Work out pay for annual leave in the UAE, or the cash due for unused leave when a job ends, and how many leave days have been earned. Leave taken is paid on the full wage; unused leave at the end is paid on basic pay. Enter amounts in AED.
How the UAE leave salary works
Formula. Leave pay = monthly pay ÷ 30 × leave days. For leave taken while working, monthly pay is the full wage: basic salary plus the allowances in the contract, such as housing. For unused leave paid when the job ends, monthly pay is basic salary only.
Leave earned. 2 days for each month of service between 6 months and 1 year, then 30 days for each full year, plus a share for part of the final year (2.5 days a month).
Example. Basic salary AED 7,500, housing AED 2,500, other allowances AED 1,000, 30 months of service and 63 days already taken. Leave earned is 30 × 2 + 2.5 × 6 = 75 days, so 12 days are left. Paid as cash when the job ends: 7,500 ÷ 30 × 12 = AED 3,000. Taken as leave instead: 11,000 ÷ 30 × 12 = AED 4,400.
Tip. Your contract can give more than the law, never less. Dividing by 30 is the usual way to get a day’s pay; check your contract for anything different.
Common questions
How many days of annual leave do I get in the UAE?
Under Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, a worker gets at least 30 days of paid annual leave for each year of service. Between 6 months and 1 year of service, it is 2 days for each month. When a job ends, you also get leave for the part of the final year you worked. Part-time workers get leave in line with the hours they actually work.
Is housing allowance included in pay while I am on leave?
Yes, if it is part of your wage. The law says annual leave is paid at the full wage, and it defines the wage as basic salary plus the cash allowances and benefits set in your contract. So housing, transport and other fixed allowances are usually paid during leave. Commission and one-off bonuses are often treated differently, so check your contract.
How is unused leave paid when my job ends?
You must be paid cash for every unused day of leave you are owed, however many there are. This payment is worked out on your basic salary only, not your allowances. For example, 12 unused days on a basic salary of AED 7,500 is 7,500 ÷ 30 × 12 = AED 3,000.
Can I carry leave forward or swap it for cash?
You can carry forward up to half of your annual leave to the next year, or agree with your employer to take cash instead. Your employer cannot stop you from using leave you have built up over more than two years, unless you choose to carry it forward or take the cash.
How is a day’s pay worked out?
Most employers and payroll guides divide the monthly pay by 30 and then multiply by the number of leave days. This calculator does the same. Some contracts use a different method, such as yearly pay ÷ 365, so check yours if the numbers do not match your payslip.
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