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UAE Pension & DEWS Calculator

Calculate your UAE pension contributions and 20-year fund projection — GPSSA for UAE nationals, DEWS for free zone employees, gratuity comparison for expats.

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Contributions are calculated on basic salary only (excludes allowances)

5 yrs35 yrs
%

Default 4% — UAE government bonds average. Not guaranteed.

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Enter your basic salary to see pension fund projections

UAE nationals in the private sector contribute 5% of basic salary to GPSSA; employers add 12.5% (Dubai) or 15% (Abu Dhabi). Free zone employees benefit from DEWS — a 5.83% employer fund contribution held in a regulated account. Expatriates on the mainland receive gratuity only — not a pension — making private retirement savings essential.

UAE Pension Systems — 2026 Guide

The UAE operates three parallel end-of-service and retirement frameworks depending on your nationality and employer location. Understanding which scheme applies to you — and how much it will accumulate — is critical for retirement planning in a country with no mandatory pension for expatriates.

Unlike most OECD countries, the UAE has no universal pension system. UAE nationals are protected through GPSSA; free zone workers increasingly benefit from DEWS; mainland expatriates rely entirely on gratuity — a lump sum that rarely equals what GPSSA generates for a national on the same salary.

Contribution Rate Comparison

SchemeEmployeeEmployerTotalWho qualifies
GPSSA — Dubai5%12.5%17.5%UAE nationals in Dubai private sector
GPSSA — Abu Dhabi5%15%20%UAE nationals in Abu Dhabi private sector
DEWS / EOSB Fund0% (voluntary opt-in)5.83%5.83%+DIFC, ADGM, DMCC & other free zone employees
Gratuity — Mainland Expat0%0% (accrued, paid on exit)—All mainland expatriate employees

Source: GPSSA — General Pension & Social Security Authority and DEWS.ae. Last verified July 2026.

Worked Examples

UAE National — Dubai, AED 20,000 basic

Employment type: National Dubai · 25 years to retirement

Employee: AED 1,000/mo (5%) · Employer: AED 2,500/mo (12.5%) · Total: AED 3,500/mo

Projected fund: ~AED 2.1M at 4% return over 25 years

DEWS Free Zone — AED 18,000 basic

Employment type: Free Zone DEWS · 15 years · AED 500/mo voluntary

Employer: AED 1,050/mo (5.83%) · Voluntary: AED 500/mo · Total: AED 1,550/mo

Projected fund: ~AED 380K at 4% return over 15 years

Expat Mainland — AED 25,000 basic

Employment type: Expat Mainland · 20 years service

Gratuity at 20 years: AED 25,000÷30 × (21×5 + 30×15) days = AED 537,500

National equivalent fund: ~AED 1.3M — difference: AED 762,500

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the UAE GPSSA pension contribution rate for UAE nationals?▾
UAE nationals working in the private sector contribute 5% of their basic salary to GPSSA. The employer contributes 12.5% in Dubai or 15% in Abu Dhabi — making the total monthly pension fund accrual 17.5% or 20% of basic salary respectively. The GPSSA rate applies to basic salary only, not allowances or bonuses.
What is DEWS and how does it differ from a pension?▾
DEWS (DIFC Employee Workplace Savings) is an employer-funded end-of-service savings scheme for private sector employees in UAE free zones. Unlike a traditional pension, DEWS is not a monthly annuity — your employer deposits 5.83% of your basic salary each month into a regulated fund (run by providers like Equiom, Zurich, or Mercer). When you leave, you receive the full accumulated fund balance, which grows with investment returns.
Do expatriates in the UAE get a pension?▾
No. Expatriate employees on the UAE mainland are not covered by GPSSA and receive no employer pension contributions. They accrue end-of-service gratuity (21 working days per year of basic salary for the first 5 years, 30 days per year after that) — which is paid as a lump sum on termination or resignation. Expatriates are strongly advised to invest privately to build retirement savings.
Which free zones require DEWS contributions?▾
DEWS (or equivalent EOSB fund schemes) is mandatory in DIFC (since February 2020) and ADGM (since 2017). It has also been adopted by DMCC, Dubai Airport Free Zone (DAFZ), and several other free zones. Mainland companies are not required to participate, though some voluntarily enrol expatriate employees.
What is the DEWS employer contribution rate?▾
The DEWS employer contribution rate is 5.83% of monthly basic salary — calculated as 21 calendar days divided by 360 days, which aligns with the UAE Labour Law gratuity formula. An employee earning AED 20,000 basic would see an employer contribution of approximately AED 1,167 per month into the DEWS fund.
Can I make voluntary contributions to DEWS?▾
Yes. Employees enrolled in DEWS can make voluntary contributions above the employer's mandatory 5.83%. These grow within the regulated fund alongside the employer contributions. Voluntary contributions are typically accessible to the employee on leaving and may receive matching from some employers.
What happens to my DEWS fund if I resign?▾
If you resign after completing your minimum vesting period (typically 1 year), you are entitled to 100% of your DEWS fund balance — both the employer contributions and any voluntary contributions. Unlike the old gratuity system, there are no partial entitlement penalties under DEWS for resignation. The fund is held by an independent custodian and is protected even if your employer goes insolvent.
How is the UAE pension fund growth projection calculated?▾
The projection models monthly contributions compounding at your chosen annual return rate (default 4%). Each month, contributions are added and the running fund grows by the monthly equivalent of the annual rate. A 4% annual assumption reflects approximate UAE government bond yields — equity-heavy investment options within DEWS funds may target 6–8% historically, but these are not guaranteed.

For informational purposes only. Not financial or pension advice. Projections assume constant contributions and a fixed annual return — actual fund performance varies. Formula based on GPSSA Federal Law No. 7 of 1999 and DEWS.ae. Last verified July 2026.

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