Jira & Confluence 
Bitrix24 UAE mainland · Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 · Articles 51, 53, 54
Leaving your job in the UAE? — final settlement letter ready, 14-day deadline counted
Short answer. Your letter is open below, with a table for wages, gratuity, leave and notice pay. Gratuity — who: Foreign full-time worker with at least one year of continuous service (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Art. 51(2)).
- Last day for the employer to pay wages, gratuity and all dues (14 days, Art. 53): type the date
- Last day to bring a claim for your rights (2 years, Art. 54(9)): type the date
Check your own case.
Art. 53: the employer pays the worker, within fourteen days as of the date of the end of the contract, his wages and all other entitlements. Art. 54(9): a case for rights under the Decree-Law is not heard after two years from the date the work relation ended. We add calendar days and calendar months to the date you enter.
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Enter your last working day, and I will show the payment deadline and the last day to claim.
Use your basic wage from the MOHRE contract. Many people count the full salary by mistake.
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Deadlines
The rules, with the source
| What | Deadline | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Gratuity — who | Foreign full-time worker with at least one year of continuous service | Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Art. 51(2) |
| Gratuity — how much | 21 days' basic wage per year for the first 5 years; 30 days' per year after that; part-years in proportion | Art. 51(2)–(3) |
| Which wage | Last basic wage (no allowances); unpaid absence days not counted | Art. 51(4)–(5); Art. 1 'Basic Wage' |
| Cap | Total gratuity not more than two years' wage | Art. 51(6) |
| Unused annual leave | Paid for the leave days not taken when you leave | Art. 29(1)(c), 29(9) |
| Payment deadline | All wages and entitlements within 14 days of the end of the contract | Art. 53 |
| If not paid | Labour complaint to MOHRE; up to AED 50,000 MOHRE decides itself | Art. 54(1)–(2) |
| Time limit | 2 years from the end of the work relation | Art. 54(9) |
Private sector on the UAE mainland. UAE nationals get end-of-service benefits under the pensions and social security law (Art. 51(1)). Not for domestic workers or government employees (Art. 3). DIFC and ADGM have their own employment laws.
Step by step
What to do, in order
1
Note your dates
Start date, last working day and any days of unpaid absence.
2
Find your last basic wage
From the MOHRE contract or the payslip — basic only, without allowances.
3
Fill in the table
Wages, gratuity, part-year, leave, notice pay, other items.
4
Send the letter
Before or on your last day, by e-mail or by hand with a signed copy.
5
Check the statement
Do not sign 'full and final' for a lower amount than you calculated.
6
Complain if unpaid
After 14 days: labour complaint to MOHRE. Claims expire after 2 years.
Questions
Do I get gratuity if I resign?
Article 51 gives gratuity to a foreign full-time worker who has completed one year or more of continuous service, upon the end of service. It does not set a lower rate for resignation.
Is gratuity based on my full salary?
No. It is calculated on the last basic wage, which does not include allowances or benefits in kind.
The company says it will pay 'later'. Is that allowed?
The law gives the employer 14 days from the end of the contract. After that, you can complain to MOHRE.
Official sources
Other documents
Keep the papers in one place
Letters, receipts and notices in one folder you can share with family or a lawyer. The templates and the editor are free; Layers is free for up to 20 people.
This is a ready document and a deadline calculation, not legal advice.