UAE Labour Law · Article 74
What your overtime is actually worth
1.25× regular pay on weekdays, 1.5× on Fridays and public holidays. Calculate your overtime compensation in seconds.
Basic salary only (exclude allowances).
Exclude daily rest: 8-hour minimum rest between shifts.
Only hours on Friday or public holiday (1.5× rate); other hours are 1.25×.
Monthly overtime due
208 AED
How it works
The overtime formula
Daily working hours are 8. Your hourly rate = basic salary ÷ 30 days ÷ 8 hours. Any work beyond 8 hours in a day is overtime, paid at 1.25× on weekdays (Sat–Thu in the UAE) and 1.5× on Fridays and public holidays. Overtime must include a minimum 8-hour rest period between shifts. There is no maximum weekly limit, but the daily cap is 4 hours on regular work days and no limit on Friday/holidays.
Common questions
Overtime Q&A
Do I have to work overtime if my employer asks?
Generally yes, but only if you've had at least 8 hours of rest in the prior 24 hours. Your employer cannot work you continuously without rest. Refusal to work reasonable overtime (when properly rested) can be grounds for disciplinary action.
Is there a limit to how much overtime I can work in a week?
No fixed weekly cap, but the daily limit is 4 hours on normal days (and no limit on Friday/holidays). You must have a minimum 8-hour rest period between shifts — this is a hard legal requirement that overrides any overtime demand.
What if I work overtime but my employer doesn't pay?
File a wage claim at MOHRE (Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation) within one year of the unpaid hours. You can file online at mohre.gov.ae or via WhatsApp 600590000. MOHRE can order payment plus 10% penalty.
Does overtime count toward gratuity?
No — gratuity is based on basic salary only. Overtime is a separate, additional payment. Both are due, but gratuity calculations never include overtime or other variable pay.
What if my contract says overtime is included in my salary?
Unenforceable. UAE law requires separate payment for overtime at the rates above. Any contract clause that tries to bundle it into base pay is void, and you can still claim the proper overtime compensation.
The rates and the limits
What overtime is worth, and when it applies
Overtime rules sit in Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 and its executive regulations. They set both a premium on the hourly rate and a ceiling on how much overtime can be worked.
Standard hours first
Normal working time is eight hours a day or forty-eight hours a week. Anything beyond that, where properly authorised, is overtime. Working hours are reduced during Ramadan, which shifts the point at which overtime begins. See the Ramadan hours guide.
The premiums
| Ordinary overtime | 125% of the normal hourly rate, derived from basic salary. |
|---|---|
| Night hours | 150% where overtime falls between 10pm and 4am. This does not apply to workers on shift patterns. |
| Rest day | Work on a designated rest day earns either a compensatory day off or 150% of the normal rate. |
| Daily ceiling | Overtime should not exceed two hours a day other than in specific circumstances. |
Basic salary again
As with gratuity, the hourly rate is derived from basic salary rather than the total package. An employee on AED 20,000 gross with AED 12,000 basic has overtime calculated on the 12,000. This is the most common reason a calculated figure looks lower than expected.
Who is outside these rules
Certain senior and supervisory roles are excluded from the overtime provisions, on the reasoning that their hours are inherent to the position. Job title alone does not settle it; what matters is the actual nature of the role. Some free zones, notably DIFC and ADGM, operate their own employment regimes, and an employee under those rules should read their own regulations rather than the federal ones.
Getting paid for it
Overtime should appear on the payslip and flow through the Wage Protection System along with normal salary. Where it has been worked but not paid, the practical difficulty is usually evidence rather than entitlement, so keep your own record of hours. Unpaid overtime forms part of what is owed on exit, and the settlement calculator covers the full final figure. If it is refused, the route is a MOHRE complaint, set out in the labour law guide.
Common questions
What is the overtime rate in the UAE?
125% of the normal hourly rate for ordinary overtime, rising to 150% for overtime worked between 10pm and 4am. Work on a rest day earns either a compensatory day off or 150%.
How many hours can I be asked to work overtime?
Overtime should not exceed two hours per day other than in specific circumstances, on top of normal hours of eight per day or forty-eight per week.
Is overtime calculated on basic or total salary?
The hourly rate is derived from basic salary, not the total package, which is why calculated overtime is often lower than employees expect.
Is everyone entitled to overtime pay?
No. Certain senior and supervisory roles are excluded, based on the actual nature of the role rather than the job title. DIFC and ADGM operate separate employment regimes.