Annual Leave and Sick Leave for Gulf Workers in 2026: Entitlements, Pay and How to Claim

Most Gulf workers are entitled to paid annual leave of around 30 days a year, plus paid sick leave with a medical certificate, although the exact numbers, pay rates and qualifying periods vary by country and by contract. Leave is a legal entitlement in Gulf labour law, not a favour, and it should be agreed in writing before you travel or take time off.

This guide gives the standard entitlements as generally stated in Gulf labour law and notes where countries differ. Always check your contract and the current law in the country where you work, because a contract can offer more than the legal minimum, but it should not offer less.

• Many Gulf countries provide 30 days of paid annual leave per year once you have completed a qualifying period, often after one year of service.

• Some countries provide 21 days in the first years and 30 days after five years of service, so length of service can change your entitlement.

• Annual leave is usually paid at your normal salary, and employers should not deduct pay for approved leave.

• Leave dates are normally agreed with your employer, and you should apply in writing and keep the approval, especially for travel that needs flights or a visa.

Saudi Arabia generally provides 21 days of paid annual leave, rising to 30 days after five years of continuous service with the same employer, under its labour law. The UAE generally provides 30 days after one year of service, with a pro-rata entitlement in the first year. Qatar generally provides three weeks after one year, rising to four weeks after five years.

Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman have their own scales, generally in the range of 21 to 30 days, with variations for length of service and for some occupations. These figures are the standard legal entitlements as generally stated, and your contract may offer more. If your contract offers less than the legal minimum, the legal minimum normally applies, but get advice before you challenge it.

Sick leave in the Gulf is usually paid, at least for an initial period, when you provide a medical certificate from a licensed doctor. Many countries provide a tiered system: full pay for an initial period, then half pay, then unpaid leave, with the total period often limited to around 90 days a year, although the exact tiers differ by country.

Inform your employer as soon as you are unwell, visit a doctor promptly, and keep the certificate and any prescriptions or hospital papers. Do not work while you are certified unfit if your doctor has advised rest, and do not delay telling your employer, because late notification can be used to dispute the leave.

Apply for annual leave in writing, well before your planned dates, and keep the employer's written approval. Note your leave balance, your return date, and any travel or exit requirements, and confirm whether your employer books flights or pays a leave allowance where the contract promises it.

For sick leave, report the absence on the first day, submit the certificate within the period your employer or the law requires, and keep copies of everything. If pay is deducted wrongly, raise it in writing with your payslip and certificate attached, and keep a record of the response before you escalate the matter.

Public holidays are separate from annual leave in most Gulf countries, and you should not be asked to use annual leave for a public holiday. If you are asked to work on a public holiday, check whether the law or your contract provides extra pay or a day off in lieu.

Unused annual leave is often paid in cash when employment ends, and the balance should appear in your final settlement. Ask for your leave balance in writing before your last day, and check it against your own record of leave taken, because errors are easier to fix before your visa is cancelled.

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Applying is always free for candidates. Prepare your documents, check the notice, salary, leave, accommodation and food terms in the offer before you accept, and ask questions early if anything is unclear. A clear application and an honest profile give you the best chance of a smooth, well-planned move.