Key facts at a glance
Monthly take-home, expat
Identical
0% tax, 0% deductions in both
UAE gratuity, 10 yrs
AED 139,726
30 days a year after year 5
Qatar gratuity, 10 yrs
QAR 116,667
3 weeks a year, no cap
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 116,667 in gratuity versus AED 139,726 in the UAE. The two are level for five years. After that the UAE's rate rises to 30 days a year while Qatar's legal minimum stays at three weeks. Qatar has no cap, but the UAE's cap of two years' basic salary takes about 26 years to reach. These are PayMetric Labs' own modeled estimates of the statutory minimums; a Qatar contract can promise more.
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 93,333 |
| 10 years | AED 139,726 | QAR 116,667 |
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 a gratuity of not less than three weeks' basic wage for every year of service, 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?
The UAE's, for almost any realistic career. The two are level for the first five years. From year six the UAE accrues 30 days a year while Qatar's legal minimum stays at three weeks, so the UAE pulls ahead. The UAE's cap of two years' basic salary is only reached after about 26 years, and Qatar's uncapped minimum does not overtake it until about 34 years.
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.
Related reading & tools