Is compassionate or bereavement leave paid in the UAE?

Yes. Under the UAE Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021), compassionate (bereavement) leave is paid leave, not unpaid time off. The entitlement is 5 days for the death of a spouse and 3 days for the death of a parent, child, sibling, grandchild or grandparent, and during these days your normal wage continues. Importantly, this leave is a standalone statutory entitlement, so it should not be taken out of your annual-leave balance — an employer who deducts bereavement days from your annual leave, or treats them as unpaid, is not applying the law correctly. Employers may reasonably request a death certificate or similar proof to process the paid leave. If your employer has docked your pay for properly claimed compassionate leave or counted it against annual leave, ask for a corrected payslip showing the days as paid bereavement leave. If the issue is not resolved internally, you can file a complaint with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE), or seek help from verified UAE legal professionals on LEXAI.