Emiro

Salary Calculator UAE

The UAE has no personal income tax, so your gross salary equals your take-home. This calculator also estimates your annual end-of-service gratuity accrual.

Heads up: United Arab Emirates has no personal income tax for residents. Your take-home pay equals your gross.
Net annual pay
AED 240,000
No deductions
Monthly
AED 20,000
Fortnightly
AED 9,231
Weekly
AED 4,615
Marginal rate
0.0%

Total cost to employer: AED 248,285

Includes AED 8,285 in employer contributions on top of your salary.

Full breakdown

Every line item that affects your gross-to-net.

ItemAnnualMonthly
Gross salaryAED 240,000AED 20,000
Personal income tax

UAE has no personal income tax for residents.

AED 0AED 0
End-of-Service Gratuity accrual

21 days basic salary/year for the first 5 years. Paid as a lump sum when you leave.

AED 8,285AED 690
Net annual take-homeAED 240,000AED 20,000

Why your UAE salary buys more

A typical expat earning AED 240,000/year (AED 20,000/month) in the UAE keeps 100% of their gross. The same person in the UK on a salary equivalent (~£52,000) would take home about £40,500 after PAYE and NIC — roughly 78% of their gross. In India, ~₹54 Lakh CTC nets about ~₹42 Lakh in-hand under the New Regime — ~78% as well. UAE residents bank an extra 22% of their salary every month.

Gratuity worked example

An expat earning AED 20,000/month total with AED 12,000 basic salary (60% basic), after 7 years:

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does the UAE really have no income tax?
Correct — the UAE has no personal income tax for residents or expats. Your gross salary equals your take-home pay. Income from employment, freelancing, dividends, capital gains, rental properties — none of it is taxed at the individual level. This is a fundamental reason for the UAE's appeal to professional expats from the UK, India, and elsewhere.
What's the catch? Are there any payroll deductions?
For most expats: no payroll deductions whatsoever. For UAE nationals (Emiratis), there's a mandatory pension contribution — 5% from the employee, 12.5% from the employer, plus 2.5% from the government — administered by the General Pension and Social Security Authority (GPSSA). Expats are not part of this scheme.
What is end-of-service gratuity (EOSG)?
Gratuity is a lump sum your employer must pay you when you leave the UAE. The formula: 21 days of your last basic salary per year of service for the first 5 years, then 30 days per year thereafter. So after 10 years, you'd receive: (21 days × 5) + (30 days × 5) = 255 days of basic salary as gratuity. The total is capped at 2 years' basic salary. This isn't paid monthly — it accrues and is paid out at the end of your contract.
What is corporate tax in the UAE — does it affect my salary?
The UAE introduced 9% corporate tax in June 2023 on business profits above AED 375,000. It applies to businesses, not individuals — so it doesn't affect your personal salary. Some free-zone businesses still qualify for 0% on 'qualifying income.' If you're a freelancer with a Free Zone trade licence, you might owe corporate tax on profits above the threshold.
Do I pay VAT on my income?
No — VAT (5%) applies to most goods and services you BUY, not to your income. So while you don't pay tax on your salary, you'll pay 5% extra when you buy a meal, hire a tradesperson, or pay your phone bill. Some categories like residential rent, certain financial services, and bare land are zero-rated or exempt.
Should I save my own retirement money — there's no UAE pension for expats?
Yes — gratuity is one-off and capped, not a substitute for retirement savings. Most expats either: (a) max contributions in their home country's pension (UK SIPP, Indian NPS, Australian super while non-resident) if rules allow, (b) invest into a UAE-based brokerage or international platform like Interactive Brokers, or (c) use a DIFC End-of-Service Workplace Savings Scheme (some employers offer this as an enhanced gratuity).
How is my pay actually structured in the UAE?
Most UAE contracts break your salary into 'basic' (usually 60–70% of total) plus 'allowances' (housing, transport, education for kids). Gratuity is calculated only on the basic portion — so a high allowance / low basic structure reduces your gratuity. Some employers also pay an annual ticket back to your home country and end-of-year bonus. None of this is taxed.