United Arab Emirates take-home pay: example salaries (2026)
Here is the net take-home pay after tax for a range of common gross salaries in United Arab Emirates, for a single person using the default settings above. Use the calculator for your exact figure.
| Gross salary (per year) | Net per year | Net per month | You keep |
|---|---|---|---|
| AED 60,000 | AED 60,000 | AED 5,000 | 100.0% |
| AED 100,000 | AED 100,000 | AED 8,333 | 100.0% |
| AED 150,000 | AED 150,000 | AED 12,500 | 100.0% |
| AED 200,000 | AED 200,000 | AED 16,667 | 100.0% |
| AED 300,000 | AED 300,000 | AED 25,000 | 100.0% |
| AED 400,000 | AED 400,000 | AED 33,333 | 100.0% |
| AED 500,000 | AED 500,000 | AED 41,667 | 100.0% |
How much of your UAE salary do you keep in 2026?
If you are an expat — as most UAE residents are — the answer is simple: all of it. The UAE levies no personal income tax on salaries, wages, bonuses or allowances, and expats make no mandatory pension contributions. Your monthly net pay is the same as your gross pay.
The 9% UAE corporate tax introduced in 2023 applies to business profits, not to employee salaries, and the 5% VAT is a consumption tax — neither reduces your pay.
What comes out of a UAE salary (2026)
| Item | Expat | UAE / GCC national |
|---|---|---|
| Personal income tax | 0% | 0% |
| Pension (GPSSA / ADRPF) | None | 5% or 11% of salary |
| Unemployment insurance (ILOE) | AED 5–10/month | AED 5–10/month |
| Net take-home | 100% of gross | ~89–95% of gross |
UAE and GCC nationals: GPSSA pension
UAE and GCC nationals contribute to a pension scheme. Under the 2023 pension law, nationals who joined the workforce on or after 31 October 2023 contribute 11% of their contribution salary (the employer adds 15%), up to a salary cap of AED 70,000 a month. Nationals who joined earlier, and those under the Abu Dhabi fund, contribute 5%. Expats are exempt entirely.
End-of-service gratuity
Instead of a pension, expats receive an end-of-service gratuity when they leave a job, based on their basic salary: 21 days’ basic pay for each of the first five years of service, and 30 days’ pay for each year after that (capped at two years’ total pay). This is paid by your employer on departure and is not deducted from your monthly salary.
Worked example: AED 20,000 per month
- Expat: income tax AED 0, pension AED 0
- Net take-home: AED 20,000 a month — the full salary
- UAE national (new scheme): 11% pension = AED 2,200/month
- National net take-home: about AED 17,800 a month
This is why the UAE is so attractive for expat earners: on a AED 240,000 salary an expat keeps the entire amount, with no income tax to file.
Frequently asked questions
Is there income tax in the UAE?
No. The UAE charges no personal income tax on salaries, bonuses or allowances. Expat employees keep 100% of their gross pay.
How much is AED 20,000 a month after tax?
For an expat, the full AED 20,000 — there is no income tax and no mandatory pension. A UAE national on the new scheme would contribute 11% (AED 2,200), taking home about AED 17,800.
Do expats pay into a pension in the UAE?
No. Pension contributions (GPSSA or Abu Dhabi’s ADRPF) apply only to UAE and GCC nationals. Expats instead receive an end-of-service gratuity when they leave their job.
What is the end-of-service gratuity?
A lump sum paid by your employer when you leave, based on basic salary: 21 days’ pay per year for the first five years and 30 days’ pay per year afterwards, capped at two years’ total pay. It is not deducted from your monthly salary.
Does UAE corporate tax or VAT reduce my salary?
No. The 9% corporate tax applies to business profits and the 5% VAT is a consumption tax on purchases. Neither affects your take-home pay.