The UAE's current Domestic Workers Law, Federal Decree-Law No. 9 of 2022, does not set a gratuity rate. Article 22 leaves the method to a future Cabinet decision, and none has been issued. The familiar rule of 14 days' salary per year came from the old law, Federal Law No. 10 of 2017, which the 2022 law repealed.
⚡ Quick Facts
| ⚖️ Current law | Federal Decree-Law No. 9 of 2022 (in force 15 December 2022) |
| 💰 Gratuity rate | Not set. Art. 22: the Council of Ministers "may approve" the method |
| 📜 Old rule | 14 days' salary per year after 1 year (Federal Law 10/2017, repealed) |
| ⏱️ Final dues | Within 10 days of the contract ending (Art. 19) |
| 📞 MOHRE | 600 590 000 |
📜 What the 2022 law says
Article 22 of Federal Decree-Law 9/2022 reads, in the official English text: "Based on the Minister's proposal, the Council of Ministers may approve the systems and mechanisms for calculating and paying the end-of-service gratuity for Workers." The law gives no number of days, and its Executive Regulations (Cabinet Resolution 106 of 2022) are silent on gratuity.
So there is no legal formula today. The 14-days rule you see on many websites, and in many contracts, comes from the 2017 law that the 2022 law replaced. The private-sector rule of 21 days per year does not apply either, because the UAE Labour Law excludes domestic workers.
💼 What the worker is owed when the contract ends
- ✅ All unpaid wages up to the last working day
- ✅ Pay for any unused annual leave, at the last wage (Art. 10)
- ✅ The ticket home that the law and the contract provide (Art. 10)
- ✅ Any end-of-service gratuity written into the contract
- ⏱️ Everything is due within 10 days of the contract ending (Art. 19)
🧮 How to work out a gratuity today
- Read the contract. The MOHRE standard contract and the employer's own terms decide whether a gratuity is owed and how much.
- Check with MoHRE. Use MoHRE's online services or call 600 590 000 for the figure MoHRE applies.
- If the contract uses the old rule, the sum is (monthly salary ÷ 30) × 14 × years of service. For AED 1,500 a month over 3 years, that is AED 2,100. Our gratuity calculator shows this as a reference figure, not a legal entitlement.
🔄 If you disagree about what is owed
Ask for the payment in writing first. If that fails, file a complaint with MOHRE (600 590 000 or mohre.gov.ae). MOHRE tries to settle the dispute and can refer it to court (Art. 23).
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is end-of-service gratuity mandatory for UAE domestic workers?
The current law does not fix one. Article 22 of Federal Decree-Law 9/2022 lets the Cabinet set a method later, and it has not done so. A gratuity is owed if the contract provides one, so check the contract and MoHRE's guidance.
Where does "14 days per year" come from?
From Federal Law No. 10 of 2017 on domestic workers, which the 2022 law repealed. Many contracts and calculators still use it as a reference.
Does the 21-days private-sector rule apply?
No. The UAE Labour Law does not cover domestic workers; they fall under Federal Decree-Law 9/2022.
How fast must final dues be paid?
Within 10 days of the contract ending (Federal Decree-Law 9/2022, Art. 19).
Source: Federal Decree-Law No. 9 of 2022 on Domestic Workers, official text at uaelegislation.gov.ae (Arts. 10, 19, 22, 23). Checked 7 October 2026.
Related Guides
Work out the exact amount
Enter the monthly salary and length of service in our free uae gratuity calculator — it applies the 14-day rate set by Federal Decree-Law 9/2022, Article 19, shows the number of days owed, and compares UAE against the other five GCC countries.