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Which Gulf job offer is really worth more once you add allowances and gratuity?
For each offer we add basic salary and fixed allowances to get the monthly total, multiply by 12 and add annual items (guaranteed bonus, air ticket allowance) to get annual cash. Then we work out the end-of-service gratuity after the number of years you enter, using each country's rule from our labour-law library — basic salary only in the UAE, Qatar and Oman, basic plus fixed allowances in Saudi Arabia. Total value = annual cash × years + gratuity. The offer with the higher total value wins.
Offer A: 9,000 basic + 4,500 allowances. Offer B: 7,500 basic + 6,500 allowances + 2,000 a year in tickets. Three years' service.
| Country | Gratuity A | Gratuity B | Better over 3 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| UAE | AED 18,900 | AED 15,750 | Offer B by AED 20,850 |
| Saudi Arabia | SAR 20,250 | SAR 21,000 | Offer B by SAR 24,750 |
| Qatar | QAR 18,900 | QAR 15,750 | Offer B by QAR 20,850 |
Offer B pays more each month, but Offer A's higher basic earns more gratuity in the UAE and Qatar. In Saudi Arabia allowances count too.
Building an offer? Split the package with the salary package calculator and put it in writing with the offer letter generator. Candidate asked for more? Reply with the counter-offer response template.
In the UAE, Qatar and Oman end-of-service gratuity is worked out on basic salary only, so two offers with the same monthly total can leave very different gratuity. An offer with a high basic and lower allowances is worth more the longer you stay. In Saudi Arabia gratuity uses the actual wage (basic plus fixed allowances), so the split matters less there.
We use our labour-law library: UAE mainland 21 days' basic per year for the first five years and 30 days after that, capped at two years' basic; Saudi Arabia half a month's wage per year for the first five years and a full month after; Qatar three weeks' basic per year; Oman one month's basic per year. Figures are the full entitlement when the employer ends the contract. Kuwait and Bahrain are left out until their rules are verified.
Include the air ticket allowance if it's paid in cash or as a fixed entitlement every year. Include a bonus only if the contract guarantees it — a 'discretionary' or 'performance' bonus may never be paid, so compare offers without it first.
Convert one offer into the other's currency first, then enter both. Keep in mind that rent, school fees and tax differ between countries — a higher number in one city can be worth less after living costs.
Contract type (unlimited or fixed term), probation length, notice period, annual leave, medical cover for family, housing (cash or company-provided), working hours and the visa sponsor. Our offer checker reviews these against labour law.
Post the job on MenaJobs free in about 2 minutes. We review every post, and once approved it reaches job seekers across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman.
Post a job freeSalary Package Calculator
Basic + allowances = package, with the gratuity basis for each GCC country.
Open toolOffer Letter Generator
A Gulf-format offer letter with basic pay, allowances, probation and notice, in English and Arabic.
Open toolCounter-Offer Response Template
Answer a candidate's counter-offer: improve, meet part-way or hold firm, in English or Arabic.
Open toolGratuity Calculator
End-of-service pay under each country's labour law, including resignation cuts.
Open toolSalary Calculator
Monthly salary range by role, country and experience.
Open toolSalary Negotiation Email
A counter-offer email that pushes basic pay, not allowances.
Open toolJob Offer Scam Checker
Red-flag check for fake offers, plus how to verify on MOHRE.
Open toolUsed for the gratuity and total-value lines.
Offer A
Offer B
Offer A vs Offer B
Annual cash × years + gratuity
Checked against GCC labour-law rules · reviewed 23 Sept 2026Sources: u.ae — End-of-service benefits (private sector) · DIFC — Qualifying schemes (DEWS)
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