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United Arab Emirates

Time and attendance for the UAE

UAE Labour Law rules built in: overtime and night rates, Ramadan hours, leave and holidays, and a WPS SIF file ready on time.

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Working hours and overtime

The preset TopTimesheets loads when you choose this country. It is what our overtime engine computes.

United Arab Emirates — Labour Law

Week starts on Monday · Weekly rest day: Sunday

  • Over 8 h in a day: 125% of the hourly rate
  • Over 48 h in a week: 125%
  • Overtime between 22:00 and 04:00: 150%
  • Work on the weekly rest day: 150%
  • Ramadan: 2 h less a day for everyone
  • Flag days over 10 h in total
  • A break of at least 60 min after 5 h of continuous work
About this rule
  • 8h/day, 48h/week. Overtime +25% on basic; overtime between 22:00 and 04:00 +50% (not for shift workers).
  • Ramadan: 2 hours less per day for all private-sector employees.
  • Overtime limited to 2h/day (10h total flagged). Breaks of at least 1 hour after 5 consecutive hours.
  • Work on the rest day earns a substitute day or basic wage plus 50%.
Overtime calculator — United Arab Emirates — Labour Law

WPS in the UAE

Salaries are due by the 1st of the following month. On Business, TopTimesheets creates the WPS Salary Information File (SIF) from the approved pay run: one EDR line per employee plus the SCR totals line, with IBANs checked.

Leave entitlements

Leave types TopTimesheets sets up for this country. Balances accrue automatically.

  • Annual leaveStatutory

    Entitlement
    24 days a year after 6 months of service; 30 days a year after 12 months of service
    Pay
    Full pay

  • Sick leaveStatutory

    Entitlement
    up to 90 days a year
    Pay
    first 15 days at 100%; next 30 days at 50%; next 45 days at 0%
    Conditions
    document required

  • Unpaid leaveCompany policy

    Entitlement
    By agreement
    Pay
    Unpaid

  • Maternity leaveStatutory

    Entitlement
    up to 60 days at a time
    Pay
    first 45 days at 100%; next 15 days at 50%
    Conditions
    document required

  • Parental leaveStatutory

    Entitlement
    up to 5 days a year
    Pay
    Full pay

  • Bereavement leaveStatutory

    Entitlement
    up to 5 days at a time
    Pay
    Full pay
Notes from the preset (English)
  • Federal Decree-Law 33/2021 and Cabinet Resolution 1/2022; not DIFC/ADGM.
  • 30 days a year after 1 year of service; 2 days per month between 6 and 12 months (Art. 29).
  • Carry-over and encashment of unused leave are by agreement: set a carry-over rule if you limit it.
  • 90 days a year after probation: 15 days full pay, 30 days half pay, 45 days unpaid (Art. 31).
  • Not paid during probation. Notify within 3 days [VERIFY: some sources say 2].
  • By agreement with the employer; deducted from pay.
  • 60 days: 45 days full pay, 15 days half pay.
  • 5 working days, within 6 months of the birth, for either parent.
  • 5 days on the death of a spouse; 3 days for a parent, child, sibling, grandchild or grandparent.

Public holidays in the next 12 months

Loaded into TopTimesheets so leave and overtime count them. Islamic holidays are estimates until the moon is sighted.

DateHoliday
Tue, 1 December 2026Commemoration Day
Wed, 2 December 2026National Day
Thu, 3 December 2026National Day
Fri, 1 January 2027New Year's Day
Mon, 8 March 2027Eid al-FitrEstimated
Tue, 9 March 2027Eid al-FitrEstimated
Wed, 10 March 2027Eid al-FitrEstimated
Thu, 11 March 2027Eid al-FitrEstimated
Sat, 15 May 2027Arafat DayEstimated
Sun, 16 May 2027Eid al-AdhaEstimated
Mon, 17 May 2027Eid al-AdhaEstimated
Tue, 18 May 2027Eid al-AdhaEstimated
Sun, 6 June 2027Islamic New YearEstimated
Sat, 14 August 2027Prophet Muhammad's BirthdayEstimated

Default templates — verify with your adviser. Every rule can be edited in your account.

Frequently asked questions

How is overtime paid in the UAE?

Overtime is paid at basic wage plus 25%, and plus 50% when worked between 22:00 and 04:00 (shift workers excepted). Work on the rest day earns a substitute day or basic wage plus 50%.

What are Ramadan hours in the UAE?

Private-sector working hours are reduced by 2 hours a day for all employees. TopTimesheets applies the reduction during Ramadan dates.

Hours that are right before payroll

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UAE: working hours, overtime, Ramadan and WPS rules · TopTimesheets
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