Mustahaqati

Latest Labour and Social Insurance Law Changes in the GCC

We review the laws regularly and update the calculators as soon as a change takes effect. This is a short log of what changed, newest first.

Prepared and reviewed by the Mustahaqati team · Last updated:

2026

DateCountryWhat changedCalculator
30 Oct 2026UAEThe ministry calls on companies with 50 or more workers to add another 1% of Emiratis in skilled jobs before 31 December 2026 (10% cumulative), with a contribution of AED 10,000 a month (AED 120,000 for the year) per missing Emirati.Emiratisation calculator
25–26 Oct 2026Saudi ArabiaThe wage needed to count a Saudi fully in Nitaqat rises to SAR 5,000 from 25 April 2027 and SAR 6,000 from 25 April 2028 (SAR 4,000 today). New electricity and water tariffs apply from 1 January 2027, with SAR 500 a month of support for eligible people.Nitaqat · Electricity · Water
Aug 2026UAESmall business relief from corporate tax (revenue up to AED 3 million) extended to tax periods ending by 31 December 2029, by Ministerial Decision 131 of 2026.Corporate tax
25 Jul 2026QatarLaw 9 of 2026 takes effect, amending the non-compete, disputes, strike and joint committee articles. No change to leave or end-of-service gratuity.Qatar gratuity
19 Jul 2026OmanThe sick leave insurance branch starts and covers non-Omanis: the employer pays the first 7 days and the fund reimburses the rest. The worker's entitlement is unchanged.Oman leave
1 Jul 2026UAECollection starts for first-half 2026 Emiratisation shortfalls, and Emiratis paid less than AED 6,000 a month no longer count towards targets; the company's new permits are suspended until it is corrected.Emiratisation calculator
1 Jul 2026Saudi ArabiaThe pension contribution for new entrants (insured since 3 July 2024) rises to 10% each for employee and employer, continuing up by half a point a year to 11% in 2028.GOSI contributions
22 Jun 2026OmanDecision R/12/2026: the old-age pension is due on reaching the age together with the end of service; anyone who keeps working is paid from the date service ends.Oman pension

2025

DateCountryWhat changedCalculator
17 Dec 2025Saudi ArabiaThe expat levy is abolished for establishments with an industrial licence, after the state had been covering it since 2019.Dependent and iqama fees
27 Sep 2025Saudi ArabiaThe business press reported that banks now apply a 55% deduction cap for incomes of SAR 15,000 or less, even on supported finance. The regulation itself is unchanged (65% for supported finance).Home finance
1 Jul 2025Saudi ArabiaFirst rise in the pension contribution for new entrants: from 9% to 9.5% for each party.Net salary
19 Feb 2025Saudi ArabiaLabour Law amendments take effect: notice of 30 days for the worker and 60 for the employer, 12 weeks of fully paid maternity leave, bereavement leave for a sibling, paternity leave within 7 days, rules on resignation (Article 79 bis), and time off in lieu of overtime pay.Notice · Maternity · Resignation

2022–2024

DateCountryWhat changedCalculator
3 Jul 2024Saudi ArabiaThe new social insurance system takes effect: age 65 for new entrants, 2.25% per year on the average of the highest wages over 180 months, and transitional age tables for existing members.Pension
1 Mar 2024BahrainGratuity for non-Bahrainis for service from this date is paid by the Social Insurance Organization from contributions the employer pays (4.2% then 8.4%).Bahrain gratuity
1 Jan 2024OmanThe Social Protection Law 52/2023 takes effect for Omanis in both sectors: 2% per year on revalued wages, unreduced at 60 for men and 55 for women, and no refund of contributions.Oman pension
31 Oct 2023UAEThe new pension law takes effect for nationals registering for the first time: a 6-year average, 2.67% per year up to 30 years then 4%, a minimum of AED 10,000, and an 11% employee contribution.Nationals' pension
31 Jul 2023OmanThe new Labour Law takes effect: gratuity of one month's basic pay per year, 30 days of annual leave on gross pay, and sick leave of up to 182 days.Oman gratuity
3 Jan 2023QatarSocial Insurance Law 1/2022 takes effect: pension of 1/30 per year up to 100%, 25 years including 20 actual, a 2.5% a year reduction on resignation, and contributions of 7% and 14%.Qatar pension
19 Apr 2022BahrainSocial Insurance Law amended by Law 14/2022: pension of 2% per year on a 5-year average, retirement at 60 for women, 180 months for a pension and 240 for early retirement, and the automatic annual increase stopped.Bahrain pension

Widely reported changes that have not happened

We follow the official gazette in each country. To compare entitlements across the region, see the GCC end-of-service comparison and the GCC pension comparison. Prefer Arabic? Use the Arabic version.

Frequently asked questions

Did Saudi end-of-service pay change with the 2025 amendments?

No. Articles 84, 85 and 87 were not amended, so the award and the resignation fractions are unchanged. But resignation is now defined for fixed-term contracts, and Article 79 bis regulates its acceptance within 30 days.

Has annual leave in Kuwait risen to 35 days?

No. The latest law in force is Law 85 of 2017: 30 working days, excluding weekly rest days and public holidays. The 35-day proposal was never issued.

Did Qatar's 2026 labour law amendments change leave or gratuity?

No. Law 9 of 2026, in force from 25 July 2026, amended the non-compete, disputes, strike and joint committee articles, and did not touch leave or end-of-service gratuity.

How do I know a calculator is up to date?

Every page shows its last update date under the title and cites the article of law and its official source at the end.

Sources

Figures and formulas on this page were last reviewed on 2026-11-03.

Related calculators