Do You Get Gratuity With Less Than 1 Year of UAE Service?
October 23, 2026
Under the UAE Labour Law, employees need at least one full year of continuous service before any end-of-service gratuity accrues. Service under one year earns no gratuity at all — it's a threshold, not a pro-rated minimum.
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The one-year clock runs from the start date of employment and must be continuous — unpaid absence days are specifically excluded from counting toward the service term under the official guidance, which can push the one-year mark later than the calendar anniversary of the start date if there were significant unpaid gaps.
What Is Still Owed Under 1 Year
Even with no gratuity entitlement, an employee who leaves before one year is still owed any outstanding basic wages for time worked, and any other contractual entitlements that don't depend on the one-year gratuity threshold (such as unused leave accrued, where applicable). Gratuity specifically is the only major benefit tied to this particular cutoff.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the minimum service for UAE gratuity?
At least one year of continuous service. Below that, no gratuity is owed.
Is gratuity pro-rated for under a year of service?
No — it's a hard threshold. Under one year, the gratuity amount is zero, not a reduced fraction.
Do unpaid leave days count toward the one-year mark?
No — unpaid absence days are excluded from the service term calculation, which can delay reaching the one-year threshold.
Am I still owed wages if I leave before a year?
Yes — outstanding wages for time actually worked are always owed regardless of the gratuity threshold; only the gratuity component specifically requires one year.