Citizens' Pensions in the Six GCC Countries Compared
Enter your years of service and salary to see the pension rate and amount in each country for a citizen at normal retirement age, then the full comparison tables.
Compare your pension across the six countries
Pension as a share of salary by years of service
| Country | 15 years | 20 | 25 | 30 | 35 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UAE (before Oct 2023) | 60% | 70% | 80% | 90% | 100% |
| UAE (new entrants) | 40.1% | 53.4% | 66.8% | 80.1% | 100% |
| Saudi Arabia (before Jul 2024) | 37.5% | 50% | 62.5% | 75% | 87.5% |
| Saudi Arabia (new entrants) | 33.8% | 45% | 56.3% | 67.5% | 78.8% |
| Kuwait | 65% | 75% | 85% | 95% | 95% |
| Qatar | —* | —* | 83.3% | 100% | 100% |
| Bahrain | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% | 70% |
| Oman | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% | 70% |
* Qatar requires 25 years of contribution. Those insured before 2023 who reach retirement age after 15 to 19 years have the pension settled on 25 to 29 years, and after 20 years or more on 30 years (100%).
Retirement age, minimum service and salary basis
| Country | Retirement age | Minimum for a pension | Salary basis | Maximum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UAE | 60 | 15 years | 5-year (previous) or 6-year (new) average | 100% |
| Saudi Arabia | 60 (previous), 65 (new) | 10 years (previous), 15 (new) | Last 2 years' average, or highest 15 years | 100% |
| Kuwait | 55 men, 50 women | 15 years | Best salary or 5-year average, basic capped at 1,500 | 95% |
| Qatar | At least 60 | 25 years incl. 20 actual | Last salary (government) or 3-year average (private) | 100% |
| Bahrain | 60 | 15 years | Last 5 years' average | 80% |
| Oman | 60 men, 55 women | No minimum | Revalued career average | — |
The comparison is approximate: it assumes the same salary is the pension basis in every country and leaves out minimum pensions, supplementary pensions, bonuses and annual increases. Use your country's calculator above for an exact figure. The UAE figures follow the federal law; Abu Dhabi nationals have the Abu Dhabi pension calculator (3.2% a year up to 25). To compare gratuity for expatriates, see the GCC end-of-service comparison. Prefer Arabic? Use the Arabic version.
Frequently asked questions
Which Gulf country pays the highest pension?
After 30 years: Qatar 100% of the pension salary, then Kuwait 95%, the UAE 90% for those registered before October 2023 and 80.1% for new entrants, Saudi Arabia 75% (previous system) and 67.5% (new system), and Bahrain and Oman 60%. The salary basis and retirement ages differ, so the comparison is approximate.
How many years of service are needed for a pension?
At normal retirement age: 10 years in Saudi Arabia under the previous system and 15 under the new one; 15 in the UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain; 25 in Qatar (20 of them actual service); and no minimum in Oman. Early retirement conditions differ by country.
What is the retirement age in the GCC?
60 in the UAE, Bahrain and Oman (55 for women in Oman without a reduction); at least 60 in Qatar; 60 in Saudi Arabia under the previous system and 65 for those insured from July 2024; and 55 for men and 50 for women in Kuwait.
Is the pension based on the last salary?
It varies: Qatar uses the last salary in government and a 3-year average in the private sector; Saudi Arabia the last 2 years' average (previous) or the highest 15 years (new); the UAE a 5-year (previous) or 6-year (new) average; Bahrain a 5-year average; Kuwait the best salary or 5-year average with a KWD 1,500 cap on the basic part; and Oman a revalued career average.
Sources
- UAE — Federal Decree-Law 57/2023 on pensions (GPSSA)
- Qatar — Law 1 of 2022 issuing the Social Insurance Law (Al Meezan, Arabic)
- Bahrain — Law 14 of 2022 amending the Social Insurance Law (Arabic)
- Oman — Social Protection Law 52/2023 (English translation)
Figures and formulas on this page were last reviewed on 2026-11-03.