End of service, overtime and annual leave across the GCC, compared
A comparison table of end-of-service, overtime and annual leave rules in five GCC countries, with the article behind each rule and the official source it was checked against on 20 October 2026.
Last updated · 2 min read
All five GCC countries reviewed pay an end-of-service award that grows with service, but the formulas differ: Saudi Arabia and Kuwait start at half a month a year, the UAE and Qatar at three weeks, and Oman at a full month. Overtime premiums start at 25% everywhere except Saudi Arabia, and leave runs from 21 days to 30 working days.
Key takeaways
- End of service: half a month a year to start in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, three weeks in the UAE and Qatar, a month in Oman.
- Only Saudi Arabia and Kuwait reduce the award on resignation; the UAE, Qatar and Oman do not.
- Overtime: 25% over basic in the UAE, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait; in Saudi Arabia the hourly wage plus 50% of basic.
- Leave: 21 to 30 days in Saudi Arabia, 30 days in the UAE and Oman, three to four weeks in Qatar, 30 working days in Kuwait.
This is general information to help you understand the topic. It is not legal advice. Rules and rates change: always check the official text on the relevant authority’s platform and consult a qualified adviser before acting.
Labour rules differ across the GCC more than the headline figures suggest. The table below sets out end-of-service, overtime and annual leave for five countries. Every rule was checked on 20 October 2026: against the official government text for Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar, and against a reproduction of the official gazette for Oman and Kuwait, whose government sites could not be reached. This is general information, not legal advice.
| Country | End of service | Overtime | Annual leave |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | Half a month’s actual wage a year for five years, then a month (Art. 84); resignation shares (Art. 85) | Hourly wage plus 50% of basic hourly wage (Art. 107) | At least 21 days; 30 after five consecutive years (Art. 109) |
| UAE | 21 days’ basic wage a year for five years, then 30 days, after one year; capped at two years’ wage (Art. 51) | Basic plus 25%; plus 50% from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. or on a rest day (Art. 19) | 30 days a year; two days a month after six months (Art. 29) |
| Oman | At least a month’s basic wage a year, pro rata (Art. 61); savings scheme for non-Omanis by July 2027 | Basic plus 25% by day, 50% at night, 100% on rest days or holidays (Art. 71) | At least 30 days, taken after six months (Art. 78) |
| Qatar | At least three weeks’ basic wage a year, after one year; no cap (Art. 54) | Basic plus 25%; plus 50% from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. (Art. 74) | Three weeks under five years; four weeks from five (Art. 79) |
| Kuwait | Monthly-paid: 15 days a year for five years, then a month; capped at 18 months (Art. 51); resignation shares (Art. 53) | Wage plus 25% (Art. 66); rest day plus 50% (Art. 67); holidays double (Art. 68) | At least 30 working days, after six months (Art. 70) |
What the table means for HR teams
The UAE, Qatar and Oman calculate end of service on basic wage and do not reduce it on resignation, so the reason for leaving matters only for dismissal. Saudi Arabia and Kuwait reduce the award on resignation, and Saudi Arabia calculates it on the actual wage, including allowances.
Overtime is the clearest difference. Four countries add a percentage to the basic hourly wage, while Saudi Arabia pays the full hourly wage plus half the basic hourly wage, so allowances raise Saudi overtime pay. The UAE and Qatar set fixed night windows, and Kuwait has no night rate at all.
Two changes are coming. Oman will replace employer gratuity for non-Omani workers with a Social Protection Fund savings scheme no later than 19 July 2027, and Kuwait already forbids deducting social insurance contributions from the indemnity.
Use the calculators
Saudi Arabia has its own end-of-service calculator. The calculators hub has end-of-service, overtime and leave calculators for the UAE, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait, and overtime and leave for Saudi Arabia. Each names its article, its official source and any method it assumes.
Frequently asked questions
Which GCC countries reduce the end-of-service award on resignation?
Saudi Arabia (Article 85: nothing under two years, then one third, two thirds or the full award) and Kuwait (Article 53: nothing under three years, then half, two thirds or the full award). The UAE, Qatar and Oman laws set no reduction for resignation.
Is the end-of-service award calculated on basic or total pay?
On basic wage in the UAE, Oman and Qatar. Saudi Arabia uses the actual wage, which includes allowances. Kuwait’s Article 51 says “wage” without qualification, and the law defines wage broadly.
This is general information to help you understand the topic. It is not legal advice. Rules and rates change: always check the official text on the relevant authority’s platform and consult a qualified adviser before acting.
