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
Saudi Arabia has outlined a list of medical conditions that may disqualify individuals from obtaining a Hajj permit, as part of efforts to safeguard pilgrims’ health during the annual pilgrimage.
The Ministry of Health and the Public Health Authority said the restrictions apply to people suffering from conditions that could impair their ability to perform rituals, including advanced kidney failure requiring dialysis, severe heart failure, liver cirrhosis, serious mental illnesses, dementia, advanced age-related frailty, and pregnancy in the final trimester.
Authorities said pilgrims must meet health requirements that allow them to complete the rituals safely and without complications that could endanger their wellbeing.
The ministry also said all pilgrims must receive a meningococcal meningitis vaccine, with a single dose of the quadrivalent vaccine administered at least 10 days before the start of Hajj.
Additional recommended vaccinations include COVID-19 and seasonal influenza, particularly for high-risk groups such as the elderly, pregnant women and those with chronic conditions including heart, respiratory and kidney diseases, as well as diabetes.
Officials said updated doses of COVID-19 and flu vaccines are advised, especially if previous vaccinations were administered before the recommended dates.
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