🕊️ Financial Planning

End-of-service gratuity and retirement in the UAE

Expatriates get no state pension in the UAE — instead an end-of-service gratuity (21/30 days' basic pay per year, capped at two years) plus whatever you save. UAE nationals have the GPSSA pension. How each works.

Emergency fund: how much do you need?

An emergency fund of 3-6 months of expenses protects you from unexpected costs without expensive debt. The UAE's ILOE unemployment insurance is small and short, so it matters even more. How to work out your figure and build it.

Financial independence: how to calculate your number

Financial independence means your investment returns cover your spending. How to use the 4% rule, how much your savings rate matters, and how to account for inflation and the fact that there is no expat state pension.

Do you pay tax in the UAE? Income, VAT and corporate tax

There is no personal income tax in the UAE — no tax on salary, capital gains, dividends or bank interest, and no inheritance tax. What you do pay: 5% VAT, some excise taxes, and (for businesses) 9% corporate tax.

Buying property and getting a mortgage in the UAE

Expats can buy in designated freehold areas, borrow up to 80% of the value, and pay a 4% Land Department fee plus ~4% in other costs. How UAE mortgages, the fees and the freehold rules work.

What happens if you lose your job in the UAE

The UAE has ILOE unemployment insurance (60% of basic salary for up to three months, capped), plus your end-of-service gratuity. But losing a job can also mean losing your residence visa — why an emergency fund matters most here.