What are the annual leave and sick leave rules in the DIFC?

Employees in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) take their leave entitlements from the DIFC Employment Law, which is separate from the mainland federal labour law. The DIFC law provides for paid annual (vacation) leave that accrues with service, paid sick leave subject to defined conditions, public holidays, and family-related leave such as maternity and other parental entitlements, each with its own qualifying rules. The precise number of annual-leave days, the amount and pay structure of sick-leave entitlement, and the conditions attached are all fixed in the DIFC Employment Law and can be amended, so confirm the current figures directly against the law and your contract rather than assuming they match onshore rules. Your contract may grant more generous terms than the statutory minimum, but not less. Because the DIFC operates its own regime, reading the DIFC Employment Law itself is the reliable source. For a review of your specific leave entitlements, you can compare verified UAE legal professionals on LEXAI who handle DIFC employment matters.