What Article 28 actually provides
Article 28 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 provides paid official public holidays for workers covered by the federal private-sector labour law. When work conditions require a worker to work during a public holiday, the employer must compensate the worker with either another day off for each holiday worked or payment for that day according to the normal working-day wage, plus an increase of at least 50% of the basic wage for that day.
One substitute day off for each public holiday worked.
Normal-day wage + at least 50% of the basic wage for that day.
The cash alternative should not be described as “basic salary + 150% extra.” The statutory wording is the normal-day wage plus a minimum 50% increase of the basic wage for the day.
Calculate Article 28 Compensation
AED 1,133.33
The calculator uses the values you enter. It does not know your employment contract, payroll methodology, special free zone rules, prior wage payments, or any more favourable contractual entitlement.
Formula Used
The “payroll divisor” is deliberately user-editable because Article 28 does not establish a UAE-wide 26-working-day divisor.
Important Scope Limits
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UAE Official Public Holidays: Current Framework
Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024 establishes the official public holiday framework for the public and private sectors. Islamic holidays follow the Hijri calendar and their Gregorian dates depend on official determinations.
| Holiday | Official timing | Days |
|---|---|---|
| Gregorian New Year | 1 January | 1 day |
| Eid Al Fitr | 1–3 Shawwal | 3 days; day 30 of Ramadan is added if Ramadan lasts 30 days |
| Arafah Day | 9 Dhul Hijjah | 1 day |
| Eid Al Adha | 10–12 Dhul Hijjah | 3 days |
| Hijri New Year | 1 Muharram | 1 day |
| Prophet’s Birthday | 12 Rabi’ Al Awal | 1 day |
| National Day | 2–3 December | 2 days |
What “basic wage” means
Under the federal Labour Law, basic wage is the wage stipulated in the employment contract for the work itself and does not include other allowances or in-kind benefits. “Wage” is broader and may include contractual cash allowances and certain benefits.
Because Article 28 uses the normal-day wage for the day and the basic wage for the minimum premium, using gross salary for both parts can produce an incorrect result.
Public Holiday vs. Standard Overtime
Public-holiday work has its own compensation rule in Article 28. It should not automatically be substituted with the standard overtime percentages that apply to additional working hours under other provisions of the Labour Law.
Review standard overtime rules →Working During Annual Leave or Another Leave
The official UAE Government guidance explains that if a private sector employee is required to work during a public holiday or leave day, Article 28 compensation applies. Separately, public holidays or agreed leave days that fall within annual leave are generally counted as part of that annual leave unless the employment contract or company policy provides more favourable terms.
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Sources were checked against the current official UAE materials available in August 2026. This page is informational and should not be treated as an official government determination of an employee's individual entitlement.