UAE Private-Sector Labour Rules — 2026 Guide
UAE Labour Overtime & Working Hours Calculator
Estimate overtime pay under Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 using the current MoHRE hourly-wage formula and statutory overtime multipliers.
This calculator is for the UAE private-sector labour regime. It is an estimate, not a payroll determination, legal opinion or MoHRE decision.
The correct UAE overtime formula
MoHRE’s current guide states: basic salary ÷ 30 ÷ 8 = hourly wage.
Normal overtime uses 1.25× the hourly basic rate. Overtime from 10:00 pm to 4:00 am uses 1.50×, except for shift workers. Rest-day and official-holiday work have separate statutory treatment and should not be merged into one generic “night overtime” bucket.
Overtime calculator
Overtime is calculated from basic salary, not the total package of allowances.
1.25× hourly basic rate
1.50×, except for shift workers
Cash estimate uses 1.50× where no substitute day off is selected
MoHRE calculator guide: 2.50×
The statutory 10pm–4am 50% premium does not apply to workers working on a shift basis under Article 19.
If a substitute rest day is provided, this calculator does not include a cash amount for those rest-day hours.
Estimated overtime compensation
AED 833.33
Hourly basic rate: AED 41.67
Normal OT: AED 520.83
Night OT: AED 312.50
Rest-day cash: AED 0.00
Official-holiday calculation: AED 0.00
Statutory rates
| Hourly basic wage | Basic ÷ 30 ÷ 8 |
| Normal overtime | 1.25× |
| Night overtime | 1.50× |
| Rest day, no substitute day | 1.50× |
| Official holiday | 2.50× |
Daily overtime screening
Entered normal + night overtime: 15 hours
⚠️ This exceeds the ordinary two-hour-per-day limit in the federal labour law. Exceptional situations are subject to separate statutory conditions.
Interlinked UAE employment guides
Working-hours rules you should know
| Rule | Current position |
|---|---|
| Normal working hours | Generally 8 hours per day or 48 hours per week. |
| Ordinary overtime | Generally no more than two additional hours per day. |
| Three-week limit | Total working hours must not exceed 144 hours every three weeks, subject to the statutory exceptions. |
| Ramadan | Normal working hours are reduced by two hours per day during Ramadan under the Executive Regulation. |
| Rest-day work | The worker receives another day off or the applicable cash compensation where no substitute day is provided. |
Ramadan calculator note
Normal daily schedule used for the reminder
8 hours/day
During Ramadan, normal working hours are reduced by two hours per day. The actual overtime calculation still depends on the employee’s applicable schedule and the hours actually worked.
Overtime entitlement is not purely mathematical
A payroll calculation can only estimate the amount once the legally relevant working hours are established. Contractual schedules, shift status, rest-day arrangements, Ramadan schedules, public holidays, statutory exceptions and excluded categories can all affect the result.
Keep timesheets, rosters, electronic attendance records, written instructions and payroll statements if an overtime dispute arises.
Related UAE Tools & Guides
2026 VerifiedFrequently Asked Questions
MoHRE’s current overtime guidance calculates the hourly basic wage as monthly basic salary ÷ 30 ÷ 8. Normal overtime is paid at at least 1.25 times that hourly wage. Overtime between 10:00 pm and 4:00 am is paid at at least 1.50 times the hourly basic wage, except for workers who work on a shift basis. Work on a contractual weekly rest day can result in a substitute day off or cash compensation under the statutory rules.
Under Article 19 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, an employer may generally require up to two additional hours of work per day. The total working time must not exceed 144 hours in any three-week period, subject to the statutory exceptions and controls in the law and Executive Regulation.
Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022 states that normal working hours are reduced by two hours per day during the Holy Month of Ramadan. The reduction applies to the normal working schedule; employees should not assume that overtime is simply calculated using an unchanged eight-hour normal-day threshold in every Ramadan scenario.
No blanket rule says every manager, executive or department head is automatically excluded. The Executive Regulation identifies specific categories excluded from the maximum-working-hours provisions, including board chairmen and members and certain supervisory positions whose occupants have the capacities of an employer, plus specified maritime roles. The actual employment role and legal conditions must be examined before concluding that overtime rules do not apply.
For work on the contractual weekly rest day, the worker is compensated with another day off or, where no substitute day is provided, with the applicable cash compensation under Article 19. MoHRE’s current overtime guide shows a 1.50 multiplier for rest-day work and a 2.50 multiplier for official-holiday work in its calculation table. The exact result can depend on whether a substitute day is granted and the applicable statutory treatment.
An employee can raise an individual labour dispute with MoHRE. Article 54 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 gives the Ministry authority to examine individual labour disputes and issue a resolution in specified cases. The employee should keep the employment contract, time records, rosters, instructions, payroll records and other evidence showing the overtime and the amount claimed.
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Related UAE employment resources
Official sources checked for 2026
These links are primary government and legislation references. This page is not certified, verified or endorsed by MoHRE or the UAE Government.
MoHRE – Additional Working Hours, Wages & Leaves Guide
Current Ministry guide showing the official overtime hourly formula, multipliers, 144-hour three-week limit and Ramadan reduction.
Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 – Regulation of Labour Relations
Primary federal labour legislation, including normal working hours, overtime and excluded categories.
Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022 – Executive Regulation
Executive Regulation containing the Ramadan working-hours reduction and working-hours controls.
MoHRE – Know Your Rights / Working Hours
Current MoHRE worker guidance summarising overtime rates and rest-day compensation.
MoHRE – Individual Labour Disputes
Official Ministry framework for handling individual labour disputes and wage-related claims.
Important: This calculator is an informational estimate for private-sector employment governed by the federal UAE labour regime. It does not determine legal entitlement. Some worker categories are subject to special rules or exclusions, and contractual schedules, shift arrangements, Ramadan hours, rest days, public holidays and exceptional working-hour conditions can change the result. For an actual wage dispute, confirm the facts and records through MoHRE or qualified labour counsel.