Sick leave certificates in Dubai and the UAE: get, verify and attest
Who can issue sick leave in Dubai, maximum days, how to verify a DHA certificate with barcode and PIN, MOHAP attestation for AED 50, and Abu Dhabi checks.
In Dubai, only a DHA-licensed doctor or dentist can issue sick leave, on the day of the visit, through DHA's Sheryan system. The certificate carries a barcode and PIN that anyone can check with Sheryan's Verify Document service, and it needs no stamp. If your employer wants federal attestation, MOHAP attests sick leave online for AED 50 (within one month of issue). In Abu Dhabi, sick leave is checked on TAMM's Sick Leave Validation service.
Last checked: 18 October 2026
Your sick leave rights under UAE labour law
Private sector employees fall under Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021. Article 31 covers sick leave:
- Up to 90 days of sick leave a year, after probation.
- First 15 days: full pay. Next 30 days: half pay. Remaining 45 days: unpaid.
- No paid sick leave during probation, though some employers allow unpaid leave with a medical report.
- Tell your employer within three days of falling ill.
- Back it up with a medical report from a licensed facility.
Many companies ask for a certificate even for one day. Check your HR policy. Government employees follow separate rules.
Dubai: how sick leave certificates work (DHA rules)
DHA's policy Issuance of Sick Leave Certificate & Escort Certificate (version 2.1, effective 11 October 2024) sets the rules for every DHA-licensed facility.
Who can issue
- DHA-licensed physicians and dentists only, within their licence and specialty.
- Not nurses, allied health staff, interns, trainees or admin staff.
- Only at the facility where the doctor is licensed, after a face-to-face visit.
- On the same day as the visit.
- Telehealth sick leave is allowed through a licensed facility, up to 3 days.
Maximum days per certificate
| Doctor | Maximum sick leave |
|---|---|
| General practitioner or dentist | 5 days |
| GP or dentist, listed infectious diseases (for example chickenpox, measles, TB) | 14 days |
| Specialist | 14 days |
| Consultant | 30 days |
| Telehealth consultation | 3 days |
Longer leave needs a full medical report, written by the same doctor. Leave over 5 days must have the report attached in the system. Overlapping certificates are not allowed.
No backdating
Sheryan does not accept retrospective dates. If you were ill yesterday and see a doctor today, the certificate starts today. Where a system error happened, the doctor can note the real date in the remarks, and DHA must attest it.
Electronic only
Dubai facilities must issue sick leave through Sheryan. Handwritten certificates are not allowed. A Sheryan certificate does not need a stamp or manual DHA attestation unless someone specifically asks for it. Any change after it is generated makes it invalid.
How to verify a Dubai sick leave certificate
- Find the barcode number and PIN printed on the certificate.
- Open DHA's Sheryan portal and go to the Verify Document service.
- Enter the barcode number and PIN.
- Compare what the system shows with the paper or PDF: name, ID, dates and facility.
Employers: if the system shows a different period or no record, ask the employee to return to the facility. DHA's Sheryan is the only source of truth. If you suspect a fake, report it to DHA on 800 342.
Patients of Dubai Health hospitals and health centres can download attested sick leave from the Dubai Health app.
Escort (companion) certificates in Dubai
- Issued on facility letterhead, signed by the treating doctor with name and licence number.
- The escort must be a relative up to the fourth degree or next of kin. The doctor checks the escort's ID.
- It cannot be issued as sick leave for the companion.
- DHA will not attest an escort certificate without the doctor's name and signature.
Inpatients get a stay certificate during admission. Sick leave is issued after discharge.
MOHAP attestation (federal)
Some employers, especially federal bodies, ask for MOHAP attestation. MOHAP's Attestation of Medical Leaves and Reports service:
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Channel | MOHAP website or app, log in with UAE PASS |
| Fee | AED 50 |
| Deadline | Within one month of the date the facility issued the leave |
| Processing | 2 working days; add 5 working days if a medical committee reviews it |
| 5 days or less | Attested electronically, no committee. Upload the certificate. |
| Over 5 days, up to 1 month | Certificate plus medical report; approved by the emirate's medical sub-committee |
| Over 1 month | Approved by MOHAP's Higher Medical Committee |
| Escort leave | Proof of relationship, certificate and medical report |
Important conditions:
- Leave issued in Dubai or Abu Dhabi must first be approved by that emirate's health authority, then submitted to MOHAP.
- Leave issued in Sharjah and the Northern Emirates is attested at the facility that treated you.
- Leave issued abroad must be certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs first, then goes to a medical committee.
- Private facilities must be licensed.
Abu Dhabi: DoH sick leave rules and checks
Abu Dhabi follows the DoH Standard for the Issuance and Attestation of Sick Leave Reports (version 2, effective August 2023):
- GPs issue up to 3 days at a time. Longer needs a specialist or consultant.
- A medical report is needed for leave over 7 continuous days.
- Long leave for Abu Dhabi government employees goes to the DoH Medical Committee. Reports must be submitted within 7 days of issue.
- Reports from outside Abu Dhabi's licensed providers must be certified by the UAE embassy or consulate (if abroad) and submitted within 15 days of return.
To check a certificate, use Sick Leave Validation on TAMM, listed on the DoH Lists and Tools page. Employers can verify and print without contacting DoH. Diagnosis is hidden for privacy.
Checklist: a valid UAE sick leave certificate
- Issued by a licensed doctor or dentist at a licensed facility.
- Your full name and Emirates ID or passport number.
- Visit date matches the start date (Dubai: no backdating).
- Within the doctor's maximum days, or with a medical report attached.
- Barcode and PIN (Dubai) or listed on TAMM validation (Abu Dhabi).
- Not edited after issue.
Frequently asked questions
Does a Dubai sick leave certificate need a stamp?
No. A certificate generated on DHA's Sheryan system does not need a stamp or manual attestation unless someone specifically requests it.
Can a doctor in Dubai backdate sick leave?
No. Sheryan does not accept retrospective dates. Only system errors can be corrected through remarks, with DHA attestation.
How many days of sick leave can a GP give in Dubai?
Up to 5 days, or 14 days for listed infectious diseases. Specialists can give up to 14 days and consultants up to 30 days.
How much does MOHAP sick leave attestation cost?
AED 50 through the MOHAP website or app. Apply within one month of the issue date.
Can I get sick leave from an online doctor?
In Dubai, yes, through a DHA-licensed telehealth facility, for up to 3 days.
How does my employer check my sick leave is real?
In Dubai, with the barcode and PIN on Sheryan's Verify Document service. In Abu Dhabi, through TAMM Sick Leave Validation.
For clinic owners: issuing sick leave outside these rules can lead to DHA sanctions. If you need more patients through the door, Access One runs Google Ads for Dubai clinics.
Sources
- DHA: Issuance of Sick Leave Certificate & Escort Certificate, v2.1 (Oct 2024)
- DHA circular CIR-2024-00000193
- MOHAP: Attestation of Medical Leaves and Reports
- DoH Standard for Issuance and Attestation of Sick Leave Reports
- DoH: Lists and Tools (Sick Leave Validation)
- Gulf News: MOHAP instant sick leave attestation (2025)
- Gulf News: Do you need a sick leave certificate in the UAE?
Published 18 Oct 2026 · Access One
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