Resignation Letter in Qatar: Sample, Notice Rules and What to Include
Qatar's Labour Law asks for written notice but gives no form. What Article 49 requires, a sample letter you can copy, and what to keep after you hand it in.
Most people searching for a resignation letter in Qatar want two things: words they can use, and certainty that they are giving the right notice. This guide follows Articles 49, 50 and 53 of Labour Law No. 14 of 2004 as shown on Al Meezan, Qatar's official legal portal, which we read in October 2026. The sample letter is our own template, not an official form.
What the law requires
Article 49 says the party who wants to end the contract must notify the other party in writing. Nothing in Articles 49 or 50 prescribes wording, a form, or a stamp. So a short signed letter that states your decision and your last working day does the job the article describes. What matters is that you can prove you gave it and when.
How much notice to give
| Your situation | Article 49 notice |
|---|---|
| Paid monthly or annually, service of five years or less | One month |
| Paid monthly or annually, service of more than five years | At least two months |
| Other workers, under one year of service | At least one week |
| Other workers, over one year and under five | At least two weeks |
| Other workers, five years or more | At least a month (the portal's text has a word missing here) |
Our notice period guide goes through these tiers and the compensation owed if notice is skipped. If you are still on probation, the rules differ, and our probation guide explains them.
What to put in the letter
- The date you write it, and the name or title of the person you address, usually your manager and HR.
- Your full name, job title, and any employee number your company uses.
- A clear sentence that you are resigning and that this letter is your written notice under your contract and Labour Law Article 49.
- Your last working day, counted from the date you hand the letter in, using the notice period that applies to you.
- An offer to hand over your work during the notice period.
- A request for your service certificate and your final dues, which our service certificate guide explains.
- Your signature.
Keep it short and polite. You do not have to give reasons: Article 49 speaks of ending the contract without giving reasons.
Sample resignation letter
This is our own template. Replace the brackets and check the notice length against your contract.
[Date]
To: [Manager name], [Company name]. Copy to: Human Resources
Subject: Resignation from the position of [Job title]
Dear [Manager name],
I am writing to give formal written notice of my resignation from my position as [Job title] with [Company name], under my employment contract and Article 49 of the Labour Law. My notice period is [one month / two months / as stated in my contract], so my last working day will be [date].
During this period I will continue to perform my work as usual and I am happy to help hand over my duties. Please also arrange my service certificate and my final settlement, including any end of service gratuity and unpaid leave, by my last working day.
Thank you for the opportunity to work with the company.
Sincerely, [Full name], [Job title], [Employee number or QID, if your company uses it], [Signature]
How to hand it in and keep proof
This is our own advice, not part of the law.
- Hand over a printed signed copy and ask HR or your manager to sign and date your own copy as received.
- If you also send it by email, keep the sent message. Email alone is a weaker record than a signed copy, so use both.
- Write down the date you handed it in. The notice runs from there.
- Do not rely on a conversation or a chat message as your notice. Article 49 asks for writing.
What happens during and after notice
Article 50 says the employer pays your full remuneration for the notice period if you perform your work in the usual manner during it. If you stop turning up, you put that pay at risk and you may owe compensation under Article 49.
At the end of the contract, Article 53 says the employer must give you, on request and free of charge, a service certificate showing your start date, end date, the type of work and the remuneration you received. It also says the employer must return the certificates and documents you deposited with them. Your end of service amount is a separate matter, covered in our end of service gratuity guide.
If you are moving to a new employer, see how to change jobs in Qatar without an NOC. If your employer will not accept your notice or does not pay what you are owed, see how to file a labor complaint.
Common mistakes
- Resigning verbally or by message only.
- Counting the notice period from the wrong date.
- Stopping work during the notice period and expecting full pay.
- Forgetting to ask for the service certificate before your last day.
- Signing a settlement paper that waives your dues without reading it.
What we could not verify
- Whether the 2020 amendments (Law 18 of 2020) or ministerial decisions changed Articles 49, 50 or 53. The portal showed the 2005 text.
- How the fixed-period wording of Article 49 applies to open-ended contracts, and the exact missing word in the five-years tier.
- Whether the Ministry or your employer requires a specific form or an online step for cancelling your work permit.
- How the rules apply to domestic workers, public sector staff, or workers in free zones.
Frequently asked questions
Does a resignation letter have to be in Arabic?
Articles 49 and 50 do not say which language the notice must be in. Write it in the language of your contract and keep a signed copy. If you are unsure, ask HR whether the company also wants an Arabic copy.
Can I resign by email in Qatar?
Article 49 requires written notice. An email is writing, but a signed paper copy that HR has also signed as received is a stronger record. Using both is the safest approach.
How long should my notice be?
For monthly or annually paid workers, Article 49 says one month if service is five years or less and at least two months if longer. Other workers give one week, two weeks or a month depending on service length.
Do I get paid during my notice period?
Article 50 says the employer pays your full remuneration for the notice period if you perform your work in the usual manner.
Can my employer refuse to accept my resignation?
Article 49 lets either side end a fixed-period contract with written notice and without giving reasons. We could not find a rule on refusing notice in the articles we read, so if your employer will not accept it, keep your proof and see our labor complaint guide.
Sources & references
Agha Ali Abbas
Founder & Editor
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