GCC End-of-Service Comparison: UAE vs Saudi vs Qatar vs Kuwait vs Bahrain vs Oman
Six Gulf countries, six formulas. Here's every one of them side by side, pulled straight from the statutory rules already verified on each country's calculator.
Every GCC country requires employers to pay a lump sum when an expatriate employee's contract ends — but the day-rate, the wage basis, the resignation treatment and the caps all differ. Here's the full comparison, sourced directly from each country's own labour law as already documented on our calculators.
The full comparison table
| Country | First years | Later years | Wage basis | Resignation | Cap | Min. service |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇦🇪 UAE | 21 days/yr (first 5) | 30 days/yr (after 5) | Basic salary | No reduction (1yr+) | 2 years' wages | 1 year |
| 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | 15 days/yr (first 5) | 30 days/yr (after 5) | Last wage + allowances | Reduced by tier to 10yr | None | None (resign <2yr = 0) |
| 🇶🇦 Qatar | 21 days/yr flat, every year | Basic wage | No reduction (1yr+) | None stated | 1 year | |
| 🇰🇼 Kuwait | 15 days/yr (first 5) | 30 days/yr (after 5) | Full remuneration | Reduced by tier to 10yr | 18 months' pay | None (resign <3yr = 0) |
| 🇧🇭 Bahrain | 15 days/yr (first 3) | 30 days/yr (after 3) | Last wage | No standard reduction | None stated | None — day-one accrual |
| 🇴🇲 Oman (from Aug 2023) | 30 days/yr flat, every year | Basic salary | No reduction (1yr+) | None stated | 1 year | |
Sources: UAE · Saudi · Qatar · Kuwait · Bahrain · Oman guides.
Which day-rate is highest?
Oman's post-August-2023 rate (30 days/year from year one) is the highest baseline in the region — every other GCC country starts lower (15 or 21 days) and only reaches 30 days/year after a 3- or 5-year threshold. Qatar's flat 21-day rate never steps up, so it overtakes Saudi/Kuwait/Bahrain's early years but falls behind the UAE, Kuwait and Saudi once those countries cross their 5-year (or Bahrain's 3-year) threshold into the 30-day band.
Which country protects you best if you resign?
The UAE, Qatar and Oman do not reduce the payout for resignation once the minimum service (1 year) is met. Saudi Arabia and Kuwait both apply resignation-reduction tiers that can cut the award to a third or half if you leave voluntarily before roughly a decade of service. Bahrain has no standard resignation reduction, since indemnity there accrues from day one regardless of cause.
Which has the tightest cap?
Kuwait's 18-month cap is the only explicit ceiling below the UAE's 24-month (2-year) cap among the countries compared here; Saudi, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman's rules as documented on our calculators don't state a statutory cap.
Compare your own numbers
Every formula above is live on its own calculator — plug in your real salary and years of service:
Frequently asked questions
Which GCC country has the most generous end-of-service formula?
Oman's rule for service from August 2023 onward — a flat one month's (30 days') basic salary per year from year one — is the highest baseline day-rate of the six compared here, as it doesn't require reaching a multi-year threshold to access the higher rate.
Which GCC countries reduce your payout if you resign?
Saudi Arabia and Kuwait both apply resignation-reduction tiers. The UAE, Qatar and Oman do not reduce the end-of-service payout for resignation once the minimum service period is met.
Are these formulas all calculated on the same wage basis?
No. The UAE, Qatar and Oman use basic salary only; Saudi Arabia and Bahrain use the last wage (Saudi explicitly includes regular allowances); Kuwait uses full remuneration including regular allowances.
Do all GCC countries require a minimum period of service?
Most do — the UAE, Qatar and Oman require 1 year. Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have no flat minimum but pay zero if you resign before 2 or 3 years respectively. Bahrain's indemnity accrues from day one with no minimum.