When can you retire on a GPSSA pension, and how much will you get?

It depends first on when you started insured work. The 2023 law covers Emiratis who joined the labour market for the first time on or after 31 October 2023. If you were registered before that date, you stay under Federal Law No. 7 of 1999.¹²

Which law covers you?

The GPSSA scheme covers federal government employers and local governments other than Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, and private sector employers in every emirate except Abu Dhabi.¹ Emiratis in Abu Dhabi are covered by the Abu Dhabi Pension Fund.¹

Check your first registration date in your GPSSA account.

When can you retire under the 2023 law?

The law sets the retirement age at 60.³ You get a pension when your service ends in any of these cases:

• at 60, with at least 15 years of contributions
• at your own request, with at least 30 years of contributions and age 55
• on any other ending of service, with 30 years and age 55
• on death, total disability or medical unfitness
• on dismissal by a disciplinary decision or a court judgment, with 30 years and age 55
• when service is ended by a federal or local decree.³

For death, total disability, unfitness and ending by decree, the pension is worked out on at least 15 years even if you served fewer.³

If your service ends without any of these, you get an end of service gratuity instead of a pension.³

Can mothers retire earlier?

Yes. A married, divorced or widowed woman can ask for a pension at 55 with 30 years. For a fifth and a sixth child, each lowers the required service by two years and the age by three years. A seventh child lowers them by three and a half years and four years.³

How is your pension calculated?

On your pension account salary, which is your average subscription salary over your last six years, or your whole service if shorter. This applies to both the government and the private sector.³

You get 2.67% of that salary for each year up to 30 years, then 4% for each year after, up to 100%. Part of a month counts as a full month. The minimum pension is AED 10,000 a month, and the government pays the difference. Each year beyond 35 also earns a one-off reward of three months’ salary.³

Use the GPSSA pension calculator for your own figures. The GPSSA website also has an end of service calculator and a merge years calculator.²

Can you work while drawing a pension?

Under the 2023 law, a pensioner from the government or private sector with 30 years of contributions can combine the pension with a salary from a new job.¹

What were the rules under the 1999 law?

The UAE Government describes the 1999 law’s pension as due at 60 with 15 years of insured service, with early retirement for men at 55 and women at 50, each with 20 years.¹ If you were insured before 31 October 2023, ask GPSSA which conditions apply to your record.

Who can claim if you die?

Under the 2023 law, a widow, widower or eligible husband receives 40% of the pension, children 40% and parents 20%.³²

Disputes about a pension or gratuity decision go first to GPSSA’s Insurance Appeals Committee, within five years of the entitlement, before any court case.²

The small print

• Articles. Retirement age is in Article 1, scope Article 2, entitlement cases Article 13, the pension account salary Article 18 and the formula, minimum and reward Article 19 of Federal Decree-Law No. 57 of 2023.³
• Rate at 30 years. 30 years at 2.67% gives 80.1%. The law then adds 4% a year to a maximum of 100%.³
• Transition. The 2023 law does not apply to people insured under, receiving a pension under, or paid a gratuity under Federal Law No. 7 of 1999.³
• Language. The English text is a translation. The Arabic text is the official one.