The document summarizes leave policies for Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, including annual leave, sick leave, Hajj leave, marriage leave, maternity leave, paternity leave, death leave, and time off in lieu (TOIL). It provides details on the duration and pay rules for each leave type in each GCC country. For example, it states that annual leave is generally 21-30 days per year at full pay across GCC countries, and sick leave ranges from 30-120 days with varying levels of pay depending on the country and length of leave.

1. GCC Leave Policy/TOIL
by: Uday Roy

2. Gulf Cooperation
Council (GCC) Leave
Rule
The Arab states of the Persian Gulf are the seven Arab states which
border the Persian Gulf,
namely Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the
United Arab Emirates (UAE).

3. GCC Common Leave Type
 Annual Leave
 Sick Leave
 Hajj Leave
 Marriage Leave
 Maternity Leave
 Paternity Leave
 Death Leave [*Iddah/Iddat]
 TOIL (Time off in lieu)
* In Islam, iddah or iddat (Arabic: ‫العدة‬ ;period of waiting) is the period a woman must observe after the
death of her spouse or after a divorce, during which she may not marry another man.

4. Annual Leave
Country Pay Duration Accruing Rate Encashable Comments
Bahrain Full 30 Days 2.5 Days PM Yes No encashment where service year < 1
Iraq Full 21 Days + X No rule Yes
The length of a worker's annual leave shall be increased by X days after every
additional 5 years of continuous service with the same employer
A. 2 days for the first five years;
B. 2 days for the second five years; and
C. 3 days for each subsequent five years.
Kuwait Full 30 Days No rule Yes Max carry forward unused leave limit is 60
Oman Full 30 Days No rule Yes
Qatar Full 21 / 28 Days No rule Yes
Based on service year
A. Service year 1 to < 5 years - minimum 21 days
B. Service year 5 or more - minimum 28 days
KSA Full 21 / 30 Days No rule Yes
Based on service year
A. Service year 1 to < 5 years - minimum 21 days
B. Service year 5 or more - minimum 30 days
UAE Full 24 / 30 Days 2 / 2.5 Days PM Yes
Based on service year
A. 2 days per month, if completed 6 months of service but not 1 year
B. 30 days, if completed one year of service.

5. Sick Leave
Country Duration Pay Comments
Bahrain 55 Days
1. 15 days – at full pay [100%]
2. 20 days – at half pay [50%]
3. 20 days without pay [0%]
Max limits 240 days during the employee's service
Iraq 30 Days Full Max limits 180 days during the employee's service
Kuwait 75 Days
1. 15 days – at full pay [100%]
2. 10 days – at 3/4 of the pay [75%]
3. 10 days – at half pay [50%]
4. 10 days – at quarter pay [25%]
5. 30 days without pay [0%]
Oman 70 Days
1. 14 days – at full pay [100%]
2. 14 days – at 3/4 of the pay [75%]
3. 14 days – at half pay [50%]
4. 28 days – at quarter pay [25%]
Qatar 42 Days
1. 14 days – at full pay [100%]
2. 28 days – at half pay [50%]
KSA 120 Days
1. 30 days – at full pay [100%]
2. 60 days – at 3/4 of the pay [75%]
3. 30 days – without pay [0%]
A single year shall mean the year which begins from the date of the
first sick leave.
UAE 90 Days
1. 15 days – at full pay [100%]
2. 30 days – at half pay [50%]
3. 45 days – without pay [0%]

6. Hajj Leave
Country Duration Pay Terms & Conditions
Bahrain 14 Days Full Pay
Only who spent 5 or more consecutive years
Once in his total service year
Iraq Unpaid Once in his total service year
Kuwait 21 Days Full Pay
Only who spent 2 or more consecutive years
Once in his total service year
Oman 15 Days Full Pay
Only who spent 1 or more consecutive years
Once in his total service year
Qatar 14 Days Unpaid Once in his total service year
KSA 10 - 15 Days Full Pay
Days includes Eid Al-Adha holiday
Only who spent 2 or more consecutive years
Once in his total service year
UAE 30 Days Unpaid Once in his total service year

7. Marriage Leave
Country For Whom Duration Pay Comments
Bahrain Self 3 Days Full Pay Once in service year
Iraq
Self 5 Days Full Pay
Son/daughter 1 Day Full Pay
Kuwait No rule
Oman Self 3 Days Full Pay Once in service year
Qatar No rule
KSA Self 5 Days Full Pay
UAE No rule

8. Maternity Leave
Country Duration Pay Comments
Bahrain 75 Days
1. 60 days – at full pay [100%]
2. 15 days – without pay [0%]
Iraq 98 Days Full Pay A. Minimum 14 Weeks [98 Days] Per Year
Kuwait 70 Days Full Pay
Oman 50 Days Full Pay
A. Minimum 1 service year at the date of child birth
B. Maximum 3 times during the service life
Qatar 50 Days Full Pay A. Minimum 1 service year at the date of child birth
KSA 70 Days
Based on service year
A. Full pay if service year is 3 or more
B. Half pay if service year between 1 to < 3
C. No pay if service year < 1
UAE 45 Days
Based on service year
A. Full pay if service year is 1 or more
B. Half pay if service year < 1

9. Paternity Leave
Country Duration Pay Comments
Bahrain 1 Day Full Pay
Iraq No rule
Kuwait No rule
Oman No rule
Qatar No rule
KSA 3 Days Full Pay
UAE No rule

10. Death Leave
Country For Whom Duration Pay Comments
Bahrain
Spouse/relatives 3 Days Full Pay
A. His/her relatives -> to the 4th degree of kin
B. His/her spouse's relatives -> to the 2nd degree of kin
Spouse of Muslim Female Worker 1 Month Full Pay
Iraq
Spouse/Parents/Childs/Siblings/Pa
rent in law
5 Days Full Pay
Spouse of Muslim Female Worker 130 Days Full Pay
Kuwait
Spouse/relatives 3 Days Full Pay A. His/her relatives -> to the 1st & 2nd degree of kin
Spouse of Muslim Female Worker 4 Months and 10 Days Full Pay
Spouse of non-muslim Female
Worker
21 Days Full Pay
Oman
Spouse/Childs/Parents/Grandpare
nts/Siblings
3 Days Full Pay
Uncle/Aunt 2 Days Full Pay
Spouse of Muslim Female Worker 130 Days Full Pay
Qatar No rule
KSA
Spouse/any other blood relation 5 Days Full Pay
Uncle/Aunt 2 Days Full Pay
Spouse of Muslim Female Worker 130 Days Full Pay
Spouse of non-muslim Female
Worker
15 Days Full Pay
UAE No rule

11. Time off in lieu (TOIL)
 Some employers give their employees time off instead of paying for overtime.
This is known as 'time off in lieu'. The terms (eg when it can be taken) are
agreed between employee and employer.
Country Comments
Bahrain No specific rule
Iraq No specific rule
Kuwait No specific rule
Oman No specific rule
Qatar No specific rule
KSA No specific rule
UAE No specific rule

12. Thank You
…….but……