End of Service Demand Letter Generator
UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 · Gratuity, salary & leave dues · MOHRE complaint-ready
If your job in the UAE has ended and your final pay still hasn't arrived, an end of service demand letter generator is usually the fastest and cheapest way to get HR moving again — well before you need to involve the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE). UAE Labour Law gives employers 14 days from the end of your contract to settle everything you're owed: final salary, gratuity, unused leave, and any notice pay. Once that window closes with no payment and no explanation, sending a written demand letter — one that names the law, the amount, and a deadline — is the right next step. It's not a legal requirement before filing a MOHRE complaint, but it resolves most cases faster than a formal complaint ever could, and it builds the paper trail you'll need if the employer still doesn't pay.
What Is an End of Service Demand Letter?
An end of service demand letter is a formal, dated written request — sent by email and ideally also by registered post or a tracked courier — asking your former employer to release everything you're owed within a fixed deadline. A well-drafted one does more than just say "please pay me": it states your employment dates, breaks down exactly what's outstanding, cites the relevant provision of the UAE Labour Law, and makes clear that you'll file a MOHRE complaint if the deadline passes. Employers who are simply slow tend to act quickly once they receive a letter like this, because it signals you know your rights and have already started documenting the dispute.
End of Service Benefits vs Gratuity Explained
These terms get used interchangeably, but they're not quite the same thing. "End of service benefits" (EOSB) is the umbrella term for everything you're owed when your employment ends. Gratuity is just one — usually the largest — component inside it.
End of service benefits (EOSB)
The full settlement package: gratuity plus every other amount owed to you on exit, paid out together in your final settlement.
Gratuity
A statutory lump sum under Article 51 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021: 21 days' basic wage per year for your first 5 years, then 30 days per year after that, capped at 2 years' total wage. You need at least 1 full year of continuous service to qualify, and it's calculated on basic salary only — allowances like housing and transport don't count.
Unpaid salary
Any wages for days you actually worked but haven't been paid for, including your final partial month up to your last working day.
Leave balance
Encashment for any annual leave days you accrued but never took, calculated on your gross salary at the time your employment ended.
Notice pay
If your employer ends your contract without asking you to serve your notice period (typically 30–90 days, per your contract), they owe you compensation in lieu of that notice. The reverse also applies — if you don't serve your notice, this amount can be deducted from your settlement instead.
A note on resignation
There's no gratuity penalty for resigning under the current law. Whether you resign or are terminated, your gratuity is calculated the same way once you've completed a year of service.
What Must an End of Service Demand Letter Include?
- Employee details — your full name, Emirates ID number, and position
- Employer details — the company's full legal name and trade licence/establishment details from your MOHRE-registered contract
- Employment dates — your start date and last working day, since gratuity and notice calculations both depend on this
- Amount claimed — an itemised figure for gratuity, unpaid salary, leave encashment, and notice pay, rather than a single lump number
- Legal basis — a reference to Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 (and Article 51 specifically for gratuity), plus the 14-day settlement rule
- Payment deadline — a clear, reasonable date, typically 7–14 days from the letter, after which you state you'll file a MOHRE complaint
Generate Your End of Service Demand Letter
Enter your employment dates, basic salary, and what's outstanding. We calculate your gratuity under Article 51 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 and draft a letter that cites the right law and sets a payment deadline.
Employment details
Your employment dates and the reason your employment ended.
Most UAE employment after 2022 is unlimited term under FDL 33/2021.
Letter Preview
Updates as you fill inExample End of Service Demand Letter
Here's what a complete letter looks like in practice. Yours will be generated with your own details and the correct legal references automatically filled in.
[Employee Name]
[Emirates ID Number]
[Address / Contact Details]
[Date]
To: [Employer Name]
[Company Address]
Subject: Demand for Payment of End of Service Dues
Dear Sir/Madam,
I was employed with [Employer Name] from [Start Date] to [Last Working Day] as [Job Title]. My employment ended on the date stated above, and under UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, all amounts owed to me were due within 14 days of that date.
As of the date of this letter, the following remains unpaid:
– End of service gratuity (Article 51): AED [Amount]
– Outstanding salary: AED [Amount]
– Unused leave balance: AED [Amount]
– Notice pay (if applicable): AED [Amount]
Total outstanding: AED [Total Amount]
I request that the full amount be paid into my registered bank account within [7/14] days from the date of this letter. If payment is not received by [Deadline Date], I will file a formal complaint with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) without further notice.
I trust this matter can be resolved without escalation and look forward to your prompt response.
Regards,
[Employee Name]
What To Do If the Employer Does Not Pay
If your deadline passes with no payment and no response, don't keep sending the same email — escalate. File a salary or labour complaint with MOHRE through the Smart App, the MOHRE website, or the call centre. Bring your employment contract, WPS or bank statements showing the gap in payment, your resignation/termination correspondence, and a copy of the demand letter you already sent — that letter becomes evidence that you tried to resolve this directly first. You have one year from the date the dispute arose to file, so don't let it sit indefinitely even if you're hoping to avoid conflict with a former employer.
MOHRE Complaint Process
1. Filing the complaint
File for free through the MOHRE website or Smart App, or by calling the labour claims hotline on 80084 (or 600 590 000 for general enquiries). You'll need your Emirates ID, employment contract details, and evidence of the amount owed. Mainland employees file directly with MOHRE; most free zone employees raise the issue with their free zone authority first, except DIFC and ADGM, which run entirely separate court systems.
2. Mediation
Your case is passed to a Tawafuq service centre, which contacts both you and your employer — usually within days — to attempt an amicable settlement, by phone, video call, or in person. The ministry aims to resolve or decide the case within 14 days of filing.
3. Escalation
If mediation fails and your claim is AED 50,000 or less, MOHRE can issue a final, binding decision itself — enforceable without going to court, though either side can appeal within 15 working days. For larger claims, or where mediation breaks down entirely, MOHRE refers the case to the Labour Court. You then have 14 days to register the case with the court yourself, the court must schedule a hearing within 3 working days of that, and court fees are waived entirely for claims under AED 100,000 — so cost shouldn't be a reason to avoid this step.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does my employer have to pay my end of service settlement?
Under UAE Labour Law, your employer must settle all amounts due — including salary, gratuity, and leave encashment — within 14 days of your contract ending. If that 14-day window passes without payment and without a documented reason, you have solid grounds to send a demand letter and, if needed, file a MOHRE complaint.
Do I lose my gratuity if I resign instead of being terminated?
No. Under Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, there is no penalty for resigning — an employee who resigns after completing one year of continuous service receives the same gratuity as one who is terminated. The older rule that reduced gratuity for early resignation no longer applies. What can still affect your payout is not serving your notice period, since your employer may deduct compensation in lieu of notice from your final settlement.
Is gratuity calculated on my basic salary or my full salary?
Gratuity is calculated only on your last basic salary — the fixed amount stated in your MOHRE-registered contract. Allowances such as housing, transport, and other benefits are excluded from the calculation, even though they may be part of your total monthly package.
Do I need to send a demand letter before filing a MOHRE complaint?
It's not a legal requirement — you can file directly with MOHRE. But a demand letter is usually the faster, cheaper first move: many employers settle once they receive a written notice that cites the exact law and a payment deadline, which avoids the time and documentation needed for a formal complaint. It also creates a dated paper trail you can attach to a MOHRE complaint if the employer still doesn't pay.
What if I work for a company based in DIFC or ADGM?
DIFC and ADGM run independent employment law systems, separate from the federal UAE Labour Law that MOHRE enforces. DIFC's end-of-service framework operates through the DEWS savings plan rather than the standard 21/30-day gratuity formula, and disputes in both free zones go to their own courts (DIFC Courts or ADGM Courts), not MOHRE. Check your offer letter or HR team to confirm which jurisdiction your contract falls under before you file anything.