Can I carry over unused annual leave to the next year in the UAE?

In many cases, yes, but within limits. Under the UAE Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021), annual leave is meant to be taken in the year it is earned, but leave can be carried over or paid in lieu where the employer and employee agree or where work requirements prevented it from being taken. Employers commonly apply a carry-over cap in company policy, so the practical amount you can roll forward may depend on your contract as well as the law. What an employer cannot do is simply erase accrued leave without compensation — any leave you earned but did not take is ultimately preserved as a balance that is paid out when you leave the job. To avoid losing value, request your current leave balance in writing and clarify your employer's carry-over rule. If leave is being wiped without payment, you can raise it with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE), or consult verified UAE legal professionals on LEXAI.