UAE End of Service Gratuity, What Expats Are Owed

If you worked in the UAE as an expat, you are almost certainly owed an end of service gratuity, and there is a good chance you never claimed it. The UAE Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021) entitles every employee who completes at least one year of service to a gratuity payment upon leaving their employer.

## What Is the UAE End of Service Gratuity for Expats?

The end of service gratuity is a lump sum payment calculated based on your length of service and final basic salary. For the first five years of employment you receive 21 days of basic salary per year. After five years you receive 30 days per year. The total gratuity is capped at two years of basic salary.

For example, an expat earning AED 15,000 per month in basic salary who worked for seven years would be entitled to approximately AED 82,500 (around $22,500). This is money your employer is legally required to pay, it is not discretionary.

## Who Is Entitled?

Every employee in the UAE who completes at least one year of continuous service is entitled to a gratuity, regardless of nationality, visa type or reason for leaving. This includes employees in free zones, though DIFC and ADGM have their own pension schemes.

The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) replaced gratuity with a funded pension scheme called the DEWS (DIFC Employee Workplace Savings) plan in 2020. If you worked in the DIFC after February 2020 your contributions sit in the DEWS scheme rather than as an employer liability.

## Why Expats Miss Their Gratuity

Many expats leave the UAE quickly, visa cancellation, relocation, or redundancy. In the rush to leave, gratuity claims fall through the cracks. Some employers delay payment. Others dispute the calculation. Once you leave the country it becomes significantly harder to follow up for information.

## How to Claim After Leaving the UAE

If you left the UAE without receiving your gratuity you can still claim. Contact your former employer's HR department directly. If they are unresponsive you can file a complaint with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE). Claims must generally be filed within one year of your employment ending.

For DIFC employees, contact the DEWS plan administrator to check your balance and arrange withdrawal.

## How PensionHunter Helps

PensionHunter searches for unclaimed UAE end of service gratuity entitlements as part of our UAE pension search. We trace former employers, check DIFC and ADGM records, and identify what you are owed so you can claim it. Pricing starts from $99 (Country Pension Identification Report), $499 (Enhanced Pension Identification Report) or $799 (Global Pension Identification Report). Full refund if we find nothing material.

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*This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.*

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