Final settlement checklist: what you should receive when you leave
Short answer: a final settlement should include your unpaid salary up to your last day, your end-of-service gratuity, pay for unused annual leave, any notice pay owed to you, and approved expenses. Ask for it in writing, item by item, before you sign.
The checklist
- Salary to your last working day. Including the part month you worked.
- End-of-service gratuity. Based on your service and the right salary figure for your country. Basic or total salary?
- Unused annual leave. Days earned but not taken. How leave pay is calculated
- Notice pay, if it applies. If your employer ended the contract without the full notice period, you are owed your wage for the missing days.
- Approved expenses and allowances still owed. For example, an expense claim already approved, or an allowance your contract says is paid on leaving.
- Return ticket. In Qatar and the UAE, the employer generally pays your repatriation cost unless you move to a new employer in the country or the contract ended through your own fault.
- Experience or salary certificate. Free of charge, on request.
- Deductions, listed and explained. Such as an outstanding loan or advance. Check every one.
Payment deadlines
| Country | When dues must be paid |
|---|---|
| Qatar | Promptly when the contract ends (Article 67 of the Labour Law) |
| UAE | Within 14 days of the end of employment |
| Saudi Arabia | Within 1 week, or 2 weeks if you resigned (Article 88) |
Worked example (UAE)
An employee in Dubai leaves after six years. Basic salary is 10,000 AED, the total package is 15,000 AED, and 10 days of annual leave are unused. Notice was served in full.
| Item | How it's worked out | Amount (AED) |
|---|---|---|
| Gratuity | (21 × 5 + 30 × 1) days × 333.33 | 45,000 |
| Unused leave | 10 days × 333.33 (basic) | 3,333 |
| Salary for the final month | Days worked × total daily pay | As worked |
| Return ticket | Paid by employer | Ticket |
Gratuity plus leave pay comes to 48,333 AED before the final month's salary.
Before you sign
- Check the gratuity with the calculator below, using your own dates and basic salary.
- Ask which salary figure and how many days were used for each line.
- Don't sign a document saying you have received everything until the money is in your account.
- If your dues are not paid on time, you can complain to the labour ministry: the Ministry of Labour in Qatar, MOHRE in the UAE, or HRSD in Saudi Arabia.