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How do I counter a Gulf job offer by email?

Enter your Gulf job offer and the figure you want, and get a polite counter-offer email that asks for the increase in basic salary, where it counts towards your gratuity.
AED
AED
AED
AED

The whole increase is asked for in basic salary.

Counter-offer email

Subject: Job offer – [Your Name]

Dear [Recruiter's Name],

Thank you very much for the offer for the [Job Title] position at [Company Name]. I enjoyed learning more about the role and the team during the process, and I am genuinely excited about the prospect of joining.

As I understand it, the offer is a monthly basic salary of AED 12,000, a housing allowance of AED 5,000 and transport and other allowances of AED 1,500, a total of AED 18,500 per month.

Having thought about it carefully, I would like to share some context. I already have hands-on experience working in the Gulf, so I understand the market and can be productive from the first weeks without a long settling-in period. Based on the salary data I have reviewed for [Job Title] roles in the UAE, a package at this level is in line with the market for my experience.

With this in mind, would it be possible to increase the basic salary to AED 13,500 per month, which would bring the total package to AED 20,000? I would prefer the adjustment to be made to the basic salary rather than the allowances, as end-of-service gratuity and annual leave salary are both calculated on basic salary under UAE labour law.

I am very keen to join [Company Name], and I am confident we can find a figure that works for both sides. Thank you again, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards, [Your Name]

You're asking +8.1% on the package (+AED 1,500 basic, +12.5% on basic).

Offer AED 18,500 → ask AED 20,000 a month. The higher basic adds about AED 1,050 to each year of end-of-service gratuity (first 5 years).

Check what this role pays in UAE →

Next step

Before you send it: check the whole offer against Gulf labour law.

Our free offer checker scores a Gulf job offer against labour law and market pay: basic vs allowances, gratuity, leave and flights.

Check my offer
See Pro plans

Ask +8%AED 13,500 basic

How the counter-offer is worked out

The tool adds up your offer (basic salary, housing and transport or other allowances) and compares it with your target. If you enter a target total, the whole difference is asked for as extra basic salary; if you enter a target basic, the difference is added to basic and the new total is shown. It then shows the increase as a percentage and, where the law bases gratuity on basic salary, how much extra gratuity the higher basic earns you for each year of service.

Basic salary
Fixed monthly pay before allowances. Gratuity and, in the UAE, leave salary are calculated on it.
Package
Basic plus housing, transport and other monthly allowances: the total you are paid each month.
Counter-offer
Your written reply to an offer, asking for a specific change before you accept.
Gratuity
The end-of-service payment. In the UAE it is 21 days' basic salary per year for the first five years, then 30 days.

Counter-offer examples in the Gulf

Example offers run through the tool, with the whole increase requested as basic salary.

CountryOffer (basic / total)AskIncreaseExtra gratuity per year
UAEAED 12,000 / AED 18,500AED 13,500 basic+8.1%+AED 1,050
UAEAED 8,000 / AED 12,000AED 9,500 basic+12.5%+AED 1,050
Saudi ArabiaSAR 10,000 / SAR 13,500SAR 11,500 basic+11.1%Not basic-only
QatarQAR 9,000 / QAR 14,000QAR 10,500 basic+10.7%+QAR 1,050
OmanOMR 900 / OMR 1,300OMR 1,050 basic+11.5%+OMR 150

UAE and Qatar: 21 days' basic per year (UAE: first 5 years). Oman: one month's basic per year. Saudi gratuity uses basic plus fixed allowances.

Things to check before you counter

  • Only mention a competing offer if you really have one. Some recruiters ask to see it.
  • Make one request, not a list. Asking for more basic, housing and a signing bonus at once reads as a demand.
  • Get any agreed change in a revised offer letter or contract before you resign from your current job.
  • Gratuity figures are per year of service at the legal minimum; your contract may be more generous. Free zones such as DIFC use their own schemes.

Data Sources

  • u.ae — End-of-service benefits (private sector) (2026-09-23)
  • u.ae — Types of leaves (private sector) (2026-09-23)
  • Qatar Labour Law No. 14 of 2004 (summary) (2026-09-23)
  • Oman Labour Law — Royal Decree 53/2023 (2026-09-23)

Salary negotiation guides by job

Know your number before you send the email. Check the typical pay with the GCC salary calculator, then read the negotiation guide for your role:

Accountant salary negotiationSoftware Engineer salary negotiationRegistered Nurse salary negotiationCivil Engineer salary negotiationHR Manager salary negotiationAll negotiation guides →

Frequently asked questions

Is it acceptable to negotiate a job offer in the Gulf?

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Yes. Negotiating is normal in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and the rest of the GCC, especially for experienced hires. Keep it polite, put it in writing, and make one clear request backed by a reason. Many employers expect a counter-offer, and a well-reasoned one rarely surprises them.

Why ask for a higher basic salary instead of higher allowances?

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In the UAE, end-of-service gratuity is calculated on basic salary only (Federal Decree-Law 33/2021), and so is annual leave salary. Qatar and Oman also base gratuity on basic. An extra 1,000 in housing allowance adds nothing to your gratuity, while an extra 1,000 in basic adds to it for every year you work there. In Saudi Arabia gratuity uses basic plus fixed allowances, so the split matters less.

How much more should I ask for?

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Base it on evidence: what the role pays in that country for your level, and any competing offer. The bigger the gap, the stronger your reason needs to be: a large jump usually needs a competing offer or scarce specialist skills behind it. Use our salary calculator to check the typical range first.

Can a Gulf employer withdraw an offer if I negotiate?

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It is rare when the request is polite and reasonable, but it can happen, particularly with a very large ask. Until you sign, either side can walk away. That is why the email thanks them, restates the offer, gives a reason and makes a single specific request, rather than a demand or an ultimatum.

Should I negotiate by email or by phone?

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Email works well for the first counter because it gives the recruiter something to forward to the hiring manager and HR, who usually approve the figure. If they call you to discuss it, have your number and your reasons ready, and ask them to confirm any agreement in a revised offer letter.

What else can I negotiate besides salary?

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Annual flight tickets, family medical cover, school fees, a relocation allowance, the joining date and, in some companies, the probation length. If the employer cannot move on basic salary, one of these may be easier to approve. Check the whole offer with our offer checker before you sign.

Got an offer? Check it before you sign.

Our free offer checker scores a Gulf job offer against labour law and market pay: basic vs allowances, gratuity, leave and flights.

Check my offer

More free tools

Salary Calculator

Monthly salary range by role, country and experience.

Open tool

Gratuity Calculator

End-of-service pay under each country's labour law, including resignation cuts.

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Cover Letter Generator

A Gulf-ready cover letter from a few details, ready to copy.

Open tool

See all free career tools →

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