Does time on probation count toward gratuity in the UAE?

Generally yes — once you are confirmed in your role, your probation period counts toward your continuous service for end-of-service gratuity in the UAE. Under the UAE Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021), administered by MOHRE, your service is treated as continuous from your start date, so the probation months are included when you later cross the one-year qualifying threshold and when your total service is calculated. The clock does not restart after probation ends. However, if you leave or are let go during probation before completing one full year of service, no gratuity is payable for that incomplete period, because the one-year minimum eligibility rule still applies. The gratuity formula remains the same: 21 days' basic wage per year for the first five years and 30 days thereafter, on basic salary, capped at two years' wages. There are also specific notice and procedural rules that apply during probation itself. If your employer excludes your probation from the service count after you completed a year, you can challenge it with MOHRE or compare verified UAE employment lawyers on LEXAI.