UAE GratuityUAE gratuity after 18 years of service
An expatriate worker in the UAE private sector who completes 18 years with the same employer is entitled to 495 days of basic salary as end-of-service gratuity, which is 16.50 months of basic salary.
How the 495 days are made up
The first 5 years earn 21 days each (105 days) and the 13 years after that earn 30 days each (390 days), a total of 495 days.
What it comes to on common salaries
| Basic salary a month | Gratuity | Per year of service |
|---|---|---|
| AED 1,500 | AED 24,750 | AED 1,375 |
| AED 2,000 | AED 33,000 | AED 1,833 |
| AED 3,000 | AED 49,500 | AED 2,750 |
| AED 4,000 | AED 66,000 | AED 3,667 |
| AED 5,000 | AED 82,500 | AED 4,583 |
| AED 7,500 | AED 123,750 | AED 6,875 |
| AED 10,000 | AED 165,000 | AED 9,167 |
| AED 15,000 | AED 247,500 | AED 13,750 |
| AED 20,000 | AED 330,000 | AED 18,333 |
One more year
With 19 years of service the gratuity would be 525 days; on a basic salary of AED 5,000 that is AED 87,500, which is AED 5,000 more than now.
Points to remember
- Only the last basic salary counts, not housing, transport or other allowances.
- Unpaid absence days are taken off the service count.
- The employer must pay within 14 days of the end of the contract, and may deduct amounts the worker owes.
Common questions
How much gratuity after 18 years in the UAE?
495 days of basic salary, which is 16.50 months. On a basic salary of AED 5,000 that is AED 82,500.
Does the gratuity include allowances?
No: only the last basic salary counts (u.ae).
Sources
- UAE Government portal u.ae, "End of service benefits for workers in the private sector" (u.ae), read on 13 November 2026. It quotes Article 51 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 and Article 30 of Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022. Everything about the 21 and 30 days, the two-year cap, the basic salary, the 14-day payment deadline, part-time workers and the Savings Scheme comes from that page.
- The only assumption: a "day" of salary is the monthly basic salary divided by 30. The page does not state the divisor; check how your employer or MOHRE counts it.
Rules read on 13 November 2026 from the UAE Government portal. They apply to expatriate workers in the private sector; Emiratis follow the pension and social security legislation. Laws change and your contract may give more. This site is not connected with the UAE Government or MOHRE and gives no legal advice: contact the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation for your own case.