Does annual leave keep accruing during sick or maternity leave in the UAE?

Under the UAE Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021), periods of statutory leave such as maternity leave are generally treated as part of your service, so your continuity of employment and entitlements are protected while you are on protected leave. Maternity leave, for example, does not break your service or strip you of the right to accrue annual leave for that period. The treatment of long sick-leave periods can be more nuanced, so where you have an extended absence it is worth confirming in writing how your employer is treating the time for the purpose of your annual-leave accrual. What an employer should not do is use a protected leave as a reason to erase entitlements you would otherwise build up. To avoid surprises, request a statement of your accrued annual-leave balance after a long period of sick or maternity leave. If the calculation looks wrong, raise it with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) or seek advice from verified UAE legal professionals on LEXAI.