Your employer owes you gratuity whether you ask for it or not. A short written request is still worth ten minutes of your time, because it puts your dates, your salary and your expected amount on record before anyone prepares a settlement.
Do you have to apply for gratuity?
No. The law requires the employer to pay your end of service dues within 14 days of the contract ending. There is no form to fill in and no application to MOHRE.
A written request does three useful things anyway. It fixes the facts, such as your start date and last working day, in an email both sides can point to. It asks for a breakdown, which most employees never see unless they ask. And if payment is late, it is the first document MOHRE will want to see.
When to send it
- If you are resigning: a few days after your resignation is accepted, once your last working day is confirmed.
- If you were terminated or your contract is ending: as soon as you have the notice in writing.
- At the latest: on your last working day, before your company email is switched off.
Send it by email to HR and copy your manager. Email gives you a date and a record. A letter handed over in person gives you neither unless someone signs a copy for you.
What to include
- Full name, job title, department and employee number
- First working day and last working day
- Your last basic salary
- A request for the gratuity and a written breakdown of the full final settlement
- The bank account for payment, if it is not your salary account
- A personal email address and phone number for after you leave
Keep it factual and polite. This is not the place to argue about the amount. Ask for the breakdown first, and discuss any difference once you have it.
Sample 1: request for gratuity and final settlement
Subject: Request for end of service gratuity and final settlement
Dear [name of HR manager],
Following my resignation dated [date], my last working day with [company name] will be [date]. I would be grateful if you could arrange my end of service gratuity and final settlement.
My details are:
Name: [full name]
Employee number: [number]
Position: [job title]
First working day: [date]
Last working day: [date]
Last basic salary: AED [amount]
Please send me a written breakdown of the settlement, showing the gratuity calculation, salary up to my last working day and the balance of my annual leave, and arrange payment to my registered bank account within the period required by the UAE Labour Law.
After my last working day I can be reached at [personal email] or [mobile number].
Thank you for your help.
Yours sincerely,
[Your name]
If your contract ended or you were terminated, change the first sentence to: "Further to the notice dated [date], my last working day with [company name] will be [date]."
Sample 2: follow-up when payment is late
Subject: Follow-up: end of service gratuity and final settlement
Dear [name of HR manager],
My employment with [company name] ended on [date]. I wrote on [date of first email] asking for my gratuity and final settlement, and I have not yet received payment or a breakdown.
The UAE Labour Law requires end of service dues to be paid within 14 days of the end of the contract. That period ended on [date]. Please confirm by [date, a few working days ahead] when payment will be made and send me the calculation.
I would much prefer to settle this directly. If I do not hear from you, I will need to raise the matter with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation.
Yours sincerely,
[Your name]
[Mobile number]
Before you press send
Work out your own figure so you know what to expect. The gratuity calculator gives you a year-by-year breakdown that you can save as a PDF and compare with whatever HR sends back. If you would like to check the arithmetic yourself, see how to calculate gratuity.
When the breakdown arrives
- Check the basic salary and the dates they used against your contract and payslips.
- Check that unused annual leave and any unpaid salary are on the statement, not only gratuity.
- Ask what each deduction is for.
- Do not sign a statement that says you have received everything until the money has reached your account, or you are satisfied with the figures.
Our guide to the final settlement lists every item that should appear.
If you are still not paid
Once the 14 days have passed and a reminder has gone unanswered, you can file a complaint with MOHRE. It is free, and you do not need a lawyer. Have your contract, payslips and both emails ready. The steps are in our guide to filing a labour complaint.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to apply for gratuity to receive it?
No. The employer must pay it within 14 days of the contract ending. A written request simply creates a clear record and gets you a breakdown.
Can I ask for gratuity while I am still working for the company?
Gratuity is an end of service payment, so it only becomes due when the employment ends. An employer may agree to an advance, but nothing obliges it to.
Should I sign the final settlement before I am paid?
Read it carefully and check the figures first. Avoid signing a statement that you have received your dues until the money has actually reached you.
Who should I address the letter to?
Your HR department, with your line manager in copy. In a small company without HR, write to the owner or the manager who signed your contract.