UAE Annual Leave: 30 Days After One Year, Explained
October 23, 2026
Per the official u.ae guidance, employees who complete one year of continuous service are entitled to 30 fully paid annual leave days per year — the baseline entitlement that most leave-related calculations in the UAE build from.
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This is 30 calendar days of leave, fully paid at basic salary, earned per year of service once the one-year threshold is crossed — it's an annual entitlement that continues each year the employee remains employed, not a one-time benefit.
Before the One-Year Mark
Tenure under one year follows a different, lower accrual rate (covered in a separate article on the 6-month-to-1-year band) — the full 30-day entitlement specifically applies once a full year of continuous service is completed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many annual leave days does a UAE employee get after one year?
30 fully paid calendar days per year.
Is this leave paid at basic salary or total salary?
Basic salary.
Does the 30-day entitlement repeat every year?
Yes — it's an ongoing annual entitlement for as long as the employee remains employed, once the one-year threshold is reached.
What's the accrual rate before one year of service?
A lower, pro-rated rate applies for tenure under one year — see the related article on the 6-month-to-1-year accrual band.