The new framework in Abu Dhabi sets out 15 categories of leave
Abu Dhabi government employees are getting a structured update to their leave system, with a total of 15 different types of approved leave now clearly set out under a new framework.
The latest development has been introduced by the Abu Dhabi Government Enablement Department as part of Law No. (8) of 2025 on human resources.
In simple terms, it is a big, organised “work-life balance rulebook” designed to make sure employees get proper time off while keeping government work running smoothly.
Let’s start with the basics: annual leave. Depending on your job grade, employees can enjoy between 22 and 30 working days a year. Higher grades (five and above) get the full 30 days, while grades six and seven get 22. And yes, once your probation period is done, you’re in the clear to apply.
Full list of days as follows:
Annual leave
22 to 30 working days per year (depending on job grade)
Sick leave
Up to 15 working days per year (full pay)
Work-related injury leave
12 days
Marriage leave
10 days
Maternity leave
3 months
Adoption leave
3 months
Paternity leave
6 days
Bereavement leave (death of a relative)
10 days
Iddah (waiting period) leave
4 months and 10 days
Hajj leave
15 days
Companion leave (for employees to escort family members requiring medical treatment or care)
3 months
Study leave (exams within the UAE)
3 days
Study leave (exams outside the UAE)
15 days
Full-time study leave
30 days
Unpaid leave
No fixed duration (granted subject to approval by the government entity)
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What’s interesting is how structured everything is. Leave requests are meant to be approved within seven working days, and if nobody responds in time, it’s automatically considered approved, which is a nice little efficiency win.
Employees can even request salary in advance for longer leave periods (as long as it meets the conditions).
Now here’s where it gets more detailed: unused annual leave doesn’t just disappear. You can carry it over to the next year, but only up to half your entitlement. Anything beyond that needs special approval based on workload and operations.
And if you’re wondering about “extra perks”, there are quite a few. Employees with disabilities get an additional five days of annual leave, and promotions can adjust your leave entitlement too.
Beyond annual leave, there’s a surprisingly wide mix of other categories including 10 days for marriage leave, six days for paternity leave, three months for maternity or adoption leave, and even 15 days for Hajj leave.
There’s also bereavement leave, study leave, and companion leave included in the system, covering almost every major life situation.
Health-related leave is also clearly mapped out. Employees can take up to 15 days of sick leave per year with full pay, and short absences of up to two days don’t even need a medical certificate (as long as it doesn’t become excessive). More serious cases can go beyond the cap if medically approved.
There are also rules for long-term illness, reduced working hours for health reasons, and periodic medical reviews to ensure proper support.
On top of all that, employees remain officially in service during approved leave, meaning benefits like pensions and end-of-service calculations continue as normal.
It’s a pretty comprehensive system that tries to balance structure with flexibility, making sure employees can actually take time off when life happens, without the whole system grinding to a halt.
For further information, visit dge.gov.ae
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