Qatar Labour Law on Annual Leave (2026)
Annual leave in Qatar is a statutory right under Law No. 14 of 2004. After one year of service, employees are entitled to paid annual leave. This guide covers entitlement, calculation, carry-over and employer obligations.
Last verified: July 1, 2026 against official Ministry of Labour (ADLSA) guidance. Disclaimer: Qatar Guides is not affiliated with the Ministry of Labour. Confirm current rules on mlsd.gov.qa before you act.
Annual Leave at a Glance (2026)
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| After 1 year | 3 calendar weeks paid leave |
| After 5 years | 4 calendar weeks paid leave |
| Leave salary | Basic wage plus applicable allowances |
| Hub | Qatar Labour Law guide |
Fees note (July 2026): Fines, allowances and entitlements may change. Confirm on mlsd.gov.qa before you rely on figures here.
Guide by: Sheikh Al Fahad, Qatar Guides. Reviewed: July 1, 2026.
Qatar has made laws that prioritize its citizens. It has also made laws for annual leave. It has provided them with all the rights. In Qatar Labour law, everything related to laborers is mentioned, including annual leave & and salary calculation.
Let’s learn about Qatar’s labor law on annual leave. This law ensures that the worker gets time off to rest and enjoy. This article will explain every detail of annual leave in Qatar, including eligibility and duration. Reading it will solve every confusion and question about annual leave, so let’s get into it.
What is annual leave?
Annual leave is employees’ vacation time each year to take a break from work and enjoy some time off. By this, the employee can have a good time with their family and perform religious activities like Hajj without any financial crisis. Annual leave is different from sick leave.
Benefits of Annual Leave
- Rest & Relaxation
- Improved Mental Health
- Increase Productivity
Who is eligible for Qatar annual leave?
According to article 79, Qatar Labour law has set an eligibility criterion for the annual law, which is mentioned below:
- Employees who have completed one continuous year of service for a specific company are eligible for annual leave.
Article 72: Qatar Labour Law Annual Leave Salary Calculations
According to Article 72, the salary (wage) of the worker on annual leave and sick leave will be calculated based on his basic salary on the date of entitlement.
Salary of piece-based worker:
The salary of the piecework employee shall be calculated based on his average salary for the three months preceding the date of the entitlement.ย
Carry Forward of Annual Leave
Carry forward of annual leave in Qatar is possible and can be done on the mutual agreement but it has some protocols that need to be followed:
Annual Leave Request
To request annual leave, you must follow a professional way of approaching it. By following the following steps, you can demand annual leave.
The annual leave application sample or annual leave format is provided below:
Article 79: Qatar Labour Law on Annual Leave
According to the Qatar Labour Law Article 79, the workers who have completed one continuous year in the service shall be entitled to their basic wage. You can explore maternity leave as well. The service period and annual leave days are given below:
| Service period | Annual Leave |
| Less than one year | Not Entitled |
| Less than 5 years | Minimum Of 3 Weeks |
| Five year or more | Minimum Of 4 Weeks |
Article 78: Must Holidays
According to Article 78, all the employees shall be entitled to these holidays with Full Wage. The holidays are given as per followed table:
| Eid-Al-Fitr | 3 Days |
| Eid-Al-Adha | 3 Days |
| Qatar National Day | 1 Day |
| To be specified by the employer | 3 Days |
Article 68: Payment Criteriaย
According to Article 68 of Qatar labor law, the employer has to pay the worker because he has worked up to date on annual leave in addition to leave.
Article 80: Taking Decision and Postpone it
According to Article 80, the employer can specify the annual leave dates per the employee requirement. After receiving a written letter from a worker, an employer can postpone no more than half of the annual leave to the following year.
Article 81: Employer Deny Annual Leave
- According to Article 81, the worker may not waive his right to annual leave. Any agreement to the contrary shall be null and void.
- ย If the Employment contract ends for any reason before taking such leave, the worker is entitled to a money alternative equal to his payment for the due leave days.ย
Article 83: Hajj Leave for Muslims
The Muslim worker shall be entitled to have a special leave without remuneration not exceeding 20 days for the performance of Hajj. He is allowed Hajj only once during his services.
- Hajj leave shall be without Pay.
- Hajj leave shall not be more than 20 daysย
- Hajj leave can be given only once during the service.
How to request annual leave in Qatar (step-by-step)
- Confirm you have completed at least one year of continuous service with the same employer.
- Submit a written leave request to HR with preferred dates (many companies use internal portals).
- Agree dates with your manager; employers may reschedule for operational needs under Article 80.
- Keep approval email or signed form as proof.
- Ensure leave salary is paid before or at the start of leave per your contract and Law 14/2004.
Annual leave salary: worked example
If your basic salary is QAR 4,000 and you take three calendar weeks (21 days) of annual leave after one year of service, leave pay is typically calculated on basic wage plus contractual allowances. Employers must not deduct annual leave entitlements for approved sick leave taken earlier in the year. Confirm exact figures with HR and the Qatar Labour Law guide.
Public holidays and annual leave
Official public holidays listed under Article 78 are separate from your annual leave balance. National Day, Eid holidays and other declared public days should not be counted against your three-week entitlement unless your contract states otherwise in line with the law. Check working hours rules for Ramadan schedules.
If your employer refuses annual leave
Article 81 protects your right to annual leave. If an employer repeatedly denies leave or fails to pay leave salary, document requests and responses, then file a labour complaint with ADLSA. You can also use the Labour WhatsApp service for initial guidance.
Conclusion:
Qatar has made the good decision to provide annual leave to their workers, by this leave they can easily work in a balanced way. These leaves will be a joy for them and result in better health and work. This information is authentic and is applied to all public and private companies in Qatar, but it is always a good idea to concern the company about its policies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Last verified: July 1, 2026. Disclaimer: Qatar Guides is not affiliated with the Ministry of Labour. Confirm current rules on mlsd.gov.qa. Part of our Qatar Labour Law guide series.
