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UAE Gratuity Calculator

Updated August 2026 · Based on UAE Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021)

Estimate your end-of-service gratuity (EOSB) under UAE Labour Law. Enter your basic monthly salary and length of service to calculate it instantly.

Use basic salary only — gratuity excludes allowances (housing, transport, etc.).

Quick answer

UAE gratuity (end-of-service benefit, or EOSB) is a lump sum your employer pays when you leave a job, calculated on your basic salary. After one year of service you earn 21 days' basic pay for each of the first five years and 30 days' pay for each year after that, and may not exceed the wage of two years — a cap this calculator applies on a basic-wage reading, as explained below (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021).

Want the reasoning rather than the number? Read the complete UAE gratuity calculation guide — the formula, the two-year cap, worked examples, and the pre-2022 rules that no longer apply.

UAE gratuity entitlement at a glance
Length of serviceGratuity entitlement
Less than 1 yearNo gratuity
1 to 5 years21 days' basic pay per year
After 5 years30 days' basic pay per year
Maximum (cap)The wage of two years under the law; this calculator applies a basic-wage reading
Daily wage basisBasic monthly salary ÷ 30

How is gratuity calculated in the UAE?

Under UAE Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021), end-of-service gratuity is paid on the employee's basic salary and depends on length of continuous service. The calculation is:

  • Less than 1 year: no gratuity is payable.
  • First 5 years: 21 days of basic pay for each year of service.
  • After 5 years: 30 days of basic pay for each additional year.
  • Daily wage: basic monthly salary ÷ 30.
  • Cap: total gratuity may not exceed the wage of two years. The law does not state whether that is basic or total wage; this calculator uses basic.

Worked example 1 — under five years

Basic AED 8,000, 4 years of service

Daily wage = 8,000 ÷ 30 = AED 266.67

Days earned = 21 × 4 = 84 days

Gratuity = 84 × 266.67 = AED 22,400

Worked example 2 — crossing the five-year mark

Basic AED 8,000, 8 years of service

First 5 years = 21 × 5 = 105 days

Years 6 to 8 = 30 × 3 = 90 days

Total = 195 days × 266.67 = AED 52,000

The higher 30-day rate applies only to service beyond five years. It does not retrospectively upgrade the first five, which is the most common misreading of the rule.

Worked example 3 — part years

Basic AED 6,000, 3 years and 7 months of service

Daily wage = 6,000 ÷ 30 = AED 200

Days = 21 × 3 = 63, plus 21 × (7 ÷ 12) = 12.25 → 75.25 days

Gratuity = 75.25 × 200 = AED 15,050

Part years are normally calculated proportionately rather than rounded down to completed years. What does move the figure is the one-year minimum and the five-year step.

Worked example 4 — where the cap bites

Basic AED 15,000, 28 years of service

First 5 years = 21 × 5 = 105 days

Years 6 to 28 = 30 × 23 = 690 days

Uncapped = 795 days × 500 = AED 397,500

Cap = 2 years' basic wage = 15,000 × 24 = AED 360,000

Payable = AED 360,000

On the 30-day convention, the two-year cap equals 720 days of basic pay. The first five years use 105 of those days, leaving 615, which at 30 days a year covers a further 20.5 years — so the cap is reached at about 25 years and 6 months of service. Beyond that point additional years add nothing to the gratuity.

On the daily wage. The official guidance sets the entitlement in days of basic pay — 21 and 30 — and states that gratuity is calculated on basic salary. The guidance pages reviewed do not themselves prescribe the arithmetic for turning a monthly salary into a daily one. This calculator uses basic ÷ 30, consistent with the 30-day month the annual-leave entitlement is expressed in. A contract specifying a different basis would produce a different figure.

One point on the cap is genuinely unsettled. The law caps the benefit at "the wage of two years" without stating whether that means two years of basic wage or two years of total wage. This calculator, and the wording on this page, apply the basic-wage reading, which is the more conservative of the two.

It only affects employees with very long service — below about 25 and a half years the cap does not come into play at all. If it applies to you, take advice on the specific facts.

Important notes

  • Gratuity is based on basic salary only — housing, transport and other allowances are excluded.
  • Days of unpaid absence are not counted toward length of service.
  • This calculator covers full-time contracts. Other work models are treated differently under the law.
  • The employer may deduct amounts the employee owes from the gratuity, and must pay it within 14 days of contract end. Deduction is not a general right of set-off — a disputed amount is a matter for MOHRE rather than unilateral withholding.

Estimate for guidance only — this is not legal advice. Entitlements vary by contract and by the circumstances of the exit, and the law is amended from time to time. Confirm your position with MOHRE or a qualified adviser before relying on a figure.

Primary source: Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, summarised on u.ae — End-of-service benefits. Reviewed August 2026.

Frequently asked questions

How is gratuity calculated in the UAE?
Under UAE Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021), end-of-service gratuity is calculated on basic salary only. Employees who complete at least one year of continuous service receive 21 days of basic pay for each of the first five years, and 30 days of basic pay for each year thereafter. The daily wage is the basic monthly salary divided by 30. Total gratuity may not exceed the wage of two years; this calculator applies a basic-wage reading of that cap.
Is gratuity calculated on basic salary or total salary in the UAE?
UAE gratuity is calculated on the basic salary only. Allowances such as housing, transport, utilities and other benefits are excluded from the gratuity calculation.
Do I get gratuity if I resign in the UAE?
Gratuity requires at least one year of continuous service, and the UAE Government states that a worker who completes one year receives gratuity proportionate to the time served. How resignation specifically affects the amount is not addressed on that page, so confirm your own position with MOHRE or a qualified adviser.
What is the minimum service period to receive gratuity in the UAE?
You must complete at least one full year of continuous service to be eligible for end-of-service gratuity in the UAE. Employees with less than one year of service are not entitled to gratuity.
Is there a maximum gratuity amount in the UAE?
Yes. The law states that total gratuity may not exceed the wage of two years. The legislation does not expressly say whether that means two years of basic wage or of total wage; this calculator applies the basic-wage reading, which is the more conservative of the two. On that basis the cap equals 720 days of basic pay, reached at about 25 years and 6 months of service.
How is gratuity calculated for part of a year?
Service beyond a completed year is pro-rated. An employee with three years and seven months of service earns 21 days for each of the three full years plus 21 days multiplied by seven twelfths for the part year. The one-year minimum still has to be met before any gratuity is payable.
Does unpaid leave count toward gratuity service?
No. Days of unpaid absence are not counted toward length of service, so a long period of unpaid leave reduces the service used in the calculation.
When must gratuity be paid in the UAE?
Within 14 days of the end of the contract, along with any other outstanding wages and entitlements. The employer may deduct amounts the employee owes, such as a confirmed loan or salary advance, before paying the balance. Deduction is not a general right of set-off.
Is UAE gratuity taxed?
The UAE does not levy personal income tax on employment income, so UAE personal income tax is not deducted from gratuity. Lawful employment-related deductions may still apply, and another country may tax the amount if the employee is tax resident there.

Related UAE calculators

Leaving your job? Combine your gratuity with these to see your full exit package.

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