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    Founder

    About the Founder

    Meet Varun Punjabi, founder of Yalla Calculators. Dubai-based expat helping UAE residents make confident financial decisions since 2023.

    VP

    Varun Punjabi

    Founder & CEO

    13+ years in software & digital business · 8+ years in the UAE

    Varun founded Yalla Calculators in 2023 to help expats and residents make confident financial decisions in the UAE. With 13+ years of professional experience in software and digital business, and resident in the UAE since 2018 (8+ years in the UAE), he combines technical expertise with deep knowledge of UAE cost of living, regulations, and expat challenges. Varun Punjabi is not a licensed financial advisor; YallaCalculators is an independent informational resource, not a regulated financial institution.

    Expertise:

    UAE Cost of Living Analysis
    Financial Planning Tools
    Expat Financial Guidance
    Data-Driven Decision Making
    LinkedIn

    Data Verification & Advisory Network

    All content on Yalla Calculators is researched, verified, and reviewed by Varun Punjabi. Financial data is cross-referenced with official UAE government sources including:

    • Dubai Land Department (DLD) - Property fees and regulations
    • Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) - School fees and regulations
    • UAE Central Bank - Mortgage rates and DBR guidelines
    • Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) - Employment regulations
    • General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) - Visa requirements

    Additional insights are provided by UAE-based financial professionals, real estate agents, school admissions officers, and healthcare administrators who prefer to remain anonymous. All data points are verified against multiple official sources before publication.

    Why Data Verification Matters

    Every calculator and guide on Yalla Calculators is researched and verified by the founder, with data cross-referenced against official UAE government sources to ensure accuracy and regulatory compliance.

    Get in Touch

    Questions about our calculators or data sources? We're happy to help.

    Contact Us

    Guide to Our UAE Financial Calculators

    Yalla Calculators provides UAE-specific financial tools for gratuity, mortgages, property fees, rent vs buy, school fees, visas, and cost of living. Our formulas follow official UAE sources: UAE Labor Law (gratuity, leave), Dubai Land Department and RERA (property, DLD 4% transfer fee), UAE Central Bank (DBR, LTV), KHDA (school fees), and published visa and healthcare data. We update figures when regulations or market rates change. Calculator results are estimates only; actual entitlements, fees, and approvals depend on your specific situation, employer, bank, or authority.

    For gratuity, any employee who completes at least one year of continuous service earns gratuity on basic salary for the years served — 21 days’ pay per year for the first five years and 30 days per year thereafter. Under Federal Decree-Law 33/2021 (effective 2 February 2022) the old sliding scale that cut gratuity for resignation before five years was abolished, so resigning no longer reduces your entitlement for completed years. For mortgages, DBR caps and LTV limits vary by buyer type (UAE national, GCC, expat) and property value. Property fees include DLD registration, trustee fees, agent commission, and often mortgage registration. Rent vs buy outcomes depend on holding period, appreciation, and opportunity cost. School fee projections use KHDA fee frameworks and typical annual increases; actual costs vary by school and grade.

    Calculation Examples

    Gratuity: If you resign after 3 years with AED 15,000 basic, you receive 21 days’ basic per year for the first 5 years (resigning no longer reduces gratuity). Three years × (21/365) × (15,000 × 12) ≈ AED 31,068. After 5 years, the rate becomes 30 days per year. Mortgage: At 50% DBR, a AED 25,000 monthly income with AED 3,000 existing commitments allows roughly AED 9,500 per month for a mortgage, depending on rates and tenure. Property fees: On a AED 2M purchase, 4% DLD transfer fee is AED 80,000; add trustee, agent, and optional mortgage registration per our property-fees calculator.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Are calculator results legally binding? No. They are illustrative. Gratuity, mortgage eligibility, and visa decisions depend on your contract, bank, or authority. Always confirm with your employer, lender, or official sources.

    How often do you update data? We review UAE labor, property, mortgage, and school-fee data periodically and after notable regulatory changes. Check our methodology and data-updates pages for more detail.

    Do you store my inputs? Calculator inputs are processed in your browser. We do not store your salary, property value, or other personal figures. See our privacy policy and cookie policy for details on analytics and cookies.

    Which Emirates are covered? Default examples often use Dubai (DLD, RERA, KHDA). Several tools support other Emirates where data is available. We indicate coverage in each calculator.

    Can I use these for official applications? Our tools are for planning and comparison only. Use official forms, bank offers, and government portals for applications and compliance.

    Meet the Expert

    Varun Punjabi

    CEO & Founder, Yalla Calculators. 13+ years of professional experience in software and digital business, with a background in the domain and internet industry; resident in the UAE since 2018 (8+ years in the UAE). Specializes in UAE property market analysis, mortgage calculations, DLD and RERA regulations, and UAE labor and school-fee frameworks. Not a licensed financial advisor — Yalla Calculators is an independent informational resource, not a regulated financial institution. Built Yalla Calculators after navigating Dubai’s property and education landscape firsthand.

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    For methodology, data sources, and disclaimers, see our Methodology, Data Updates, and Terms of Use. Contact: info@yallacalculators.online.