1
What does GRSIA cost an employer in Qatar?
Employers pay 10% of basic salary as a GRSIA employer contribution for Qatari nationals. Expatriate employees are not covered by GRSIA, so the employer contribution is 0% for expat hires.
Qatar · 2026 GRSIA rates
Qatar Employer Cost of Hiring Calculator
On a QAR 240,000/year salary in year 3, an expatriate costs QAR 254,000 (1.06×) and a Qatari national costs QAR 287,600 (1.20×).
Employer GRSIA, Qatari national
10%
Of basic salary
Employer GRSIA, expatriate
0%
Expats not covered
Article 54 accrual
3wk → 4wk/yr
Years 1-5, then year 6+
Total annual cost
QAR 254,000
Cost multiplier
1.06×
GRSIA employer rate
0%
Gross salary
QAR 240,000
GRSIA employer contribution
Expats not covered by GRSIA
QAR 0
Gratuity accrual (Article 54)
3 weeks/yr (years 1-5)
QAR 14,000
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Frequently asked questions
2
What is the Article 54 gratuity liability, and why should employers provision for it?
Article 54 entitles every departing employee to an end-of-service gratuity: three weeks' basic wage per year for the first 5 years, four weeks per year after that, uncapped. It's paid as a lump sum by the employer at exit, so provisioning for it annually avoids a large unbudgeted cash outflow.
3
Why is hiring a Qatari national more expensive on paper than an expat?
Because the employer GRSIA rate is 10% for a Qatari national versus 0% for an expatriate. On identical gross salaries, that's a meaningfully larger direct payroll cost for the national hire.
4
Why does the gratuity accrual go up after year 5?
Because Article 54 itself is structured that way: three weeks' basic wage accrues per year for each of the first 5 years, then four weeks per year after that, with no cap.
5
What isn't included in these cost figures?
Work permit and visa processing costs, mandatory health insurance (Qatar requires employer-provided health cover for all employees), recruitment fees, and Qatarization compliance considerations. This calculator focuses on the two costs that apply predictably to every hire: GRSIA employer contribution and gratuity accrual.