# Termination benefits in the UAE: what your employer must pay you

> If you are let go in the UAE, you are owed unpaid salary, notice pay, unused leave and gratuity within 14 days. Up to 3 months' wages is extra, and only if a court finds the dismissal unlawful.

- URL: https://dubaibusinessinsight.com/living-working/termination-benefits-uae/
- Author: [Harper Cross](https://dubaibusinessinsight.com/authors/harper-cross/), Business Analyst & Researcher
- Published: 26 September 2026
- Updated: 26 September 2026
- Facts last checked: 26 September 2026
- Section: Living & Working
- Publisher: Dubai Business Insight (https://dubaibusinessinsight.com/)

## Key takeaways

- When your job ends, your employer must pay all your dues within 14 days.
- Your dues include salary to your last day, notice pay if notice was not given, unused leave, and gratuity after one year.
- The "3 months' salary" is not automatic. It is compensation a court can order only if the dismissal was unlawful.
- Your employer can dismiss you without notice only for serious reasons in Article 44, after a written investigation.
- You must file any claim within 2 years of the job ending. MOHRE decides claims of up to AED 50,000.

If your employer ends your job in the UAE, it must pay you within 14 days: your salary up to the last day, notice pay if you did not get your full notice, pay for unused annual leave, and end-of-service gratuity if you worked at least one year. You may also get up to 3 months' wages as compensation, but only if a court finds the dismissal was unlawful.

These rules come from the UAE labour law, Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021. For the wider picture, see our [UAE labour law guide](https://dubaibusinessinsight.com/living-working/uae-labour-law/).

## What you should get when your job ends

| Payment | When you get it | Law |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Salary up to your last day | Always | Article 53 |
| Notice pay | If your employer did not let you serve your notice | Article 43 |
| Unused annual leave | Always, for days not taken | Article 29 |
| End-of-service gratuity | If you worked 1 year or more | Article 51 |
| Compensation for unlawful dismissal | Only if a court orders it; up to 3 months' wages | Article 47 |
| Other dues in your contract | For example a flight ticket or bonus, if your contract says so | Your contract |

Your employer must pay all of this within **14 days** of the contract ending (Article 53).

## Worked example

Ahmed worked for 4 years. His basic wage is AED 8,000 and his total wage is AED 11,000. His contract has 30 days' notice. His employer ends the contract and tells him to leave the same day. He has 10 unused leave days.

| Item | Working | Amount |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Notice pay | 30 days of total wage | AED 11,000 |
| Unused leave | 8,000 ÷ 30 × 10 | AED 2,667 |
| Gratuity | 21 days' basic × 4 years = 84 days; 8,000 ÷ 30 × 84 | AED 22,400 |
| **Total** |  | **AED 36,067** |

This is on top of his salary up to the last day. Check your own figures with our [gratuity calculator](https://dubaibusinessinsight.com/tools/gratuity-calculator/) and our guide on [how to calculate gratuity](https://dubaibusinessinsight.com/living-working/how-to-calculate-gratuity-uae/).

## What is the "3 months' salary on termination"?

Many people think every dismissed worker gets 3 months' salary. That is not right.

Under Article 47, a dismissal is **unlawful** if you were fired because you made a serious complaint to MOHRE, or filed a lawsuit against your employer that was found to be valid. In that case, a court can order your employer to pay **fair compensation of up to 3 months' wages**, based on your last wage.

The court looks at things like your type of work, how long you worked, and the harm you suffered. This compensation is **on top of** your notice pay, leave and gratuity.

## When can an employer dismiss without notice?

Under Article 44, only after a **written investigation** and only for serious reasons, such as:

- using a false identity or forged documents,
- a serious mistake that causes the employer a large loss, or damaging property on purpose,
- breaking safety rules after being warned,
- failing in your main duties after two written warnings,
- sharing work secrets,
- being drunk or on drugs at work,
- assaulting a manager or colleague,
- being absent without a good reason for more than 20 days in a year, or more than 7 days in a row,
- joining another employer without following the rules.

If none of these apply, your employer must give you notice or pay you for it.

## Termination vs resignation

The money is mostly the same. Gratuity uses the same formula whether you resign or are let go. The differences:

- If your employer ends the contract, you can take one unpaid day a week during notice to look for work.
- If you resign and do not serve notice, **you** may owe your employer notice pay.

See [resignation and notice period in the UAE](https://dubaibusinessinsight.com/living-working/resignation-notice-period-uae/).

## Job loss insurance

If you subscribed to the Involuntary Loss of Employment (ILOE) scheme for at least 12 months, you may claim up to 60% of your basic salary for up to 3 months. You must claim within 30 days of losing your job, and it does not apply if you were dismissed for disciplinary reasons. See our [ILOE insurance guide](https://dubaibusinessinsight.com/living-working/iloe-insurance-uae/).

## What to do if you are not paid

1. **Ask in writing.** Email HR a list of what you are owed. Keep a copy.
2. **Don't sign a settlement form you disagree with.** Signing may be taken as saying you were paid in full.
3. **File a MOHRE complaint** in the MOHRE app, on the website, at a Tawafuq or Tas-heel centre, or by calling 80084.
4. **Know the deadline.** Since the 2024 amendment, claims must be filed within **2 years** of the job ending. MOHRE decides claims of AED 50,000 or less. Bigger claims go to court.

## Your visa after termination

Your employer cancels your work permit and residence visa. You then have a grace period to find a new job or leave. After that, overstay fines of AED 50 a day apply. See [overstay fine check](https://dubaibusinessinsight.com/living-working/overstay-fine-check-uae/).

## Frequently asked questions

### What benefits do I get if my company terminates me in the UAE?

Salary to your last day, notice pay if you did not serve notice, unused leave, gratuity after one year, and any extra benefits in your contract. All within 14 days.

### Is 3 months' salary paid on every termination?

No. Up to 3 months' wages is compensation a court can order only when the dismissal is unlawful under Article 47.

### How is gratuity calculated on termination?

21 days' basic wage for each of the first 5 years, and 30 days' basic wage for each year after that. The total cannot go above 2 years' wages.

### How long does my employer have to pay me after termination?

14 days from the end of the contract.

### How long do I have to file a claim?

2 years from the day your job ended.

### How many warning letters are needed before termination?

The law does not set one number for all cases. For failing in your main duties, Article 44 needs two written warnings first. For serious misconduct, an investigation is needed, not warnings.

## Sources

- [Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 on Employment Relationships (Articles 42 to 47, 51, 53, 54)](https://assets.u.ae/api/public/content/eb65a60bbff949fa912eddd566613014?v=7174ed78)
- [UAE Government portal: Terminating employment contracts and arbitrary dismissal](https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/jobs/employment-in-the-private-sector/job-offers-and-work-permits-and-contracts/terminating-employment-contracts)
- [K&H Legal: Federal Decree-Law No. 9 of 2024 summary](https://khlegal.ae/federal-decree-law-no-9-of-2024-amending-certain-provisions-of-federal-decree-law-no-33/)
- [MOHRE official website](https://www.mohre.gov.ae/)

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Cite as: "Termination benefits in the UAE: what your employer must pay you", Dubai Business Insight, updated 26 September 2026. https://dubaibusinessinsight.com/living-working/termination-benefits-uae/