DIFC & ADGM Employer Contribution Calculator

You're leaving a DIFC or ADGM free zone — here's what your employer is required to have contributed to your DEWS/EWS account.

Based on DIFC Law No. 2 of 2019 (Art. 66A)ADGM Employment Regulations 2019 (Part 15A)Formula verified June 2026
Live Rates

DIFC Employment Law No. 2 of 2019 (Art. 66A)

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Immediate vesting: Unlike mainland Gratuity, DEWS employer contributions vest from your first day of employment. There is no minimum service period.

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Enter your DIFC employment details

Start date, last working day, and basic salary are required.

DEWS payouts depend on fund performance and cannot be predicted by any calculator. This tool calculates the statutory employer contribution only. Verify with your DIFC portal and HR department before making any decisions.

Ejemplos prácticos

Senior analyst, 3 years in DIFC

Basic salary AED 20,000/mo. Service: 3 years (1,095 days, all tier-1). Daily basic = AED 657.53. Contribution = AED 657.53 × 5.83% × 1,095 ≈ AED 42,018.

VP Finance, 7 years in ADGM

Basic salary AED 45,000/mo. Tier-1: 1,825 days × 5.83% × AED 1,479.45/day ≈ AED 157,314. Tier-2: 730 days × 8.33% × AED 1,479.45/day ≈ AED 89,989. Total ≈ AED 247,303.

Graduate hire, 8 months in DIFC

Basic AED 12,000/mo. Service: 243 days. Under mainland Gratuity: AED 0 (< 1 year). Under DEWS: AED 394.52/day × 5.83% × 243 ≈ AED 5,592. Immediate vesting is the key differentiator.

Preguntas frecuentes

What is DEWS and who does it apply to?
DEWS (DIFC Employee Workplace Savings) applies to employees working under a DIFC employment contract. ADGM has an equivalent scheme called EWS. Both replace the mainland end-of-service Gratuity for free-zone employees and vest from day one.
What are the DEWS contribution rates?
Employers must contribute 5.83% of basic monthly salary for the first 5 years (tier 1) and 8.33% for service beyond 5 years (tier 2). These are mandatory minimums under DIFC Law No. 2 of 2019 and ADGM Employment Regulations 2019.
Is DEWS calculated on basic salary or total package?
DEWS contributions are calculated on basic salary only — not on allowances, bonuses, or other package components. This is the same base as mainland Gratuity.
When do DEWS contributions vest?
DEWS employer contributions vest immediately from day one of employment. There is no minimum service period, unlike mainland Gratuity which requires at least one year of continuous service.
Why can't this calculator show my actual DEWS fund balance?
Your actual DEWS fund balance includes investment returns that depend on fund choice and market performance — these are not deterministic. This tool calculates the guaranteed statutory employer contribution only. Log into savings.difc.ae (DIFC) or ews.adgm.com (ADGM) for your real balance.
Is DEWS always better than mainland Gratuity?
Not always on paper. DEWS tier-1 at 5.83% is slightly higher than mainland 21-day formula (≈5.75%). At tier-2, both converge at ≈8.33%. The real advantage is immediate vesting and potential investment returns on top of the statutory contribution.
What happens to my DEWS if I am made redundant?
Because DEWS vests from day one, the full employer contribution is yours regardless of termination reason — redundancy, resignation, or contract expiry. Your employer cannot claw back any vested contribution.
Do domestic workers in DIFC get DEWS?
DEWS applies to employees under the DIFC Employment Law. Domestic workers are typically engaged under separate contractual arrangements. If in doubt, check with the DIFC Authority or consult an employment lawyer.

What is DEWS?

DEWS (DIFC Employee Workplace Savings) is a mandatory employer-funded savings scheme introduced by the DIFC in 2020 under DIFC Employment Law No. 2 of 2019. It replaces the traditional end-of-service Gratuity system for all DIFC-employed workers. ADGM operates an equivalent scheme (EWS) under Part 15A of the ADGM Employment Regulations 2019.

How employer contributions are calculated

The formula is straightforward and deterministic:

  • Daily basic salary = Annual basic salary ÷ 365
  • Tier 1 contribution = Daily basic × 5.83% × days in first 5 years
  • Tier 2 contribution = Daily basic × 8.33% × days beyond 5 years
  • Net service days = Calendar days − unpaid leave days

The 5-year threshold is 1,825 days (5 × 365). Any service beyond that day accrues at the higher 8.33% tier-2 rate.

Immediate vesting: the key difference

Under mainland UAE Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021), an employee must complete at least one full year of continuous service before any Gratuity entitlement accrues. Under DEWS and EWS, employer contributions vest from the first day of employment. An employee who leaves after a single week is entitled to their pro-rated contribution.

What this calculator cannot tell you

DEWS contributions are invested in registered providers — Zurich International, MetLife, Emirates NBD Asset Management, or others approved by the DIFC. Your actual fund value depends on the provider chosen, the investment option selected, and market performance over time. As gratuitycalculator-uae.org notes, “DEWS payouts cannot be predicted by a simple online calculator” — and that is precisely why this tool limits itself to the statutory contribution floor. For your real balance, log into your portal at savings.difc.ae (DIFC) or ews.adgm.com (ADGM).

DEWS vs. Mainland Gratuity: a fair comparison

FactorDEWS / EWSMainland Gratuity
VestingDay 1After 1 year
Year 1–5 rate5.83% of basic/year≈5.75% of basic/year (21 days)
Year 5+ rate8.33% of basic/year≈8.22% of basic/year (30 days)
CapNo cap2 years total salary
Investment returnsYes (fund-dependent)No

This tool calculates statutory employer contributions only. It does not predict investment returns, fund performance, or actual fund balance. Verify your entitlement with your employer and your DEWS/EWS portal at savings.difc.ae (DIFC) or ews.adgm.com (ADGM).

Calculadora de Contribución Empleador DIFC & ADGM | Calcureal