Expat Guides
Plain-language guides for expats living and working in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain.
Basic Salary vs Total Salary in the Gulf: Why It Matters for Gratuity
What counts as basic salary and allowances in UAE, Saudi, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain contracts, and how t…
📘How to Check Your UAE Visa and Emirates ID Status Online
Where to check UAE residence visa, entry permit and Emirates ID status online using the official ICP and GDRFA…
📘How to Check Iqama Status and Expiry in Saudi Arabia
Check your Saudi Iqama (resident ID) validity and expiry through Absher, what your employer handles in Muqeem,…
📘How to Check Qatar ID (QID) Status and Expiry
How expats in Qatar can check their Qatar ID and residence permit status through the Ministry of Interior's Me…
📘How to Check Kuwait Civil ID Status
Check whether your Kuwait Civil ID card is ready and view its details through PACI and the official Sahel app.…
📘UAE Annual Leave Rules for Private Sector Employees
How many days of annual leave you get in the UAE, leave in your first year, carrying leave forward and being p…
📘UAE Probation and Notice Period Rules Explained
Maximum probation period, notice required to resign or terminate during probation, and notice periods after pr…
📘How to File a Labour Complaint in the UAE (MOHRE)
What to do when your UAE employer does not pay salary or end-of-service dues: steps to file a complaint with M…
📘How to Send Money from the Gulf to Pakistan: Safe and Low-Cost Options
Compare banks, exchange houses and apps for sending money from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries …
📘Final Settlement Checklist: What to Collect Before Leaving a Gulf Job
A step-by-step checklist of dues, documents and cancellations to sort out before you leave a job in the UAE, S…
📘Wage Protection System (WPS) in the Gulf Explained
What the Wage Protection System is, how it protects your salary in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman …
📘Annual Leave in the Gulf: UAE, Saudi, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain Compared
How many days of paid annual leave you get in each GCC country, when you become eligible, and what happens to …
📘Sick Leave Rules in the Gulf: How Much Paid Sick Leave Do You Get?
Paid and unpaid sick leave for private-sector employees in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahr…
📘Saudi Arabia Overtime Rules: Article 107 Explained with Examples
How overtime is calculated in Saudi Arabia under Article 107, working hours, Ramadan hours, holidays, and comm…
📘Ramadan Working Hours in the Gulf for Private Sector Employees
Reduced Ramadan working hours in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, whether they apply to non-Muslims, and how o…
📘Oman's New Savings System for Expats: What Replaces Gratuity
How Oman's savings (provident) fund for non-Omani workers works, the 9% contribution, when it becomes mandator…
📘Bahrain End-of-Service Gratuity Through the SIO: How It Works
Since March 2024, Bahrain's Social Insurance Organization pays expat gratuity from monthly employer contributi…
📘Saudi Final Exit vs Exit Re-entry Visa: What Is the Difference?
The difference between a final exit visa and an exit re-entry visa in Saudi Arabia, who issues them, and what …
📘10 Things to Check Before Accepting a Gulf Job Offer
A practical checklist for Pakistani and other workers before accepting a job in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, …
📘How to Save Money While Working in the Gulf: A Practical Plan
A simple budgeting plan for expats in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and the GCC: how much to save, emergency funds, av…
📘How to Check Resident Card Status in Oman and Bahrain
Where expats can check Oman resident card and Bahrain CPR and work permit status through official ROP, LMRA an…
📘How to Calculate Unused Leave Payment (Leave Encashment) in the Gulf
How payment for unused annual leave is usually calculated in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Ba…