How much compensation is paid for a work injury or work-related death in the UAE?
Updated 2 October 2026
Short answer
Under Article 37 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, a worker's family receives compensation equal to 24 months of the worker's basic wage for a work-related death, with a minimum of AED 18,000 and a maximum of AED 200,000. Permanent total disability uses the same amount, and permanent partial disability pays the officially assessed percentage of it. A natural (non-work) death does not trigger this compensation; the employer must instead pay outstanding wages and end-of-service benefits to the family within 10 days.
Key points
- Work-related death or permanent total disability: 24 × last basic monthly wage, bounded to AED 18,000–200,000.
- Permanent partial disability: the same amount multiplied by the disability percentage assessed by the official medical authority.
- Temporary injury: the employer pays treatment, then full basic wage for up to six months of certified treatment and half wage for up to six further months.
- Natural death: Article 15 requires wages, other dues and end-of-service benefits to be paid within 10 days; no automatic 24-month compensation.
- These figures apply to the federal private sector. DIFC, ADGM, government and domestic-worker regimes follow their own rules.
Compensation is separate from other legal heads
Labour-law compensation, end-of-service benefits, insurance payouts, criminal penalties and court-ordered diya (blood money) are separate legal heads. They must be assessed individually and should not be added together automatically.
What has to be established first
Article 37 compensation only applies when the death or injury is accepted as work-related under the applicable employment regime. Causation, the employment regime and the disability percentage come from official bodies, not from a calculator.
- Confirm the worker falls under Federal Decree-Law 33 of 2021.
- Confirm the incident is accepted as a work injury (Cabinet Resolution 33 of 2022).
- Use the last basic monthly wage, not total package.
Sources
Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 (Articles 15 and 37) and Cabinet Resolution No. 33 of 2022 on work injuries and occupational diseases, both published by the UAE government and MOHRE. The Arabic text prevails over any translation. Last verified 30 September 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is blood money (diya) paid on top of labour compensation?
Diya is a separate head that only applies when a court orders it. It is not automatic and should not be combined with Article 37 compensation without a court decision.
Does end-of-service gratuity still apply after a work-related death?
Yes. End-of-service benefits remain payable alongside Article 37 compensation.
Is the 24 months based on total salary?
No. The calculation uses the worker's last basic monthly wage.
Put this into practice
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