How long does my employer have to pay my gratuity after I leave in the UAE?

In the UAE, your employer is required to settle your end-of-service dues, including gratuity, promptly after your employment ends rather than holding them indefinitely. The UAE Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021), administered by MOHRE, requires final entitlements to be paid within a short, defined period after the contract ends; you should confirm the exact current timeframe with MOHRE or in the executive regulations, as the precise day-count is set there and should be verified rather than assumed. Your final settlement should cover unpaid wages, accrued annual leave, and gratuity (if you completed at least one year), calculated at 21 days' basic wage per year for the first five years and 30 days thereafter. If your employer fails to pay within the required period or withholds part of what you are owed, you can file a labour complaint with MOHRE, which handles wage and end-of-service disputes and can refer unresolved matters onward. For a delayed or disputed settlement, you can also compare verified UAE employment lawyers on LEXAI to help recover what you are owed.