Qatar Notice Period Calculator: Last Working Day and Notice Pay
A calculator for the notice period under Labour Law Article 49, the earliest last working day for your notice date, and what skipping notice could cost.
Notice dates are easy to miscount, especially when a month has 28 or 31 days or you are two months from a year-end bonus. This page counts them for you and shows what Article 49 says happens if the notice is short. The rules come from Articles 49 and 50 of Labour Law No. 14 of 2004 as read on Al Meezan for our notice period guide. It is an estimate, not legal advice, and your contract may set a longer period.
Calculate your notice period
Enter your pay basis and length of service on the date notice is given. Leave the date empty to use today. If you want to leave sooner, add your preferred last working day.
The notice periods
| How you are paid | Length of service | Notice |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly or annually | Five years or less | One month |
| Monthly or annually | More than five years | At least two months |
| Other (weekly, daily, hourly) | Under one year | At least one week |
| Other | One year to under five years | At least two weeks |
| Other | Five years or more | At least one month |
The portal's English text for the last row reads "at least month" with a word missing, so we read it as one month. Article 49 also begins by describing a fixed period contract, and we could not tell from the text alone how it applies to open ended contracts. If it matters, check your contract and ask the Ministry of Labour.
What happens if you skip notice
Article 49 says that when a contract is ended without the required notice, the party who ends it must compensate the other for the full remuneration for the notice period, or the part not observed. It applies in both directions. An employer who dismisses without notice owes the worker, and a worker who walks out can owe the employer. The calculator estimates this for monthly paid workers as total monthly pay divided by 30 for each day skipped.
A worked example
A monthly paid worker with 30 months of service, on total pay of QAR 9,000, gives notice on 20 October 2026. The notice is one month, so the earliest end date is 20 November 2026. If they want to leave on 5 November, they would skip 15 days, and 15 x (9,000 / 30) is QAR 4,500 of possible compensation.
During the notice period
Article 50 says the employer must pay the worker full remuneration for the notice period if the worker performs the work in the usual manner. Keep working normally. Stopping work and expecting full pay is a common mistake.
Before you give notice
1. Put the notice in writing and keep a dated copy.
2. Check your contract for a longer notice period.
3. Work out your dues with our final settlement calculator and your leave balance with the annual leave calculator.
4. If you are in probation, see probation period rules.
5. If you are dismissed without notice, see can my employer fire me in Qatar and how to file a labor complaint.
What we could not verify
- Whether the 2020 amendments (Law 18 of 2020) or ministerial decisions changed Articles 49 and 50. Al Meezan showed the 2005 text with no amendment notice.
- How the fixed period wording applies to open ended contracts.
- How the Ministry and courts work out compensation in practice.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the notice period in Qatar?
For monthly or annually paid workers, Article 49 sets one month for five years of service or less and at least two months if longer. Other workers give one week under a year, two weeks up to five years and a month after that.
What happens if I leave without giving notice in Qatar?
Article 49 says the party who ends the contract without the required notice compensates the other for the full remuneration for the notice not observed, so a worker who leaves early can owe the employer.
Do I get paid during my notice period?
Article 50 says the employer must pay full remuneration for the notice period if the worker performs the work in the usual manner during it.
Sources & references
Agha Ali Abbas
Founder & Editor
More on Jobs
Explore everything you need to know about qatar jobs.
Related articles
How to Find a Job in Qatar: A Realistic Guide
Where roles actually get filled, what slows down the visa process, and how to avoid the mistakes that stall an offer.
In-Demand Jobs in Qatar: Sectors That Generally Hire Expats
The sectors that generally employ the most expats in Qatar, from healthcare and finance to tech and construction, with a note on how the 2026 gas disruption may affect energy hiring.
Qatar Labor Law: A Plain-English Guide to Your Rights as a Worker
What Qatar's labor law actually guarantees on hours, leave, overtime, and probation, explained without the legal jargon, plus where to go if your employer isn't following it.