Gulf Expat Rights Two articles decide your money when you resign in Saudi Arabia, and confusing them is the most expensive mistake expats make. Article 84 calculates the award. Article 85 decides how much of it you actually get when YOU are the one who resigns. Article 84 formula: half a month’s wage for each of the first … Read more
For expats in Saudi Arabia, GOSI is employer-only: the employer pays 2% for occupational hazard, and nothing is deducted from the employee’s salary. That 2% covers work injuries and occupational diseases — it is not a pension, it is not unemployment insurance (SANED does not cover expats), and it does not build a balance you … Read more
Bahrain now allows an expat worker to work for a second employer for up to three months — a major change for workers whose main job has gone quiet or who want to test a better offer. Keep the paperwork clean: the second job must be properly documented, your primary employment status must stay valid, … Read more
Qatar’s Labour Law was overhauled by Law No. 9 of 2026 (published July 2026, amending Law 14/2004). What changed: the NOC requirement was abolished in statute (job moves are now subject to notice instead), non-compete clauses are limited to two years and only with Ministry approval, and part-time and freelance work fall outside the law’s … Read more
Oman’s current gratuity rule is simple: under Royal Decree 53/2023, Article 61, an expat earns a flat one month’s basic wage for every year of service, with no cap and no minimum service threshold in the statute, and no reduction for resigning. From July 2027, Oman switches to a savings-style system for expat end-of-service benefits. … Read more
If your Saudi employer has not paid your end-of-service award, follow this route in order. Step 1: demand it in writing — email or a message that leaves proof — stating the amount from your own calculation and a deadline. Step 2: gather your evidence BEFORE your final exit if possible, because access gets harder … Read more
UAE workers now have two systems to compare: traditional gratuity and the EOSB savings scheme. Traditional gratuity (Article 51) is paid by your employer when you leave: 21 days’ basic wage per year for the first five years, 30 days per year after, capped at two years’ wages, basic wage only. The savings scheme (voluntary … Read more
Under Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Article 51, a UAE private-sector worker who completes at least one full year of continuous service earns end-of-service gratuity of 21 days’ basic wage for each of the first five years, and 30 days’ basic wage for each year after that. The wage basis is basic wage ONLY … Read more
GCC outward remittances hit a record $161 billion in 2025 (up 13.6%), with Saudi expats alone sending SAR 165.5 billion. There is NO new tax, cap, or paperwork on outward personal remittances per GCC-Stat and SAMA reporting — only the existing 15% VAT on the transfer FEE (not the principal) plus the usual FX spread … Read more
Since February 2026, Kuwait offers a multi-trip exit permit: one authorisation covering several departures and re-entries, obtained via the Ashal portal or the Sahel app, for private-sector foreign residents. What it means for you: frequent travellers no longer need a fresh permit for every trip — but do not confuse this with the earlier, separate … Read more
