We live in a rather strange world. On one hand, we are constantly told that success demands relentless graft — 12-hour working days at the very least, often without weekends. On the other, we scroll past people doing the complete opposite: travelling, switching off, enjoying themselves — usually alongside stories about end-of-life regrets, of working too much and living too little.

Caught between these two messages, it is no wonder so many of us feel both burnt out from trying to do it all and slightly anxious that we aren't actually living properly. Out of that tension, a familiar idea has quietly returned: the so-called micro-retirement — what we used to simply call a sabbatical.

It isn't a brand-new concept, but it is clearly having a moment. So what does it look like in real life? Is it financially sensible — or just another privilege with a good PR spin? And how common is it beyond the curated feeds? Let’s take a closer look.

So, what is a micro-retirement? In simple terms, it is a self-funded break from work as an adult — a modern take on the gap year. It can be anything from a few months to a year (sometimes even two), and the key difference is that you aren't waiting for retirement to rest. You are building pauses into your working life, on purpose.

One thing worth clarifying: micro-retirements are often grouped together with sabbaticals, but they aren't quite the same. A sabbatical is usually agreed with an employer, with your role kept for you until you return — and sometimes even partly funded. It is typically tied to learning or developing new skills. A micro-retirement, by contrast, is more about stepping away to reset. It is usually self-funded, not formally approved by an employer, and rarely comes with the reassurance that your job will still be there when you are back.

What is driving the trend?

You will find endless statistics calling burnout the defining condition of modern work — but two points are enough to make it clear. First, mentions of “burnout” in employee reviews hit an all-time high in 2024, and it is unlikely 2025 and 2026 will look any better. Second, around 48% of workers globally report experiencing burnout or burnout-like symptoms — essentially, every other person in the workforce. What matters most, though, is the cultural shift: burnout is no longer brushed off as laziness. People recognise it as real — and feel more justified in taking proper rest.

If any generations are driving this trend, it is these two — and they are also reporting some of the highest stress levels compared to any others. But it isn’t always classic anxiety. Often, it is fuelled by FOMO — that nagging feeling that life is happening somewhere else while you are stuck in the same routine. The opportunities seem endless — travel, experiences, career pivots — but it all comes down to one question: when do you actually have the time to do any of it?

Wellness, mental health, and work-life balance aren’t niche ideas anymore — they are mainstream expectations. And once you start taking those seriously, a few days off here and there can feel insufficient. For some people, a week away resets everything. For others, it barely scratches the surface.

We are also living through a shift in how careers look. People travel while working, retrain mid-life, take portfolio careers seriously, and treat flexibility as normal — at least in some industries. Even if remote work doesn’t apply to everyone, it has changed the wider mood. Seeing others live with more freedom makes a traditional, uninterrupted nine-to-five career feel less inevitable — and pushes more people to look for alternatives. Some switch professions. Others take extended leave. And some opt for a micro-retirement.

Micro-retirements are often associated with freelancers — the Bali-based designers, tech specialists and IT professionals who move from project to project and can simply choose not to take the next one for several months. And while that stereotype exists for a reason, it is no longer the full picture.

A quick search for "sabbatical" and "micro-retirement" on LinkedIn is enough to see how wide this has become. HR professionals, mediators, arbitrators and even medical specialists are openly sharing their decision to take a long break — often talking about improved mental health and a moment of real clarity that led them to rethink their lives. In fact, 10% of American workers say they plan to take a micro-retirement in the next year, while 20% say they have already done so at least once. This is no longer a niche lifestyle choice.

That said, while the trend is global (with Australia leading the way, followed by the UK, Germany and the Netherlands) it takes longer to take root in the Gulf, and especially in the UAE. The main reason is structural: around 80% of the UAE workforce consists of expatriates, whose right to live in the country is directly tied to employment visas. With very few formal sabbatical policies in place, stepping away from a job often means losing not just income and health insurance, but also legal residency.

And while recent changes have made things slightly easier — with the introduction of Talent Visas and Golden Visas creating more flexibility — this is still far from universally accessible. Ironically, for a country known for its fast pace and visible burnout culture, there is very little structural room to pause. That said, nothing technically stops you from leaving the country for a while — and coming back recharged, clearer, and ready to work again.

Interesting fact: In 2022, the UAE government introduced a sabbatical programme for Emirati citizens working in the public sector. Employees can take up to one year off with 50% pay to start their own business — without losing their government job.

If you do manage to navigate the visa issue — whether by securing long-term residency or leaving the country temporarily — the next challenge is financial. So, how much money do you actually need?

There is no universal number, as the cost of stepping away depends entirely on factors such as rent, location, travel plans and the lifestyle you choose to maintain. That said, a few practical rules come up again and again:

And if you really pushed me for a number, I would say this.

Based on our Saving in Dubai: How to Cut Costs Without Losing Your Mind article and an average monthly cost of living, four months off — while still paying rent — would come to around 14,656 AED per month, multiplied by four. Add basic health insurance (around 3,000 AED) and an emergency buffer of, say, 5,000 AED. All in, that brings the total to roughly 66,000 AED for four months off. If your rent is already paid for the year in advance, the amount needed for the same period would be around 41,000 AED.

The United States offers some of the clearest public data, and while it isn't identical to the Middle East, it reflects a broader global reality. In 2025, only 27% of Americans reported having six months’ worth of savings. In other words, most people aren’t financially ready for a micro-retirement — which explains why they still feel aspirational. The takeaway is simple: this trend isn’t about spontaneity. It is about planning. And for many, the first step isn’t quitting — it is saving.