Do I Get Gratuity for 6 Months Work in the UAE?
Written by Usama Afzal, Founder & Editor, GratuityHisab. Last updated: October 2026. Based on the UAE Labour Law; not legal advice.
No — you do not get gratuity for 6 months service in UAE. Under Article 52 of the UAE Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021), end-of-service gratuity is paid only after at least 1 full year of continuous service. Six months means zero gratuity. But that is not the whole story: your employer still owes you unpaid salary, overtime pay, and unused annual leave (if you worked 6+ months) — and all of it must be paid within 14 days of your last working day.
You worked 6 months in the UAE. Do you get gratuity?
You took the job in Dubai, Sharjah or Abu Dhabi full of hope. Six months later the job ends — or you resign — and HR tells you ‘no gratuity for short service’. The fear hits instantly: am I leaving with nothing? Six months of hard work, and nothing to show for it?
That fear is exactly why this question — what is the rule on gratuity for 6 months service in UAE — is one of the most searched gratuity questions in the country. The good news: the law gives a crystal-clear answer, and once you know it, you also know exactly what money you CAN still claim. Let's go through it together, step by step.
gratuity for 6 months service in UAE: the honest 2026 answer
Here is the truth, with no sugar-coating: gratuity for 6 months service in UAE is AED 0. Article 52 of the UAE Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021) says end-of-service gratuity starts only after at least 1 year of continuous service with the same employer. Anything less than 1 year = zero gratuity. There is no pro-rata, no half payment, no ‘goodwill’ amount in the law.
So the honest answer is no — but please read on before you feel disappointed, because the same law protects several other payments that many short-term workers never claim.
Why gratuity for 6 months service in UAE hits a 1-year cliff
Think of the UAE gratuity rule as a cliff, not a slope. Your service months build up — and then, at exactly 12 months, the gratuity switch flips on. Before that moment, nothing.
The math. Take a worker on AED 8,000 basic salary. At 6 months of service, his gratuity is AED 0 — not a smaller amount, literally zero. But at exactly 12 months, the same worker qualifies: 21 days × (8,000 ÷ 30) = AED 5,600. Six extra months of work turn AED 0 into AED 5,600.
| Service completed | Gratuity |
|---|---|
| 6 months | AED 0 |
| 9 months | AED 0 |
| 11 months 29 days | AED 0 |
| 12 months (1 year) | AED 5,600 (on AED 8,000 basic) |
That is why the question of gratuity for 6 months service in UAE has such a painful answer — and why counting your exact service period matters so much. If you are close to the 1-year mark, even a few extra weeks can be worth thousands of dirhams.
What you ARE still owed when you leave before 1 year
Here is the part most articles get wrong or skip: zero gratuity does not mean zero dues. The law still guarantees you:
- Unpaid salary — every dirham for days you worked but were not paid.
- Overtime pay — for all approved overtime hours.
- Unused annual leave balance — if you worked 6+ months, your accrued leave is encashed (see the table below).
Our UAE final settlement guide walks through the full checklist of every line you should see in your settlement — gratuity, leave, notice pay and more.
Annual leave after 6 months: your leave-day table (basic salary basis)
For many short-term workers, leave encashment is worth more than the gratuity they hoped for — because it actually exists. Article 29 of the UAE Labour Law sets the leave rule: less than 6 months of service = no paid annual leave entitlement; from 6 to 12 months = 2 leave days per month; after 1 year = 30 days per year.
Unused leave is encashed on exit based on your basic salary: (basic ÷ 30) × accrued days. On an AED 8,000 basic:
| Service | Leave days (2/month) | Encashment on AED 8,000 basic |
|---|---|---|
| 6 months | 12 days | AED 3,200.00 |
| 7 months | 14 days | AED 3,733.33 |
| 8 months | 16 days | AED 4,266.67 |
| 9 months | 18 days | AED 4,800.00 |
| 10 months | 20 days | AED 5,333.33 |
| 11 months | 22 days | AED 5,866.67 |
Notice something? At 8 months, your leave money (AED 4,266.67) is real cash — while the gratuity for 6 months service in UAE figure everyone asks about stays at zero. Claim what is actually yours.
Ahmed's 8-month worked example: AED 0 gratuity, AED 4,266.67 leave
Let's make it concrete. Ahmed joined a logistics company in Dubai on AED 8,000 basic salary and resigned after 8 months. Here is his final settlement, calculated step by step:
- Gratuity. 8 months is under 1 year — and the rule applies the same at 8 months. Gratuity = AED 0.
- Leave encashment. 8 months × 2 days = 16 days. Daily wage = 8,000 ÷ 30 = AED 266.67. 16 × 266.67 = AED 4,266.67.
- Last month's unpaid salary — say AED 8,000 — plus any overtime.
- Total real settlement: AED 12,266.67+ — all due within 14 days of his last working day.
Ahmed gets zero gratuity, but he walks away with over AED 12,000 he is legally owed. The difference between workers who get paid and workers who don't is simply knowing the breakdown — for the full formula once you cross 1 year, see how gratuity is calculated in the UAE, and for why only basic salary counts, read is gratuity calculated on basic salary in the UAE?
Watch out: 3 traps that cost short-term workers money
When your gratuity is zero, some employers try to make your OTHER dues disappear too. Watch for these three traps:
- ‘Probation means no rights.’ False. Your probation months count fully toward your service period — probation is part of continuous employment, not a gap in it.
- Withholding your salary because you resigned. Illegal. Unpaid salary, overtime and leave money are due within 14 days whether you resigned or were terminated. See UAE gratuity on resignation.
- ‘Sign this clearance first, money tomorrow.’ Never sign a ‘received in full’ or clearance document for money that is not in your account yet. If your employer is stalling on payment, our employer not paying gratuity in UAE complaint guide explains the MOHRE process.
Edge cases: exactly 1 year, part-time work and resignation
The 1-year line creates a few edge cases workers ask about constantly:
- Exactly 12 months from your joining date = you qualify. The gratuity switch flips at one full year: 21 days of your last basic wage (AED 5,600 on an AED 8,000 basic).
- 11 months and 29 days = you do NOT qualify. The line is hard, not rounded.
- Resignation vs termination — makes no difference. The old 1980 resignation tiers were repealed; the 1-year threshold applies identically either way.
- Part-time workers — face the same gratuity for 6 months service in UAE threshold. Pro-rata calculation only applies once the 1-year mark is reached; before that, it is still zero.
Does probation count toward the 1-year gratuity rule?
Yes — completely. The 1-year clock is continuous service with the same employer from your joining date, and probation months are included. If your joining date was 1 March 2025 and you were on 6 months' probation, your 1-year mark is still 1 March 2026, not 1 September 2026.
Unpaid absence days don't count toward your 1 year
One quiet detail that can move your qualifying date: days of unpaid absence are excluded from the service period. If you took 20 days of unpaid leave during the year, your 12-month mark effectively shifts 20 days later.
Your 5-step checklist before you sign anything
- Count your exact service period from your joining date — subtract any unpaid absence days.
- Calculate your leave money: (basic ÷ 30) × (2 days × months beyond 6). On AED 8,000 basic at 8 months, that is AED 4,266.67.
- Add unpaid salary and overtime, then demand the total in writing with the 14-day deadline named.
- Run the free UAE gratuity calculator so you know your exact figures for today — and what you will be owed once you cross 1 year.
- If dues are withheld, file a free MOHRE complaint (hotline 80084) — but go in knowing the gratuity part is zero, so your claim focuses on salary and leave money.
The question of gratuity for 6 months service in UAE has a hard answer — zero. But your leave money, your salary and your overtime are real, they are yours, and the law says they must reach your account within 14 days. Check your amount before you sign anything, and don't walk away from money you earned.
Related guides
- How gratuity is calculated in the UAE (Article 52 formula)
- UAE final settlement: the complete checklist
- UAE gratuity on resignation: do you still get paid?
- Employer not paying gratuity in UAE? How to file a complaint
Frequently asked questions
Do I get gratuity for 6 months service in UAE?
No. Under Article 52 of the UAE Labour Law, end-of-service gratuity is paid only after at least 1 year of continuous service — so gratuity at 6 months is AED 0. But you are still owed unpaid salary, overtime and unused annual leave (if you worked 6+ months), all payable within 14 days of your last working day.
How much gratuity do I get after exactly 1 year in the UAE?
21 days of your last basic salary. On an AED 8,000 basic: 21 × (8,000 ÷ 30) = AED 5,600. That is why crossing the 1-year mark matters so much — the day before, gratuity is zero.
Do I get annual leave if I work 6 months in the UAE?
Yes — from the 6th month you accrue 2 leave days per month. At 6 months that is 12 days, at 8 months 16 days. Unused leave is encashed on exit at (basic ÷ 30) per day; 16 days on an AED 8,000 basic = AED 4,266.67. Less than 6 months of service gives no paid annual leave entitlement.
Does probation count toward the 1-year gratuity rule in the UAE?
Yes. Probation months are part of your continuous service with the same employer and count fully toward the 1-year threshold. The clock starts on your joining date, not on the day your probation ends.
My employer won't pay my salary after I resigned at 7 months. What can I do?
You are still owed your unpaid salary, overtime and leave money within 14 days of your last working day — resignation changes nothing. Demand it in writing, then file a free MOHRE complaint (hotline 80084, mohre.gov.ae, the MOHRE app, or a Tasheel centre). Be aware the gratuity part stays zero under 1 year; your claim is for salary and leave.
Work out your own amount
Enter your dates and salary to see your end-of-service pay instantly.
More questions
- Full gratuity if you resign?
- What is the notice period?
- How is overtime paid?
- Final settlement not paid? What to do
Sources
This guide is based on the UAE Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021). Labour laws are amended from time to time; for the latest version, always check the official gazette of UAE.
