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Tax guides for Arab countries

Hani · Founder & Tax Data Researcher · ArabTaxCalc

What comes off a salary in each Arab country and why, in plain English, with the official sources. Written for anyone weighing a job in the region and for expats already working there.

Topic guides

End-of-service gratuity in the GCC
How end-of-service gratuity works in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman: basic or full pay, resigning, new rules, with examples.
No income tax: what expats still pay
No income tax on your salary is not zero cost. What expats really pay in the Gulf: VAT, residence and family fees, housing, and no pension.
Social insurance in the GCC compared
Social insurance rates in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman for 2026: employee and employer shares, nationals vs expats, an example.
VAT in Arab countries
VAT rates in every Arab country for 2026, how to take the tax out of a price, tourist refunds in the UAE and Saudi e-invoicing (FATOORA), with examples.
Double taxation and tax treaties
What a double tax treaty does, credit vs exemption, an Egyptian in Saudi Arabia, a Moroccan in France, a Syrian in Germany, and tax residency certificates.
Freelancer tax in the UAE and Saudi Arabia
Do freelancers pay tax in the UAE or Saudi Arabia? The AED 1 million corporate tax threshold, 375,000 VAT threshold and freelance permits, with examples.
Zakat vs tax
Zakat vs tax in law: 2.5% zakat on Saudi businesses, compulsory zakat in Sudan and zakat deducted from income in Oman, with worked examples.
Personal income tax in Oman
Oman personal income tax: 5% above 42,000 rials a year from 1 January 2028, for Omanis and expats. Who pays, deductions, and a worked example.
Tax residency and the 183-day rule
When do you become tax resident? The 183-day rules in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Germany, the UK and France, and how treaties settle dual residency.
Gross vs net salary
Gross, net and basic salary explained: payslip items such as allowances, social insurance and tax, why basic pay matters in the Gulf, a Saudi example.
Egyptians working abroad: tax in Egypt
Is a salary in Saudi Arabia or the Gulf taxed in Egypt? Tax residency under Law 91 of 2005 and optional 21% social insurance for Egyptians abroad.

Tax returns for employees

Do you have to file if your employer already withholds tax? The answer, the deadline and the penalties, country by country.

Tax return in Egypt
Do employees in Egypt file a tax return? Not if salary is their only income. When you must, the 31 March deadline, e-filing and fines, with an example.
Tax return in Jordan
Do employees in Jordan file a tax return? Yes, above 9,000 dinars a year if single or 18,000 with dependants. 30 April deadline, fines and refunds.
Tax report in Iraq
Do employees in Iraq file an income tax report? Withholding, non-salary income, the 31 May deadline, the 10% fine, joint spouse income, refunds, example.
Income declaration in Morocco
Do employees in Morocco declare total income? Not with one employer, yes with two or other income. 1 March deadline, SIMPL-IR, penalties, home loan refund.
Tax return in Tunisia
Do employees in Tunisia file an annual income return? The 5 December deadline, two employers, deductions missed by withholding, fines, refunds, example.
Tax return in Palestine
Do employees in Palestine file an income tax return? The 36,000 shekel residency exemption, claiming university and housing exemptions in 3 months, fines.

Gulf (GCC)

Taxes in Saudi Arabia
No income tax on salaries in Saudi Arabia. Expats keep their full pay; Saudis pay 9.75% to GOSI. Work out your 2026 net pay and end-of-service gratuity.
Taxes in United Arab Emirates
No income tax on salaries in the UAE. Expats pay only unemployment insurance; nationals pay 5% or 11% to pensions. Work out your 2026 net pay and gratuity.
Taxes in Qatar
No tax on salaries in Qatar. Expats keep their full pay; Qataris pay 7% social insurance, up to 100,000 riyals. Work out your 2026 net pay and gratuity.
Taxes in Kuwait
No tax on salaries in Kuwait. Expats keep their full pay; Kuwaitis pay 10.5% social insurance up to 1,500 dinars. Work out your 2026 net pay and gratuity.
Taxes in Oman
No tax on salaries in Oman in 2026; a 5% tax above 42,000 rials starts in 2028. Omanis have 8% deducted. Work out your net pay and end-of-service gratuity.
Taxes in Bahrain
No income tax on salaries in Bahrain. Expats pay just 1%; Bahrainis pay 8% for pension and unemployment. Work out your 2026 net pay and gratuity.

Levant and Iraq

Taxes in Jordan
Work out your net salary in Jordan for 2026: a 9,000 dinar exemption, tax bands from 5% to 30%, and 7.5% social security capped at 3,733 dinars a month.
Taxes in Iraq
Work out your net salary in Iraq for 2026: income tax from 3% to 15% after a 2.5 million dinar single allowance, and 5% private sector social security.
Taxes in Lebanon
Work out your net salary in Lebanon for 2026: salary tax from 2% to 25% after a 450 million pound allowance, and 3% health cover up to 120 million a month.
Taxes in Syria
Work out your net salary in Syria for 2026 in new pounds: 12,560 pounds a month tax free, 15% on the rest, and 7% social insurance.
Taxes in Palestine
Work out your net salary in Palestine for 2026: a 36,000 shekel residency exemption, tax at 5%, 10% and 15%, and no general private sector social security.
Taxes in Palestine (inside the Green Line)
Net salary inside the Green Line 2026: tax from 10% to 47%, 242 shekel credit points, 4.27% then 12.17% national insurance and health tax, town discounts.

Egypt, Sudan and Yemen

Taxes in Egypt
Work out your net salary in Egypt for 2026: salary tax bands from 0% to 27.5%, a 20,000 EGP exemption, 11% social insurance capped at 16,700 EGP a month.
Taxes in Sudan
Work out your net salary in Sudan for 2026: the first 30,000 SDG a month is tax free, then 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%. Insurance: 8% employee, 17% employer.
Taxes in Yemen
Work out your net salary in Yemen for 2026 under Law 17 of 2010: 10,000 rials a month tax free, then 10%, 15% and 20%; employee social insurance is 6%.

North Africa (Maghreb)

Taxes in Morocco
Work out your net salary in Morocco for 2026: tax free up to 40,000 MAD a year, then 10% to 37%, with CNSS at 4.48%, AMO at 2.26% and work expenses.
Taxes in Algeria
Work out your net salary in Algeria for 2026: taxable pay up to 30,000 DZD a month is exempt, IRG scale from 0% to 35%, a 40% abatement and 9% CNAS.
Taxes in Tunisia
Work out your net salary in Tunisia for 2026: tax scale from 0% to 40%, 10% work expenses capped at 2,000 TND, CNSS about 9.68% and a 0.5% solidarity levy.
Taxes in Libya
Work out your net salary in Libya for 2026: salary tax of 5% up to 12,000 LYD a year and 10% above, with 3.75% social security and 1% Solidarity Fund.
Taxes in Mauritania
Work out your net salary in Mauritania for 2026: 6,000 MRU a month exempt, then salary tax at 15%, 25% and 40%, plus 1% social security. Sourced figures.

Horn of Africa and Comoros

Taxes in Somalia
Work out the tax on your salary in Somalia for 2026 under the Income Tax Act 2025: 0% up to 100 dollars a month, then 6%, 12% and 18%. Non-residents pay 18%.
Taxes in Djibouti
Work out your net salary in Djibouti for 2026: monthly payroll tax from 2% to 30% after 6% CNSS social security. The franc is pegged to the US dollar.
Taxes in Comoros
Work out your salary tax in Comoros for 2026: a flat 30% deduction for work expenses, then bands from 0% to 30%. The first 150,000 francs a year is tax free.

Reference pages

Tax authorities and filing deadlinesTake-home pay rankingCountries with no income taxLiving in Arab countries in figures

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