Most UAE employees know they get sick leave. Far fewer know that the pay you receive during that leave is tiered — and that the tiers don't reset every time you fall ill. Article 31 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 sets out exactly how it works, and getting the tiers wrong is one of the most common payroll disputes MOHRE sees.
How many sick days are you entitled to?
Private-sector employees get up to 90 days of sick leave per year, once probation is complete. That's a single pool for the whole leave year — not per illness. Pay within that pool is split into three tiers:
| Days (cumulative) | Pay |
|---|---|
| Days 1–15 | Full pay |
| Days 16–45 | Half pay |
| Days 46–90 | Unpaid |
The key detail people miss: these are cumulative, not reset. If you've already taken 10 sick days this year, you have 5 full-pay days left before the half-pay tier kicks in — regardless of how many separate illnesses those 10 days covered.
Full wage, not just basic salary
Unlike gratuity, which is calculated on basic salary only, sick pay is calculated on your full wage, including allowances, unless your contract specifically says otherwise. That distinction alone changes the numbers meaningfully for anyone with a large housing or transport allowance.
What about probation?
Paid sick leave under Article 31 applies once probation is complete. During probation, an employer may grant unpaid sick leave at their discretion, usually supported by a medical report — but there's no statutory paid entitlement yet.
Notification and evidence requirements
You must notify your employer within 3 working days of falling sick and submit a medical certificate from an authorised healthcare provider. Late notification can affect your entitlement, so this isn't a formality worth skipping.
When sick pay doesn't apply
Sick pay isn't payable where the illness results from the employee's own misconduct — alcohol or drug abuse being the commonly cited example — or where it's actually a work injury, which is covered under a separate framework entirely.
Work out your exact sick pay
Because the tiers are cumulative, the actual amount you're owed for a specific request depends on how many sick days you've already used this year. Rather than doing the day-by-day math by hand, the Sick Leave Pay Calculator applies the tiers automatically — enter your wage, days already used, and days needed, and it shows the full-pay, half-pay and unpaid breakdown instantly.
If you're also working out your notice period or last working day separately, the Notice Period Calculator handles that calculation using the same underlying labour law.