Sick Leave Rules for Healthcare Employees in UAE
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| Every healthcare professionals in the UAE should understand applicable sick leave requirements, documentation procedures, and workplace policies when taking medical leave. |
Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, radiographers, paramedics, administrators, IT specialists, and maintenance technicians who work in private-sector hospitals are all covered by the same UAE labor law sick leave rules. Most employees know how sick leave works for their patients, but far fewer know exactly what the law gives them.
This guide explains Article 31 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Employment Relationships, how the 15/30/45 pay tiers work for healthcare worker sick leave in the UAE, how to notify your employer, and where the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), the Department of Health (DOH) Abu Dhabi, and the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) fit in. It covers mainland private-sector employment. Government employees and free zone staff may follow different rules, as explained below. This is general information, not legal advice.
How much sick leave am I entitled to in the UAE? | Ludmila Yamalova | Lawgical with LYLAW | Dubai
Published by Ludmila Yamalova (Lawgical) | Detailed legal breakdown of UAE Labour Law provisions (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021) governing sick leave entitlements and employee rights.
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- UAE labor law sick leave rules at a glance
- Who these rules cover
- The 90-day allowance and paid medical leave in the UAE private sector
- Probation period sick leave entitlement
- Notifying your employer
- Sick leave certificates for healthcare workers: DHA, DOH, and MOHAP
- Step by step: what to do when you fall ill
- When sick leave is unpaid
- Termination during sick leave
- Practical points for hospital staff
- Common mistakes
- Frequently asked questions
UAE labor law sick leave rules at a glance
| Topic | What the official sources say |
|---|---|
| Maximum sick leave | Up to 90 days per year, continuous or intermittent, after the probationary period [1] |
| Pay | Full pay for the first 15 days, half pay for the next 30 days, no pay for the remaining 45 days [1] |
| During probation | No paid sick leave. The employer may grant unpaid leave based on a medical report [1][2] |
| Notice | Tell the employer within a maximum of three days and submit a medical report [1][2] |
| No pay | Illness caused by misconduct, such as alcohol or drug use, or by violating safety instructions [1][3] |
| Dismissal | No dismissal or termination notice during sick leave. Termination is possible after all 90 days are used and the employee still cannot return [1] |
Who these rules cover
Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 governs private-sector employment on the UAE mainland, and the UAE government portal publishes the sick leave provisions under private-sector employment [1]. If you work for a private hospital, clinic, laboratory, or pharmacy on the mainland, these rules are your starting point.
Other groups work under different frameworks. Federal government employees are covered by the federal human resources law, which has its own sick leave chapter [8]. We did not verify the sick leave rules for Dubai or Abu Dhabi government employees, or for free zones such as the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). They may differ from the federal private-sector rules. A nurse at a government hospital and a nurse at a private hospital may therefore have different entitlements, so ask your human resources (HR) department which framework your contract follows.
The 90-day allowance and paid medical leave in the UAE private sector
Article 31 gives an employee who has completed probation up to 90 days of sick leave per year. The days can be taken in one block or in separate periods [1]. Pay falls in three tiers:
| Sick leave days | Pay |
|---|---|
| Days 1 to 15 | Full pay |
| Days 16 to 45 | Half pay |
| Days 46 to 90 | No pay |
Here is an illustration, not a real case. A technician who is ill for 20 days in total during the year receives full pay for the first 15 days and half pay for the other five. If the same technician is ill again later in the same year, the new days continue from day 21, not from zero, because the allowance is counted across the year.
Two details need a local check. The official portal says the 90 days apply "per year" but does not say whether your employer counts a calendar year or a year of service, so ask HR. It also does not set out which wage components are used to calculate half pay, so compare the HR answer with your contract.
Probation period sick leave entitlement
An employee on probation has no right to paid sick leave. The employer may still grant unpaid sick leave if a medical report from the medical entity states that the leave is necessary [1][2]. This matters for newly hired healthcare professionals, who often join a hospital soon after relocating. Ask your employer in writing when your probation ends, because the paid entitlement starts only after that date.
Notifying your employer: the three-day rule
Article 31 requires an employee who is ill from a cause other than a work injury to inform the employer or its representative within a maximum of three days, and to submit a medical report issued by the medical entity [1][2]. Some commentary describes this as three working days. The official portal says three days, so do not rely on the longer reading.
In practice, notify your supervisor or HR as early as you can and put it in writing, for example by email or a message in the hospital’s official system. Keep a copy. Shift-based staff should also tell their department head so that the roster can be covered.
Sick leave certificates for healthcare workers: DHA, DOH, and MOHAP
The law requires a medical report, and each health authority runs its own system for issuing and checking sick leave certificates.
| Authority | Area | What the authority publishes |
|---|---|---|
| DHA | Dubai | Licensed physicians and dentists issue certificates through the Sheryan system under DHA’s Issuance of Sick Leave Certificate Policy [4][5] |
| DOH | Abu Dhabi | A DOH standard requires physicians to issue sick leave through the DOH electronic sick leave system, accessed via TAMM [6] |
| MOHAP | Sharjah and the northern emirates | Attestation is instant for leave of five days or less. Longer leave is reviewed by a medical committee. The service is listed as free [7] |
Dubai: what DHA’s service page says
DHA’s service page lists several conditions for issuing a certificate. The professional must hold an active license, the facility license must be active, the professional must be a physician or dentist, and the professional’s Emirates ID must not match the patient’s [4]. The last condition has a direct meaning for hospital staff. A physician cannot issue a certificate to himself or herself through the DHA system, so a doctor who falls ill needs to be examined by another licensed colleague. DHA’s user guide also notes that certificates can be verified online and refers to a policy that sets maximum durations by professional category [5]. We could not confirm those limits from an official DHA page, so ask the issuing doctor or your HR department.
Abu Dhabi and the northern emirates
In Abu Dhabi, the DOH standard applies to licensed physicians and the electronic system, and you reach it through TAMM [6]. Our two copies of the standard describe its scope in different words, so confirm with the authority whether it reaches your employer category. In Sharjah and the northern emirates, the MOHAP service attests certificates, and the certificate must come from a licensed facility [7].
Verification of the certificate itself is handled by the health authority systems above. If your employer disputes your leave, the Executive Regulations provide a procedure for individual labor disputes through MOHRE, and you should check its current complaint process on its website [3].
Step by step: what to do when you fall ill
- Tell your supervisor or HR on the first day, in writing if possible, and always within the three-day limit.
- See a physician at a facility licensed by the health authority of your emirate. If you are a clinician, arrange to be examined by a colleague.
- Ask the physician to issue the certificate through the official authority system, and keep a copy of it.
- Send the certificate to HR and ask how many sick leave days you have already used this year.
- Keep your own log of the dates and the pay tier each day falls into, and compare it with your payslip.
- Before you return, confirm any hospital requirements for fitness to resume work, particularly in patient-facing roles.
A written record protects both sides. If a question about pay or attendance arises later, your messages, certificates, and log show exactly what you reported and when.
When sick leave is unpaid
Besides probation, the official portal lists two situations in which paid sick leave is not available. One is an illness that arises directly from the employee’s misconduct, such as drinking alcohol or using narcotics. The other is a violation of safety instructions set out in UAE legislation and in the establishment’s rules, provided the employee was told about them [1][3]. The portal also states that these provisions do not apply to occupational illness, which follows separate rules [1].
Termination during sick leave under UAE labor law
An employer may not dismiss an employee or give a termination notice while the employee is on sick leave. If the employee has used all 90 days and still cannot report to work, the employer may terminate the employment, and the employee remains entitled to end-of-service benefits under the labor law [1]. Article 31 itself says the employer may terminate after the sick leave if the worker cannot return, provided all financial dues are paid [2].
If you believe a dismissal was unlawful, ask MOHRE or a qualified lawyer. Keep your certificates, messages, and payslips. Do not treat this article as a legal opinion on any individual case.
Practical points for hospital staff
The law is the same for every department, but hospital work adds practical questions. Clinical staff should think about patient safety and infection control before returning. We did not verify any DHA, DOH, or MOHAP rule on return to work after specific illnesses, so check your hospital’s policy. Report absences early so a unit can arrange cover, and keep your documents in one place. Non-clinical staff, including IT and maintenance teams, have the same legal entitlement as clinicians.
Common mistakes
- Waiting beyond three days to inform the employer.
- Using a certificate from a provider that is not licensed by the relevant UAE health authority.
- Assuming all 90 days are fully paid. Only the first 15 are.
- Expecting paid leave during probation.
- Trying to self-certify as a clinician instead of being examined by a colleague.
- Assuming that government or free zone staff follow the same rules as private mainland staff.
Frequently asked questions
How many days of sick leave do UAE private-sector employees get?
Up to 90 days per year after probation: 15 days at full pay, 30 days at half pay, and 45 days unpaid [1].
Is sick leave paid during probation?
No. The employer may grant unpaid sick leave with a medical report [1][2].
Do I need a sick leave certificate?
Yes. Article 31 requires a medical report from the medical entity [2]. Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and the northern emirates each use their own electronic system.
Can I be fired while on sick leave?
Not while on sick leave. After all 90 days are used and you still cannot return, the employer may terminate and must pay end-of-service benefits [1].
Do these rules apply to government hospital staff?
Not necessarily. Federal government employees follow the federal human resources law [8], and other government staff and free zone employees may follow other rules. Confirm with HR.
A first-hand reflection from a Senior Medical Secretary with 15 years of experience in a busy Dubai hospital.
Sick Leave Rules for Healthcare Employees in UAE: A View from the Hospital Floor
I once had a consultant call me at 6:40 a.m. from the hospital parking lot, too unwell to walk into the building. As a Senior Medical Secretary in a busy Abu Dhabi hospital, I have spent 15 years watching how sick leave actually plays out on the ground. The law is one thing; the reality of a rota is another.
Here is what I have learned about sick leave for healthcare employees in the UAE, from the inside.
The Story That Taught Me the Rule
Under Article 31 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, healthcare professionals who have completed probation are entitled to up to 90 days of sick leave per year. The first 15 days are at full pay, the next 30 at half pay, and the remaining 45 are unpaid. During probation, there is no paid sick leave at all — only unpaid leave with a medical report.
The consultant that morning was still within his first month. He had no paid entitlement. He had to take the day unpaid, and I watched him later negotiate with HR for an advance on his salary.
The Unseen Challenges
Healthcare sick leave comes with layers that other industries simply do not have.
You Cannot Self-Certify
A doctor cannot issue a sick leave certificate to himself or herself through the DHA system. When clinicians fall ill, they must be examined by another licensed colleague. For a proud consultant, this is a humbling experience.
The Three-Day Rule Is Tighter Than It Sounds
The law requires you to notify your employer within a maximum of three days and submit a medical report. Some commentary interprets this as three working days. The official portal says three days, and I would not rely on the longer reading.
Coverage Is Not Automatic
When a nurse or surgeon calls in sick, the rota does not magically fill itself. I have spent countless hours calling locum agencies and asking colleagues to cover shifts. The hospital does not have a bench of idle consultants waiting for an emergency. Every absence creates a real gap, and someone has to fill it.
How Frequent Sick Leave Affects Your Career
I have seen two types of patterns. The first is the professional who takes a day when genuinely unwell, recovers, and returns. The second is the employee who takes intermittent days in a pattern that supervisors begin to notice.
In the UAE, there is no formal penalty for using your legal entitlement. But informally, frequent absences affect how you are perceived. A department head who has to rearrange a theatre list three times in a month will remember. When promotion or leadership opportunities arise, reliability becomes part of the conversation. It is not written in any law, but it is real.
Similarities and Differences with Non-Healthcare Workers
The legal framework is the same. A hospital IT technician and a staff nurse have identical sick leave entitlements under Article 31. But the practical experience differs sharply.
For a non-healthcare worker, sick leave often means simply not going to the office. For a healthcare professional, it means:
- Finding cover for your patients before you can rest.
- Ensuring handover of clinical information to a colleague.
- Thinking about infection control and whether it is safe to return to a patient-facing role.
- Navigating the licensing system to get a certificate from a colleague who is not yourself.
The One Thing I Always Tell New Staff
Tell your supervisor on the first day, in writing, and keep a copy. The law protects you, but only if you follow the process. Keep your certificates, your messages, and your own log of days used and pay tiers. When a payslip looks wrong, that log is your evidence.
Sick leave is a legal right, not a favour. But in a hospital, it is also a logistical event that affects patients, colleagues, and the rota. The professionals who handle it best are the ones who understand both the law and the reality.
Conclusion
For private-sector healthcare employees, the core rule is clear: up to 90 days of sick leave per year after probation, paid in 15, 30, and 45-day tiers, with notice within three days and a medical report. The details that cause disputes are the ones this article flags: how the year is counted, how pay is calculated, which authority issues your certificate, and which legal framework your employer follows. Check those with HR in writing. For other types of leave in hospitals, read our guide to healthcare leave laws and hospital policies in the UAE.
References
- UAE Government Portal. “Sick leave” (private sector). u.ae
- Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Employment Relationships, Article 31 (English text). uaelegislation.gov.ae
- Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022, Executive Regulations of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 (MOHRE). mohre.gov.ae (PDF)
- Dubai Health Authority. “Issue Sick Leave Certificate” service description. services.dha.gov.ae
- Dubai Health Authority. Issue Sick Leave Certificate user guide (PDF). dha.gov.ae
- Department of Health, Abu Dhabi. Standard for the Issuance and Attestation of Sick Leave Reports in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. doh.gov.ae
- Ministry of Health and Prevention. “Attestation of medical leaves and reports.” mohap.gov.ae
- Federal Authority for Government Human Resources. Human Resources Law in the Federal Government (English). fahr.gov.ae (PDF)
