UAE Per Diem Calculator
Total travel allowance for business or government trips. UAE Cabinet-published rates for federal employees, plus configurable rates for private sector.
How to use
- 1
Pick the destination tier — tier 1 for premium cities like London/NY, tier 4 for GCC.
- 2
Pick your seniority grade — multipliers per UAE government convention.
- 3
Add hotel, transport, and flight if covered separately. Some companies bundle into per diem; others itemise.
Frequently asked questions
A fixed daily allowance for travel expenses — typically covers meals, incidentals, and small purchases. Some companies include hotel; most pay hotel separately. UAE federal employees have Cabinet-set rates by destination tier and grade. Private sector varies widely.
No personal income tax in UAE. For employees in countries with tax (UK, EU, US), per diem within published government rates is usually tax-free; amounts above the rate are taxable income. Check your destination country's rules.
Tier 1: top cost-of-living cities (London, NYC, Tokyo, Singapore, Geneva). Tier 2: most European capitals, Sydney, Toronto. Tier 3: major regional cities. Tier 4: GCC and domestic UAE travel. Rates increase from tier 4 to tier 1 by roughly 2.5x.
Best practice: yes. Hotel is highly variable (AED 400 to 2500 per night for the same city depending on availability and season). Bundling into per diem either over-pays for budget travel or under-pays for peak season. Most UAE government and private companies pay hotel as a separate billable item.
For trips beyond 30 days, most policies reduce the per diem rate by 25-50% (assumption: traveller establishes local rhythm, lower incidentals). UAE federal employees follow this — rates drop at day 30 and again at day 60. Adjust the rate manually if your company has this rule.
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Source: UAE Cabinet Resolution 13/2014 + private-sector benchmarks · Last verified 2026-06. UAE Federal Authority. This tool provides estimates only and is not legal, tax or financial advice. Always verify your specific situation with the relevant UAE authority or a licensed advisor before taking action.