Dubai Gratuity Calculator 2026

Calculate your Dubai end of service gratuity instantly. Enter your basic salary and employment dates to get your exact AED entitlement under Article 51 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021. Covers Dubai mainland (DED) companies and most Dubai free zones such as JAFZA and DMCC, with a separate note on DIFC, which follows different rules.

✓ Free to use✓ Article 51 FDL 33/2021✓ Updated June 2026✓ Mainland & free zone coverage✓ DIFC notes included

Reviewed & accurate

✓ Federal Decree-Law No. 33/2021

✓ MOHRE official guidelines

✓ Dubai mainland + free zones

✓ DIFC: separate rules noted

Last updated: June 2026

Dubai Gratuity Calculator

Article 51 FDL 33/2021 · Basic salary only · Mainland & free zones · Instant result

Free

Resigned or terminated, it doesn't change this calculation — under current UAE labour law both use the same formula, provided you completed at least one year and weren't dismissed for gross misconduct.

Enter your salary and employment dates to see your gratuity estimate.

Employer in Dubai not paying on time?

Generate a Dubai-specific Article 51 gratuity demand letter with MOHRE and Dubai Courts escalation language — AED 49.

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On this page

  1. 01Dubai Gratuity Calculator
  2. 02How the calculator works
  3. 03Mainland, free zones & DIFC
  4. 04Gratuity formula under UAE Labour Law
  5. 05Eligibility requirements
  6. 06Resignation in Dubai
  7. 07Worked examples
  8. 08Resolving a gratuity dispute in Dubai
  9. 09Common calculation mistakes
  10. 10Frequently Asked Questions
  11. 11Official references & methodology

How the Dubai Gratuity Calculator Works

The calculator above implements the gratuity formula from Article 51 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 — the UAE Labour Law that applies to Dubai mainland (DED-licensed) companies and most Dubai free zones. Enter three values: your basic monthly salary (in AED), your employment start date, and your last working day. The calculator then:

  1. Calculates your total length of service in years and days
  2. Derives your daily wage rate using the statutory formula: (basic salary × 12) ÷ 365
  3. Applies 21 days per year for the first five years of service
  4. Applies 30 days per year for each year of service beyond five
  5. Adds both amounts together for your total gratuity entitlement
  6. Applies the Article 51(3) cap check (maximum two years of basic salary)

ℹ Working in DIFC?

This calculator does not apply to DIFC employment contracts, which follow a different framework. See the mainland, free zones & DIFC section below for details.

Mainland, Free Zones & DIFC — Which Rules Apply?

Dubai has several distinct employment jurisdictions. Knowing which one you fall under determines whether this calculator gives you an accurate figure.

JurisdictionGoverning rulesNotes
Dubai mainland (DED-licensed)Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Article 51The calculator above applies directly. Disputes go through MOHRE, then Dubai Courts if unresolved.
JAFZA, DMCC, Dubai South, Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, Dubai Silicon OasisFederal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Article 51Same federal formula as mainland. MOHRE handles labour complaints for most of these zones.
DIFC (Dubai International Financial Centre)DIFC Employment Law No. 4 of 2021 + DEWSSeparate framework. Most DIFC employers pay into the DIFC Employee Workplace Savings (DEWS) plan instead of calculating gratuity under Article 51. Disputes go to the DIFC Courts.

⚠ DIFC employees

If your offer letter or contract references the DIFC Employment Law and the DEWS scheme, do not rely on the figure from this calculator. Check your DEWS contribution statements instead, and consider the UAE-wide demand letter generator only after confirming your correct entitlement basis.

Gratuity Formula Under UAE Labour Law

Article 51 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 sets out the statutory formula used across Dubai mainland and most free zones — there is no Dubai-specific variation to the formula itself, only to which dispute-resolution body handles a claim.

Step 1 — Daily wage

Daily wage = (Basic monthly salary × 12) ÷ 365

Uses calendar days (365), not working days

Step 2 — Apply entitlement rate

First 5 years

21 days × Daily wage × Years

Years beyond 5

30 days × Daily wage × Extra years

Step 3 — Cap

Total ≤ 2 × (Basic salary × 12) [Article 51(3)]

Quick-reference entitlement table

Years of serviceDays per yearCumulative daysAt AED 10,000 basic
1 year21 days21 daysAED 5,753
2 years21 days42 daysAED 11,507
3 years21 days63 daysAED 17,260
4 years21 days84 daysAED 23,014
5 years21 days105 daysAED 28,767
6 years30 days135 daysAED 36,986
7 years30 days165 daysAED 45,205
10 years30 days225 daysAED 61,644
15 years30 days300 daysAED 82,192

* Table assumes AED 10,000 basic monthly salary. Daily rate = (10,000 × 12) ÷ 365 = AED 328.77/day. Applies to Dubai mainland and most free zones; not DIFC.

Gratuity Eligibility for Dubai Employees

Article 51 sets out the conditions an employee must meet before gratuity is owed. These apply equally whether you work for a Dubai mainland company or a free zone such as JAFZA or DMCC:

✓ Minimum 1 year of service

You must have completed at least one continuous year of employment with your Dubai employer. Service under one year does not attract gratuity.

✓ Private sector employment

Gratuity under FDL 33/2021 applies to private sector employees on mainland and most free zone contracts.

✓ Not dismissed for gross misconduct

Termination under Article 44 (gross misconduct) may result in forfeiture of gratuity. The Article 44 grounds are specific and limited.

✓ Mainland or most Dubai free zones

JAFZA, DMCC, Dubai Internet City, and similar zones follow Article 51. DIFC is the main Dubai exception.

⚠ Probation period counts

Service length for gratuity purposes starts from your employment start date, not the end of probation. A 6-month probation followed by 18 months total service means gratuity is calculated on the full 18 months.

Gratuity After Resignation in Dubai

A common misconception among Dubai employees is that resigning reduces or forfeits gratuity. That was true under the old Labour Law (Law No. 8 of 1980), but Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 changed this for current contracts.

✓ Key point for most Dubai employees

If your contract with a Dubai mainland or free zone employer (excluding DIFC) was signed or renewed on or after 2 February 2022, it is governed by FDL 33/2021, and resignation does not reduce your gratuity once you have completed one year of service.

For a deeper breakdown of resignation-specific rules, see the gratuity after resignation guide.

Worked Dubai Gratuity Calculation Examples

Three scenarios from common Dubai employment settings — mainland, JAFZA, and DMCC — showing the exact calculation steps under Article 51.

Example 1 — JAFZA employee, 3 years, resigned

Basic: AED 9,000/month3 yearsResignation
  1. 1Daily wage = (9,000 × 12) ÷ 365 = AED 295.89/day
  2. 2Entitlement = 21 days × 3 years = 63 days
  3. 3Total gratuity = 295.89 × 63 = AED 18,641.10

JAFZA follows the federal formula. Resignation does not reduce entitlement under FDL 33/2021 contracts.

AED 18,641

Example 2 — DMCC employee, 7 years, terminated

Basic: AED 16,500/month7 yearsTermination
  1. 1Daily wage = (16,500 × 12) ÷ 365 = AED 542.47/day
  2. 2First 5 years: 21 × 5 = 105 days → 542.47 × 105 = AED 56,959
  3. 3Years 6 & 7: 30 × 2 = 60 days → 542.47 × 60 = AED 32,548
  4. 4Total = 56,959 + 32,548 = AED 89,507

DMCC follows the same Article 51 formula as Dubai mainland.

AED 89,507

Example 3 — Dubai mainland employee, 10 years

Basic: AED 22,000/month10 yearsAny
  1. 1Daily wage = (22,000 × 12) ÷ 365 = AED 723.29/day
  2. 2First 5 years: 21 × 5 = 105 days → 723.29 × 105 = AED 75,945
  3. 3Years 6–10: 30 × 5 = 150 days → 723.29 × 150 = AED 108,494
  4. 4Total = 75,945 + 108,494 = AED 184,439
  5. 5Cap check: 2 × (22,000 × 12) = AED 528,000 — cap not triggered

Mainland (DED-licensed) companies in Dubai follow Article 51 directly.

AED 184,439

Resolving a Gratuity Dispute in Dubai

If your Dubai employer disputes or delays your gratuity, the process generally follows three stages.

1

Formal demand letter

Send a written demand citing Article 51 and Article 53, with a clear payment deadline. This resolves a large share of cases on its own.

2

MOHRE complaint

Free to file via the MOHRE app or mohre.gov.ae. MOHRE mediates for both Dubai mainland and most free zone employees.

3

Dubai Courts referral

Unresolved claims, or those over AED 50,000, are referred to Dubai Courts. DIFC employees instead use the DIFC Courts.

Dubai gratuity demand letter →MOHRE complaint letter generator →Employer not paying gratuity — full guide →

Common Dubai Gratuity Calculation Mistakes

These errors lead to underpayment by employers or incorrect expectations from employees in Dubai.

1

Applying the Article 51 formula to a DIFC contract

DIFC employees are not covered by Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021. Most DIFC employers contribute to the DEWS workplace savings scheme instead of calculating a traditional gratuity. Using this calculator for a DIFC role will produce the wrong figure.

2

Including allowances in the base

Housing, transport, and food allowances are excluded from gratuity calculations. Only basic salary counts under Article 51, regardless of whether you work in a Dubai mainland company or a free zone like JAFZA or DMCC.

3

Using monthly working days instead of 365

Some employees divide monthly salary by 22 or 26 working days. The correct method under UAE law is (annual salary) ÷ 365 calendar days.

4

Assuming resignation forfeits gratuity

Under FDL 33/2021 contracts (from February 2022 onwards), resignation no longer reduces gratuity for service under 5 years for Dubai mainland and most free zone employees.

5

Ignoring the 2-year cap

Total gratuity is capped at two years of basic salary under Article 51(3), which can matter for senior, long-tenured Dubai employees on high salaries.

6

Not accounting for partial years of service

If service is not a round number of years, gratuity for the partial year is calculated pro-rata — for example, 3 years and 4 months is treated as roughly 3.33 years.

Dubai Gratuity Calculator — Frequently Asked Questions

How is gratuity calculated for employees in Dubai?▾
Dubai mainland and most Dubai free zone employees are covered by Article 51 of FDL 33/2021. Daily wage = (basic monthly salary × 12) ÷ 365. First 5 years: 21 days per year. Beyond 5 years: 30 days per year.
Does DIFC use the same gratuity formula as the rest of Dubai?▾
No. DIFC is governed by its own DIFC Employment Law and most DIFC employers contribute to the DEWS workplace savings scheme instead of calculating a traditional Article 51 gratuity.
Which Dubai free zones follow the standard gratuity formula?▾
Most Dubai free zones — including JAFZA, DMCC, Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, Dubai South, and Dubai Silicon Oasis — follow Article 51 of FDL 33/2021. DIFC is the main exception.
Does resignation reduce gratuity for Dubai employees?▾
Under contracts from 2 February 2022 onwards, resignation does not reduce gratuity. Employees who resign receive the same entitlement as those who are terminated, provided one year of service is completed.
What is the minimum service period to claim gratuity in Dubai?▾
One full year of continuous service under Article 51, applying equally to Dubai mainland and most free zone employees.
Is there a gratuity cap for Dubai employees?▾
Yes. Article 51(3) caps total gratuity at two years of basic salary, which mainly affects long-tenured employees on high salaries.
Where do I file a gratuity dispute in Dubai?▾
Most Dubai mainland and free zone employees start with a free MOHRE complaint, which can be referred to Dubai Courts if unresolved. DIFC employees use the DIFC Courts Small Claims Tribunal.
What salary is used for the Dubai gratuity calculation?▾
Basic salary only — housing, transport, food, bonus, and commission are excluded under Article 51.
When must a Dubai employer pay gratuity?▾
Within 14 days of the termination date under Article 53. Late payment can be escalated via a MOHRE complaint.

Official References & Methodology

Legal References

Official Sources

Methodology

This Dubai-specific calculator implements the formula exactly as stated in Article 51 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, applicable to Dubai mainland and most Dubai free zone employers. Daily wage is calculated as (basic monthly salary × 12) ÷ 365 to derive an annual rate divided by calendar days, not working days. Service length is calculated from the employment start date to the last working day, with partial years computed pro-rata. The Article 51(3) cap (maximum two years of basic salary) is applied as a final check. This calculator does not apply to DIFC employees, who are governed by a separate framework and the DEWS workplace savings scheme.

Last reviewed: June 2026 by OfficeDraft legal and HR team. Calculator methodology verified against MOHRE published guidelines. Disclaimer: This calculator provides general information only and is not legal advice. For disputes or complex situations, consult a UAE-licensed employment lawyer.

About This Calculator

🏛️

Legally grounded

Built on Article 51 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, the law that governs Dubai mainland and most Dubai free zone employment. References verified against official MOHRE and UAE Legislation portal sources.

🔄

Updated June 2026

Reflects all changes since FDL 33/2021 came into force, including MOHRE enforcement updates under FDL 9/2024, and is reviewed against current Dubai Courts and DIFC Courts procedures.

⚠️

Not legal advice

This calculator provides general information. For contested calculations, gross misconduct dismissals, or DIFC employment, consult a UAE-licensed employment lawyer.

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Employer in Dubai not paying? Get your demand letter.

Now that you know your gratuity amount, generate a Dubai-specific demand letter citing Article 51 and Article 53. Includes MOHRE and Dubai Courts escalation language and your calculated amount. AED 49.

Generate Dubai Demand Letter →MOHRE Complaint Letter →

Article 51 FDL 33/2021 · MOHRE escalation included · 14-day payment rule cited