Read the conditions before you count the money: many signing bonuses must be repaid if you resign inside a defined period, so a headline figure can come with strings. Treat it as one-off, not recurring, when comparing offers, and remember it does not lift your base or your gratuity. If you are leaving a bonus behind, a signing bonus is a fair thing to ask for. How one-off and recurring pay differ: Gulf salary package guide.
Signing Bonus
A signing bonus is a one-time payment offered to persuade you to accept a job, often used to offset a bonus you forfeit by leaving your current employer or to close a gap on base salary. It is usually paid on joining or after a set period, and may carry a clawback if you leave within a year or two.
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Adil Dahmani
Adil Dahmani is the founder of Yalliq, the AI career copilot for Arabic-speaking professionals across MENA.