Dubai Gratuity Calculator 2026

Calculate your end-of-service benefits for Dubai mainland, free zones (DMCC, JAFZA) and DIFC.

AED

Exclude housing, transport & other allowances.

Days excluded from service period.

Share this tool:

Dubai Gratuity Law: What You Need to Know in 2026

End-of-service gratuity is a mandatory payment that every private-sector employer in Dubai must provide to employees who have completed at least one continuous year of service. The rules are governed by Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, which replaced the older UAE Labour Law and standardised all private-sector contracts as fixed-term (limited) contracts.

Whether you work on the Dubai mainland, in a free zone such as DMCC, JAFZA, or Dubai Silicon Oasis, or inside the DIFC financial centre, understanding your gratuity entitlement is essential for financial planning. Our calculator covers all three scenarios so you can estimate your payout before your last working day.

Gratuity is calculated on your last basic salary only—allowances for housing, transport, utilities, and bonuses are excluded. Unpaid leave days are also deducted from the total service period. The final amount is capped at two years' total salary (Article 51), meaning even decades of service will not exceed that ceiling.

First 5 Years of Service

You receive 21 calendar days of basic salary for each completed year. Partial years after the first are calculated pro-rata. For example, with a basic salary of AED 15,000, your daily rate is AED 500, so each year earns AED 10,500 in gratuity.

Beyond 5 Years of Service

For every year served beyond the fifth, the rate increases to 30 calendar days of basic salary per year. Using the same AED 15,000 example, each additional year beyond five earns AED 15,000 in gratuity—a 43% increase over the first-tier rate.

DIFC DEWS Savings Plan

Since February 2020, DIFC employers contribute to the DIFC Employee Workplace Savings (DEWS) plan instead of traditional gratuity. The mandatory contribution is 5.83% of basic salary for the first 5 years and 8.33% thereafter. Funds are invested, so actual payouts depend on market performance.

Key Rules to Remember

Gratuity is based on basic salary only—no allowances. Total payout is capped at 2 years' salary. Unpaid leave days are excluded. Employees terminated for gross misconduct (Article 44) may forfeit gratuity. Under the new law, resignation vs. termination no longer affects the calculation for limited contracts.

Dubai Free Zones vs. Mainland: Gratuity Differences

Most Dubai free zones—including DMCC, JAFZA, Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, and Dubai Silicon Oasis—follow the same Federal Labour Law as the mainland. This means the 21/30-day gratuity formula applies identically. The notable exception is the DIFC, which operates under its own employment legislation (DIFC Law No. 2 of 2019) and replaced the lump-sum gratuity with the DEWS defined-contribution savings scheme.

If you transitioned from a pre-DEWS DIFC contract, you may be entitled to traditional gratuity for the service period before enrollment, plus DEWS contributions for the period after. Always check your employment contract and consult your HR department for the exact split.

Related Dubai Calculators

Frequently Asked Questions

Under Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, gratuity is calculated using your last basic salary. For the first 5 years you get 21 days' basic salary per year. For every year beyond 5, you get 30 days' basic salary per year. You must complete at least 1 year of continuous service to qualify.
Yes. Since February 2020, DIFC employers must enroll in the DEWS (DIFC Employee Workplace Savings) plan. Instead of a lump-sum gratuity, employers contribute 5.83% of your basic salary monthly for the first 5 years, and 8.33% after that. The funds are invested, so your actual payout depends on fund performance.
Your total gratuity is capped at 2 years of your total salary (which includes allowances) under Article 51 of the UAE Labour Law. This applies to mainland and free zone employees but not to DIFC DEWS contributions.
Under the new law, all contracts are limited (fixed-term). For limited contracts, you receive your full gratuity entitlement regardless of whether you resigned or were terminated—as long as you completed at least 1 year of service. The old resignation penalties only applied to unlimited contracts under the previous law.
No. Most Dubai free zones—DMCC, JAFZA, Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, Dubai Silicon Oasis—follow the same Federal Labour Law as the mainland. The 21/30-day gratuity formula applies identically. The main exception is DIFC, which uses its own DEWS savings scheme.
Yes. Under Article 44 of the UAE Labour Law, employees terminated for gross misconduct—such as fraud, assault, or repeated violations—may forfeit their right to end-of-service gratuity entirely.

Was this tool helpful?

Comments

Loading comments...

Check Out Other Popular Tools