Hajj leave in UAE private sector: Everything you need to know
Key rules, eligibility and application steps for Hajj leave in UAE private firms



Dubai: Planning to perform Hajj this year involves more than travel bookings and preparations for the pilgrimage itself. If you are working in the UAE’s private sector, one of the key steps is ensuring your leave is arranged properly and well in advance.

Here is a breakdown to how Hajj leave works, along with what you need to do before applying.

What is Hajj leave?
Under the UAE’s Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021), employees may be granted special leave specifically to perform the Hajj pilgrimage. This is a distinct category of leave and comes with specific conditions.

In most cases:

• Hajj leave is unpaid
  
• It can be granted for up to 30 days
  
• It is allowed only once during your employment with the same employer
  

This means that if you have already taken Hajj leave with your current employer, you are not entitled to it again unless you change jobs.

Rules for free zones in UAE
If you work in a financial free zone, slightly different rules apply, although the overall approach remains similar.

Under the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Employment Law:

• Muslim employees must have completed at least one year of continuous service
  
• They are entitled to up to 21 days of unpaid leave
  
• This leave can only be taken once per employer
  
• Meanwhile, under the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) employment regulations:
  
• Employees must also have completed at least one year of service
  
• They can take up to 30 calendar days of unpaid leave
  
• The leave is granted once during employment with the same employer
  

More on UAE leave gulfnews.com/living-in-uae/ask-us/hajj-leave-in-uae-priva...