Can I take annual leave during my notice period in the UAE?

HR is closer to the legal position than your colleague. Under the UAE Labour Law, the timing of annual leave is set by the employer in line with work requirements — leave is your right, but when you take it is not solely your choice, and that applies during a notice period too. An employer can legitimately require you to work your full 30 days so the handover is completed, and many do exactly that with resigning staff. What they cannot do is make your unused leave disappear: any accrued days you have not taken by your last working day must be paid out in cash with your final settlement, calculated on your basic salary. So you will not lose the value of those 12 days either way — the question is only whether you spend them on a beach or receive them as money. If you would rather take the days, ask in writing; some employers agree, especially if the handover is genuinely done, but they are entitled to refuse. Check your final settlement carefully to confirm the leave payout, gratuity and any other dues are all included. If the settlement arrives short, an employment lawyer can quickly tell you whether the numbers match what the law requires.