as specified under the executive regulations of the law. **Unpaid Leave Policy in UAE** General unpaid leave — outside the sick leave and maternity leave frameworks — is not a statutory entitlement in the UAE private sector. It requires mutual agreement between the employer and employee and must be formally approved. During any period of unpaid leave, salary ceases, and the unpaid days do not count toward annual leave accrual or gratuity service period. Employees considering extended unpaid leave should obtain written employer approval and understand the impact on their end-of-service entitlements. **DIFC and ADGM Free Zones** This calculator and the legal framework described above apply to employees working under UAE federal labour law. Employees based in the DIFC or ADGM operate under the independent employment regulations of those free zones, which differ significantly — including different sick leave durations and pay structures. If you are employed in one of these free zones, consult the relevant authority directly. **Disclaimer**: This calculator is provided for informational purposes only. It is based on Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 and publicly available interpretations as of 2024–2025. Laws are subject to amendment. This tool does not constitute legal or financial advice. Always verify your specific situation with MOHRE or a qualified legal professional.