Annual Leave in the Gulf: UAE, Saudi, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain Compared
Paid annual leave is a legal right in every Gulf country, but the number of days and the waiting period are different. Here is a side-by-side comparison of the minimum leave set by each country's private-sector labour law. Your contract can give more, never less.
Annual leave at a glance
| Country | Annual leave | When it starts |
|---|---|---|
| UAE | 30 days a year | 2 days per month after 6 months; full 30 days after 1 year |
| Saudi Arabia | 21 days a year, rising to 30 days after 5 years with the same employer | After 1 year (pro-rata before that) |
| Qatar | 3 weeks a year, 4 weeks after 5 years | After 1 year of service |
| Kuwait | 30 days a year | After 9 months of continuous service |
| Oman | 30 days a year | After 6 months of service (Labour Law 53/2023) |
| Bahrain | 30 days a year | Accrues at 2.5 days per month; full entitlement after 1 year |
UAE
Under the 2021 UAE Labour Law, you earn 2 days per month between six months and one year of service, then 30 days a year. With your employer's agreement you can carry leave forward. Unused leave is paid when you leave, normally on basic salary. See our full UAE leave guide.
Saudi Arabia
Workers get 21 days of paid leave a year, increasing to 30 days after five continuous years with the same employer. Recent amendments define leave in working days. The employer can schedule leave but must pay leave salary in advance if you ask. Unused leave is paid at the end of service.
Qatar
Qatar gives at least three weeks' paid leave a year, and four weeks after five years of service. Leave can be split into two parts, and up to half can be carried forward with a written request.
Kuwait
Private-sector workers in Kuwait get 30 days of paid annual leave after nine months of continuous service. Public holidays during leave are not deducted, and leave can be accumulated for up to two years with the employer's approval.
Oman
Oman's new Labour Law (Royal Decree 53/2023) gives 30 days of paid annual leave after six months of service.
Bahrain
Bahrain's labour law gives 30 days of paid annual leave a year, earned at 2.5 days for each month worked.
Unused leave when you leave your job
In every GCC country, unused leave you have earned should be paid in your final settlement. A common method is daily wage × unused days, where daily wage = monthly wage ÷ 30. Ask HR to show this line clearly. Use our final settlement checklist so nothing is missed.
اردو خلاصہ
یو اے ای، کویت، عمان اور بحرین میں سال کی 30 دن کی چھٹی ملتی ہے۔ سعودی عرب میں 21 دن، اور ایک ہی کمپنی میں پانچ سال کے بعد 30 دن۔ قطر میں تین ہفتے، اور پانچ سال کے بعد چار ہفتے۔ نوکری ختم ہونے پر باقی چھٹیوں کے پیسے ملنے چاہئیں۔