How many days of annual leave in each country?
| Country | Leave per year | When you earn it | Unused leave paid on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia (Art. 109) | 21 days, 30 after 5 continuous years | For each year; part-years in proportion when you leave | Actual wage |
| UAE (Art. 29) | 30 days | 2 days a month after 6 months, 30 days after a year | Basic wage |
| Qatar (Art. 79) | 3 weeks, 4 weeks from 5 years | After one full continuous year | Basic wage |
| Kuwait (Art. 70) | 30 working days | After 6 months in the first year | Full wage |
| Egypt (Art. 124) | 15, then 21, then 30 days (45 with a disability) | After 6 months, in proportion | Wage (no daily method in the law) |
How the balance is calculated
Each year of service carries a number of leave days set by the law, and the calculator spreads them evenly over that year: work half the year and you have earned half its leave. It then subtracts the days you took; what is left is your balance. If you enter your wage, the balance is multiplied by the daily wage to show its cash value.
Saudi example
You started on 1 January 2024, calculate to 1 January 2026 and took no leave: 2 years × 21 days = 42 days. With an actual wage of SAR 6,000, the daily wage is 6,000 ÷ 30 = 200, so the pay for the balance if you leave is 42 × 200 = SAR 8,400.
UAE example
You started on 1 January 2026 and calculate to 1 September 2026 (8 months): 8 × 2 days = 16 days. After a full year the balance is 30 days, and with a basic salary of AED 6,000 the end-of-service payout for those 30 days is 6,000 ÷ 30 × 30 = AED 6,000.
Egypt example
You started on 1 January 2026 and calculate to 1 January 2028: 15 days for the first year and 21 for the second = 36 working days. If you took 20 of them, your balance is 16 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is annual leave paid on the basic or the total wage?
It depends on the country: the actual wage (basic + allowances) in Saudi Arabia and the full wage in Kuwait. In the UAE leave you take is paid at your full wage, but unused leave at the end of service is paid on the basic wage only. In Qatar both leave pay and cash in lieu use the basic wage.
Can I take cash instead of leave while still employed?
Not in Saudi Arabia: the law bars cash in lieu during service, and you are paid for your balance only when you leave. In the UAE it is possible by agreement with your employer. In Egypt the employer must settle the balance or pay for it every 3 years at most.
Do weekends and public holidays count as leave days?
Not in Kuwait or Egypt, where the law excludes weekly rest days and public holidays. In Saudi Arabia, Eid and national-day holidays inside your leave extend it. In the UAE public holidays inside the leave count as part of it unless your contract is more generous.
Can I carry leave over to next year?
In Saudi Arabia with your employer’s consent. In the UAE and Qatar up to half of it. In Kuwait you may accumulate two years. In Egypt you must take 15 days a year and the rest can roll over for up to 3 years.
What about my other dues?
Work out your end-of-service award (also for the UAE, Kuwait and Qatar) and your overtime pay.
Sources
- Saudi Arabia: Labour Law (Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, Arabic), Articles 2, 109, 110 and 111, and the Implementing Regulations.
- UAE: Federal Decree-Law 33 of 2021 (Article 29) and Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022 (Article 19).
- Qatar: Labour Law No. 14 of 2004, Articles 72, 79, 80 and 81.
- Kuwait: Private Sector Labour Law No. 6 of 2010, Articles 70–73, as amended by Law No. 85 of 2017.
- Egypt: Labour Law No. 14 of 2025 (Arabic), Articles 124 and 125.