Leave management software tracks employee absences, automates approval workflows, and helps UAE businesses comply with Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 (the UAE Labour Law), which mandates 30 calendar days of paid annual leave for employees who have completed 12 months of service. In the UAE, leave management is governed by clear statutory requirements — and getting it right is essential for compliance with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE).
We evaluated seven of the most popular leave management tools available to UAE businesses in 2026, comparing them on pricing, compliance, integrations, and overall value. Whether you are a 10-person startup in Dubai or a 200-person company with offices across the Emirates, this guide will help you find the right fit.
Key Takeaways
- Leave Balance is the best value for most UAE teams: $10 USD/month (approximately AED 37/month) flat rate, unlimited employees, native Slack and Microsoft Teams integration, and configurable policies for any leave type.
- Bayzat is a popular UAE-specific platform but priced for mid-market and enterprise companies.
- Zoho People offers an affordable option for companies in the Zoho ecosystem but lacks deep UAE compliance.
- Flat-rate pricing means your software bill stays constant as you hire.
What UAE Businesses Should Look for in Leave Management Software
Before comparing individual tools, here are the features that matter most for UAE organisations:
- UAE Labour Law compliance — the Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 mandates 30 calendar days of paid annual leave after 12 months of service (2 days per month for the first year). Your tool needs to track accrual correctly based on service length.
- Public holiday management — the UAE has approximately 14 public holidays (including Islamic holidays that shift annually). Your tool should track Hijri calendar holidays and allow configuration for different holiday entitlements.
- Sick leave — the law provides 90 days of sick leave per year (first 15 days at full pay, next 30 days at half pay, remaining 45 days unpaid). Your tool should track all three tiers.
- Maternity leave — 60 days of maternity leave (45 days at full pay, 15 days at half pay). Your tool should handle these entitlements.
- Compassionate and bereavement leave — 3–5 days depending on the relationship to the deceased. Your tool should track these leave types.
- WPS integration readiness — while most leave tools do not process WPS, your leave data should integrate with your payroll provider for salary calculations.
- Multi-country support — many UAE companies have employees across the GCC and broader Middle East.
The 7 Best Leave Management Tools for UAE Businesses
1. Leave Balance — Best Value for Most UAE Teams
Leave Balance is a dedicated leave management tool built for teams that need leave tracking without the complexity of a full HR platform.
Pricing:
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $10 USD/month (~AED 37) |
| Annual | $100 USD/year (~AED 370) |
That price covers unlimited employees and unlimited leave policies. No per-seat fees, no minimum spend.
UAE compliance features:
- Configurable leave policies for annual leave (30 days), sick leave, maternity leave, and compassionate leave
- Islamic public holiday calendar with Hijri date support
- Pro-rata calculations for first-year employees
- Custom leave types for study leave, sabbatical, and unpaid leave
- Multi-country support for teams across the GCC
Integrations: Native Slack and Microsoft Teams, CSV export for payroll integration with UAE providers.
Pros:
- Flat-rate pricing is the most affordable option at every team size
- Slack and Teams integration means employees actually use it
- Set up in under 15 minutes
- Multi-country support across the GCC and Middle East
- Unlimited custom leave policies
- 14-day free trial, no credit card required
Cons:
- No attendance tracking or biometric integration
- No built-in payroll processing
- No Arabic-language interface
- USD pricing requires international payment method
Our take: For UAE SMBs that already have payroll sorted and primarily need leave tracking, Leave Balance covers the core requirement at a fraction of the cost of Bayzat or other per-user platforms. The multi-country support is valuable for companies with teams across the GCC.
2. Bayzat — Best for UAE Mid-Market Companies
Bayzat is a UAE-based HR and benefits platform covering leave management, payroll, and employee benefits.
Pricing: Custom pricing, estimated AED 50–100/employee/month. A 50-person team pays approximately AED 2,500–5,000/month.
UAE compliance features:
- UAE Labour Law-compliant leave types
- Islamic public holiday management
- Sick leave tier tracking
- Integration with UAE payroll and WPS
- Employee benefits management
Integrations: Various UAE payroll and accounting tools.
Pros:
- Purpose-built for the UAE market
- Deep local compliance knowledge
- Employee benefits integration
- Good mobile app
Cons:
- Per-employee pricing scales with headcount
- Leave management is bundled with broader HR features
- More expensive than dedicated leave tools
- Implementation can take weeks
Our take: Bayzat suits UAE companies that want a comprehensive HR and benefits platform. For teams focused on leave management, simpler and more affordable alternatives exist.
3. Zoho People — Best for Zoho Ecosystem Users
Zoho People is part of the Zoho suite, covering HR management including leave tracking.
Pricing: From $1.50 USD/employee/month. A 50-person team pays approximately $75 USD/month.
UAE compliance features:
- Configurable leave types for UAE requirements
- Public holiday calendar
- Leave approval workflows
- Integration with Zoho Payroll
Integrations: Zoho suite (CRM, Books, Payroll), Slack (limited).
Pros:
- Affordable if you are already in the Zoho ecosystem
- Good integration with other Zoho products
- Clean interface
Cons:
- UAE compliance features are not as deep as UAE-specific tools
- Leave management is one feature among many
- Limited reporting
Our take: Zoho People suits companies already invested in the Zoho ecosystem. For UAE teams not using Zoho, UAE-specific tools offer deeper compliance.
4. Factorial — Best for Companies with Operations Across Europe and the Middle East
Factorial is a Barcelona-based HR platform expanding in the Middle East.
Pricing: Custom pricing, estimated $5–$8 USD/employee/month.
UAE compliance features:
- Configurable leave types
- Multi-country leave management
- Time tracking
Integrations: Slack, various payroll providers.
Pros:
- Multi-country compliance
- Competitive pricing
Cons:
- UAE compliance not as deep as UAE-native tools
- Newer to the UAE market
Our take: Factorial suits companies with operations across Europe and the Middle East. For UAE-only teams, locally focused tools offer deeper compliance.
5. greytHR — Best for Indian Companies with UAE Offices
greytHR is an Indian HR platform that has expanded to serve UAE companies, particularly those with Indian workforce.
Pricing: Per-employee pricing, estimated AED 20–40/employee/month.
UAE compliance features:
- UAE Labour Law leave types
- Integration with Indian payroll for Indian employees
- Multi-country support
Integrations: Various payroll tools.
Pros:
- Good for companies with Indian employees in the UAE
- Multi-country support
Cons:
- UAE compliance is secondary to Indian compliance
- Per-employee pricing
Our take: greytHR works for Indian companies with UAE offices. For UAE-only teams, UAE-focused tools offer deeper local compliance.
6. BambooHR — Best for US Companies with UAE Offices
BambooHR is a popular HRIS with a UAE offering covering leave management.
Pricing: Custom pricing, estimated $6–$10 USD/employee/month.
UAE compliance features:
- Configurable leave types
- Employee self-service
- Approval workflows
Integrations: Slack, Microsoft Teams, various payroll tools.
Pros:
- Comprehensive HRIS
- Multi-country support
Cons:
- UAE compliance adapted from a US-first platform
- Per-employee pricing
Our take: BambooHR works for US companies with UAE offices. For UAE-only teams, locally focused tools offer better value.
7. Calamari — Best for Multi-Country Teams
Calamari is a leave and time tracking tool with multi-country support.
Pricing: From $2 USD/user/month.
UAE compliance features:
- Custom leave types
- Multi-country leave management
- Slack and Teams integration
Integrations: Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Calendar.
Pros:
- Multi-country support
- Slack and Teams integration
Cons:
- UAE compliance is basic
- Per-user pricing
Our take: Calamari works for global teams. For UAE-focused teams, locally focused tools offer deeper compliance.
Pricing Comparison at a Glance
Here is what each tool costs for a 30-person UAE team (prices in USD for consistency):
| Tool | 30-Person Monthly Cost | Pricing Model |
|---|---|---|
| Leave Balance | $10/mo | Flat rate, unlimited users |
| Calamari | ~$60–$100/mo | Per user |
| Zoho People | ~$45/mo | Per user |
| Factorial | ~$150–$240/mo | Per user |
| greytHR | ~$100–$200/mo | Per user |
| BambooHR | ~$180–$300/mo | Per user + minimum |
| Bayzat | ~$500–$1,000/mo | Per user |
Which Tool Should You Choose?
Choose Leave Balance if:
- You need dedicated leave management without paying for a full HRIS
- Your team uses Slack or Microsoft Teams
- You want flat-rate pricing that does not grow with headcount
- You manage leave across the GCC
Choose Bayzat if:
- You want a comprehensive UAE HR and benefits platform
- You need employee benefits integration alongside leave management
Choose Zoho People if:
- You are already in the Zoho ecosystem
- You want affordable integrated HR
Choose Factorial if:
- You have operations across Europe and the Middle East
The Bottom Line
UAE businesses navigate clear statutory requirements under the Labour Law, from 30-day annual leave to tiered sick leave. The right tool handles these requirements without the overhead of a full HR platform.
For most UAE SMBs, Leave Balance offers the best combination of pricing, features, and daily usability — approximately AED 37/month flat with unlimited employees, Slack and Teams integration, and configurable policies for any UAE leave type. That is 13–27x cheaper than Bayzat at 50 employees.
Try Leave Balance free for 14 days — no credit card required — and see whether it covers what your team actually needs. Most teams know within the first week.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is leave management software legally required in the UAE?
No, UAE law does not require specific software for leave management. However, you must comply with Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 for annual leave, sick leave, and other entitlements. Leave management software makes tracking entitlements and demonstrating compliance significantly easier.
How much does leave management software cost for a 30-person UAE team?
Pricing ranges from approximately AED 37/month (Leave Balance flat rate) to AED 15,000+/month (Bayzat). Simple per-user trackers cost AED 550–1,850/month.
Does leave management software handle Hijri calendar holidays?
Yes. Leave Balance supports Islamic holidays that follow the Hijri calendar. The dates shift each year, and you can configure which holidays apply to your team.
Can leave management software track the different sick leave pay tiers?
Yes. Leave Balance lets you configure sick leave policies that distinguish between the first 15 days (full pay), next 30 days (half pay), and remaining 45 days (unpaid).
This article is general information, not legal advice.