Notice Period Calculator — Kuwait & UAE 2026
Find out exactly how many days notice you are owed and what salary you are entitled to during that period.
What is a notice period?
A notice period is the amount of time an employee or employer must give before ending an employment contract. In Kuwait, the law sets this at 3 months for monthly-salaried workers and 1 month for all others, under Article 44 of Labour Law No. 6 of 2010. In the UAE, your contract must specify between 30 and 90 calendar days, per Article 43 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021.
During the notice period your salary continues in full. If either side fails to serve the notice, they owe the equivalent salary as compensation. Use the calculator below to find your exact entitlement in seconds.
Notice Period in Kuwait and UAE — What the Law Says
Notice period rules determine how much warning you or your employer must give before ending an employment contract. Getting this wrong is one of the most common and costly mistakes expats make when resigning or being terminated in the Gulf. If your employer terminates you without notice, you are owed salary in lieu. If you resign without serving notice, your employer can deduct that salary from your final settlement.
How notice period salary is calculated
Kuwait (monthly salary):
Salary in lieu = Basic monthly salary × 3
Kuwait (daily / weekly / hourly):
Salary in lieu = Basic monthly salary × 1
UAE:
Salary in lieu = (Basic salary ÷ 30) × contract notice days
Based on basic salary only. Housing and transport allowances are excluded unless your contract states otherwise.
Kuwait notice period (Article 44)
Kuwait Labour Law No. 6 of 2010, Article 44 sets the default notice period based on how you are paid. Monthly-salaried employees must give or receive 3 months notice. Employees paid on any other basis must give or receive 1 month notice.
- Monthly salary: 3 months notice (90 days)
- Daily / weekly / hourly: 1 month notice (30 days)
- Notice can be waived by mutual written agreement
- Salary in lieu of notice is required if notice is not served
What counts as your salary for notice purposes in Kuwait?
Only your basic salary is used to calculate the salary in lieu of notice in Kuwait. Housing allowances, transport allowances, and any other variable or fixed bonuses are excluded from the calculation. This is the same principle that applies to EOSB — your contract may include a broader definition, but the legal default is basic salary only.
UAE notice period (Article 43)
Under UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, the notice period must be between 30 and 90 calendar days, as stated in your employment contract. Since February 2022 there is no longer a distinction between limited and unlimited contracts.
- Minimum 30 days, maximum 90 days
- Calculated in calendar days including weekends
- Full salary must be paid throughout
- If terminated: 1 unpaid day off per week for job hunting (Article 43(5))
- If notice not served: 1 month wage owed as penalty
Does your notice period affect your EOSB?
In Kuwait, if you resign without serving the required notice period, your employer can deduct the salary equivalent of the unserved days from your final settlement. However, they cannot deduct from your EOSB entitlement itself — EOSB and notice period obligations are legally separate. If you have completed 3 or more years of service, your EOSB is protected regardless of notice period compliance.
In the UAE, the notice period penalty is capped at 1 month's wage — it is not a deduction from EOSB. Your gratuity entitlement is calculated independently.
Notice period during probation
In Kuwait, no notice is legally required during your probation period (up to 100 working days) — either party may terminate the contract during probation without notice, under Labour Law No. 6 of 2010. Article 44's 3-month / 1-month notice obligation only begins applying once probation ends (your contract may still specify a longer courtesy notice during probation by mutual agreement, but it is not a legal requirement). In the UAE, probation runs under a separate, shorter statutory regime — Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022, Article 9 — not the standard 30–90 day contract notice: 14 days' notice if your employer terminates you or you are leaving the UAE, or 1 month's notice if you are resigning to join another UAE employer.
Frequently asked questions
What is the notice period in Kuwait?
Under Kuwait Labour Law Article 44, monthly-paid employees must give or receive 3 months notice. Employees paid on any other basis must give or receive 1 month notice.
What is the notice period in UAE?
Under UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Article 43, the notice period must be a minimum of 30 calendar days and a maximum of 90 calendar days, as specified in the employment contract.
Do I get paid during my notice period?
Yes. Your employment contract remains active during the notice period. You continue working and receiving your full salary.
What happens if I don't serve my notice period?
In the UAE, the party who fails to serve notice owes the other one full month's wage under Article 43(3). In Kuwait, the breaching party owes salary equivalent to the notice period.
Can my employer terminate me without notice?
Only in cases of gross misconduct specified in the law. In all other cases, the employer must serve the notice period or pay salary in lieu.
Does notice period apply to limited contracts in UAE?
Yes. Since February 2022, all private sector contracts are fixed-term and the same notice period rules apply to everyone.
Can my employer extend my notice period beyond 3 months in Kuwait?
Your employment contract can specify a longer notice period by mutual agreement, but the minimum statutory notice is 3 months for monthly-salaried workers. If your contract is silent, Article 44 applies automatically.
What happens to my EOSB if I resign without serving notice in Kuwait?
Your employer can deduct the salary equivalent of the unserved notice days from your final settlement — but they cannot withhold your EOSB entitlement. EOSB and notice period are separate obligations. If you have 3+ years of service and resign, you are entitled to EOSB regardless of notice period compliance.
Can I be released from notice early in Kuwait or UAE?
Yes. Both parties can agree in writing to waive or shorten the notice period. In the UAE, Article 43(2) allows mutual agreement to reduce the notice period. In Kuwait, any waiver should be in writing to avoid disputes.
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