Taking unpaid leave in the UAE? See exactly how much comes off your salary and what remains of your month. The standard practice: gross salary divided by 30, multiplied by the unpaid days.
How is unpaid leave deducted in the UAE?
Does unpaid leave affect my gratuity?
Can my employer refuse unpaid leave?
How the deduction is calculated
The labour law entitles the employer to withhold pay for days not worked (Article 33 – wages are for work performed). Most UAE payrolls calculate the deduction as gross monthly salary ÷ 30 × unpaid days. Some companies divide by working days (22) instead of calendar days, which produces a larger per-day deduction – check your HR policy, as the law does not fix a single divisor.
Knock-on effects worth knowing
Unpaid leave days do not count as service, so long stretches of unpaid leave marginally delay your gratuity accrual and your annual leave accrual. Your visa, insurance and other benefits typically continue. Unpaid leave itself is by mutual agreement – your employer can decline it, with the notable exception of the once-per-employment Hajj leave of up to 30 days.
Related calculators
Check your normal monthly net with the UAE salary calculator, or what your unused paid leave is worth with the leave salary calculator.
Estimates for information only, not legal advice.