Social Insurance Across the GCC: GOSI, GPSSA, PIFSS, SIO, PASI and GRSIA Compared
Every GCC country runs its own social insurance scheme for nationals, each with a different name and a different rate — and nearly all of them exclude expats entirely. Here's how they stack up.
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The schemes, side by side
| Country | Scheme | Employee | Employer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | GOSI | ~9.75-10.75% | ~11.75-12.75% |
| UAE | GPSSA | 5-11% | 12.5-15% |
| Kuwait | PIFSS | 10.5% | 11.5% |
| Bahrain | SIO | 8% | ~18% |
| Oman | PASI / SPF | 7.5% | 12% |
| Qatar | GRSIA | 7% | 14% |
The one exception: Bahrain covers expats too
Every scheme above covers nationals only — with one partial exception. Bahrain uniquely requires expat employees to contribute to unemployment insurance (1% employee, 3% employer), even though they're excluded from the pension branch. No other GCC country extends any part of its national scheme to expats this way.
Why employer rates are consistently higher
Across every scheme, employers contribute more than employees — generally covering additional branches like occupational hazards/work injury insurance that are typically employer-funded only, on top of a shared pension contribution.
Frequently asked questions
Why don't expats get a pension in most GCC countries?
Are these rates likely to keep changing?
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