GulfDues › Gulf gratuity comparison calculator
Gulf gratuity comparison: which country pays the most?
Type one salary and your service. See the end-of-service gratuity in all 6 GCC countries side by side, under each country's own law.
Highest end-of-service
How each country counts gratuity
| Country | Formula | Wage used | If you resign | Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UAE | 21 days a year for 5 years, then 30 (from 1 year) | Basic | No cut | 2 years of wage |
| Saudi Arabia | Half a month a year for 5 years, then a month | Actual wage with allowances | None under 2 years, a third up to 5, two thirds under 10, all from 10 | None |
| Qatar | At least 3 weeks a year (from 1 year) | Basic | No cut | None |
| Kuwait | 15 days a year for 5 years, then a month (day = wage ÷ 26) | Total wage | None under 3 years, half to 5, two thirds under 10, all from 10 | 18 months of wage |
| Oman | A month a year from 31 July 2023; older service 15 days a year for 3 years, then a month | Basic | No cut | None |
| Bahrain | Half a month a year for 3 years, then a month | Basic, plus the social allowance if any (Article 47) | No cut | None |
The rules in more detail, with charts: end-of-service gratuity in the six Gulf countries, compared.
A worked example: 5,000 basic, 8,000 total, 7 years
Ahmed has a basic wage of 5,000 and a total wage of 8,000 with housing and transport. He joined on 3 January 2019 and leaves on 31 December 2025, 7 years (2,555 days). Worked out with the calculator above:
| Country | Employer ends the contract | Ahmed resigns |
|---|---|---|
| UAE | 27,500.00 | 27,500.00 |
| Saudi Arabia | 36,000.00 | 24,000.00 |
| Qatar | 24,500.00 | 24,500.00 |
| Kuwait | 39,076.92 | 26,051.28 |
| Oman | 27,500.00 | 27,500.00 |
| Bahrain | 27,500.00 | 27,500.00 |
Kuwait pays the most when the employer ends the contract, because it counts the total wage of 8,000. Saudi Arabia counts it too, but pays half a month a year for the first 5 years. If Ahmed resigns, both keep only two thirds, and the UAE, Oman and Bahrain come out on top on the basic wage alone. Oman and Bahrain match the UAE here. Oman pays the old rate for the 4.58 years before 31 July 2023, and Bahrain pays half a month for each of the first 3 years.
Gratuity comparison by years of service (months of wage)
The same wage in every country (basic and total equal), service ending 31 December 2025. When the employer ends the contract:
| Service | UAE | Saudi Arabia | Qatar | Kuwait | Oman | Bahrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 1 | 0.5 |
| 2 years | 1.4 | 1 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 2 | 1 |
| 3 years | 2.1 | 1.5 | 2.1 | 1.7 | 2.7 | 1.5 |
| 5 years | 3.5 | 2.5 | 3.5 | 2.9 | 3.7 | 3.5 |
| 7 years | 5.5 | 4.5 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| 10 years | 8.5 | 7.5 | 7 | 7.9 | 8.5 | 8.5 |
| 15 years | 13.5 | 12.5 | 10.5 | 12.9 | 13.5 | 13.5 |
| 20 years | 18.5 | 17.5 | 14 | 17.9 | 18.5 | 18.5 |
When you resign (only Saudi Arabia and Kuwait change):
| Service | UAE | Saudi Arabia | Qatar | Kuwait | Oman | Bahrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 0.7 | 0 | 0.7 | 0 | 1 | 0.5 |
| 2 years | 1.4 | 0.3 | 1.4 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 3 years | 2.1 | 0.5 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 2.7 | 1.5 |
| 5 years | 3.5 | 0.8 | 3.5 | 1.9 | 3.7 | 3.5 |
| 7 years | 5.5 | 3 | 4.9 | 3.3 | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| 10 years | 8.5 | 7.5 | 7 | 7.9 | 8.5 | 8.5 |
| 15 years | 13.5 | 12.5 | 10.5 | 12.9 | 13.5 | 13.5 |
| 20 years | 18.5 | 17.5 | 14 | 17.9 | 18.5 | 18.5 |
Oman's figures include the old rate for the years before 31 July 2023, so they rise faster for people who joined after that date.
What this gratuity comparison does not show
- Misconduct: a dismissal for serious misconduct loses the amount in every country.
- Omanis and Bahrainis: nationals insured with the social insurance fund get a fund benefit instead. This page is for expatriate workers.
- Bahrain since March 2024: an expatriate claims the indemnity from the SIO (Social Insurance Organisation), which the employer pays into every month.
- Exact figures: unpaid leave, part-time work and contract terms change the result. Use the country calculator for your final figure.
Work out your own in one country: UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain. These are estimates under the published laws, not legal advice.
Sources (checked October 2026): Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 (u.ae), Saudi Labor Law (HRSD, English text), Qatar Labour Law No. 14 of 2004, consolidated text (Al Meezan), Kuwait Labour Law No. 6 of 2010, Arabic text (PAM print, June 2017), Royal Decree 53/2023, the Oman Labour Law (English, decree.om), Bahrain Labour Law No. 36 of 2012, Articles 47 and 116 (LLOC English text), Teamed: Bahrain end of service and the SIO. Laws change, and the ministry or a court gives the final figure.
Questions
Which Gulf country pays the most gratuity?
On the same wage, Bahrain, Oman and the UAE come out on top over long service, and Oman pays the most per year for service from 31 July 2023. Allowances change the order: Saudi Arabia and Kuwait count them, the other four use the basic wage, so a worker with a large housing allowance can get more in Saudi Arabia or Kuwait. Resigning early in those two can mean nothing at all.
Is this calculator the same as the country calculators?
Yes. It uses the same formulas as our six gratuity calculators. The country pages add the details this page leaves out, such as unpaid leave, part-time work in the UAE, a better Qatar contract rate or a Kuwait employer that divides by 30.
Why does the result not change the currency?
Exchange rates move every day, so the page keeps your figure in the currency you typed. Compare the months of wage: 3 months of wage is 3 months whether it is paid in dirhams, riyals or dinars.
Does resigning reduce gratuity in every Gulf country?
No. Only Saudi Arabia (nothing under 2 years, then a third, two thirds, all from 10 years) and Kuwait (nothing under 3 years, then half, two thirds, all from 10 years) cut it on resignation. The UAE, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain pay the same either way.
Why is Oman lower for older service?
Oman's 2023 Labour Law pays a month of basic wage for every year from 31 July 2023. Service before that date is still paid at the old rate: 15 days a year for the first 3 years, then a month.
Will Oman's savings scheme replace gratuity?
For expatriates, the Social Protection Fund's savings scheme will take over from gratuity on a date its board sets, no later than 19 July 2027. Gratuity already earned stays owed.
Can I add my UAE years to a new job in Saudi Arabia?
No. Each employer pays for your service with them, under the law of the country where you worked.
Is a lower gratuity a reason not to take a job?
Not on its own. Look at the whole offer: salary, housing, schooling and how many years you plan to stay. This page shows one part of it, the end-of-service amount.
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