Key facts at a glance
Monthly take-home, expat
Identical
0% tax, 0% deductions in both
UAE gratuity, 10 yrs
AED 139,726
Capped at 2 years' basic
Qatar gratuity, 10 yrs
QAR 136,111
No cap under Article 54
Monthly take-home is a wash for expats in both markets: 0% tax, 0% deductions. The real difference is end-of-service: on a QAR 200,000/year basic salary, a 10-year Qatar employee builds QAR 136,111 in gratuity versus AED 139,726 in the UAE, where the cap stops further growth.
Side-by-side gratuity at QAR 200,000/year basic
| Years | UAE gratuity | Qatar gratuity |
|---|---|---|
| 1 years | AED 11,507 | QAR 11,667 |
| 3 years | AED 34,521 | QAR 35,000 |
| 5 years | AED 57,534 | QAR 58,333 |
| 8 years | AED 106,849 | QAR 105,000 |
| 10 years | AED 139,726 | QAR 136,111 |
Model your own gratuity in both markets.
Qatar Gratuity CalculatorMonthly briefing
Get our monthly salary and market update
Salary movements, contractor rate changes, tax updates, and new tools. Sent once a month, no noise.
No spam. Unsubscribe any time. GDPR-compliant.
Frequently asked questions
Does Qatar or the UAE pay expats more take-home each month?
Neither, on a like-for-like package. Both have 0% personal income tax and zero payroll deductions for expatriate employees. If your Doha offer and your Dubai offer are the same gross number, your monthly take-home is identical.
Does Qatar have an end-of-service benefit like the UAE's gratuity?
Yes. Qatar Labour Law Article 54 entitles departing employees to gratuity: three weeks' basic wage per year for the first five years, four weeks per year after that, with no cap. The UAE uses 21 days per year for the first five years and 30 days after, capped at two years' basic salary.
Which gratuity formula pays out more over a long career?
Qatar's, once you pass the UAE's cap. From year six onward Qatar's four-weeks-per-year rate accelerates with no cap, while UAE gratuity stops growing at two years' basic salary.
Is the gratuity calculation based on basic salary or full package?
Basic salary only, in both countries. Housing and transport allowances are typically excluded from the gratuity base.
Does resigning change the payout in either country?
In Qatar, if you've completed at least one year of continuous service, you're entitled to the full Article 54 gratuity regardless of resignation or termination (with proper notice). The UAE also has resignation rules but they differ in detail.
Are there other differences between a Qatar and UAE expat contract?
Qatar's employment framework sits under the Ministry of Labour, with its own notice periods and work permit (QID) system. Both markets use similar package structures with basic salary plus allowances. Compare contract terms specifically, not just headline pay.