Free tool
UAE overtime calculator
Enter your basic salary and overtime hours to see your overtime pay under the UAE Labour Law. Free, with no sign-up.
Basic salary only, without housing, transport or other allowances.
Normal working day
Extra hours on working days, outside 10pm–4am.
Extra hours between 10pm and 4am.
Unless you get another day off instead.
How it's worked out
- 1. Hourly basic pay: AED 6,000 ÷ 30 days ÷ 8 hours = AED 25.00
- 2. Overtime: 10 hours × AED 25.00 × 125% = AED 312.50
In short
In the UAE, overtime is paid on your basic salary's hourly rate plus at least 25%, or 50% between 10pm and 4am. Work on a rest day or public holiday earns another day off, or the day's pay plus at least 50%.
Updated
- Law
- Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Article 19
- Normal overtime
- +25% of hourly basic pay
- Night overtime
- +50%, 10pm to 4am
- Rest day or holiday
- A day off, or +50%
- Built into
- Leagrow Payroll
How UAE overtime is calculated.
The minimum overtime rates for private-sector employees, from the UAE Labour Law.
| Rule | Pay or limit |
|---|---|
| Hourly basic pay | Monthly basic salary ÷ 30 ÷ 8 hours |
| Overtime | Hourly basic pay + at least 25% |
| Night overtime (10pm–4am) | Hourly basic pay + at least 50%, except shift workers |
| Rest day | Another day off, or the day's pay + at least 50% |
| Public holiday | Another day off, or the day's pay + at least 50% |
| Most overtime a day | 2 hours |
| Most working hours | 144 hours every 3 weeks |
Source: Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Article 19, and Article 28 for public holidays. Checked . For official guidance, see MOHRE.
Overtime pay at common salaries.
Hourly overtime rates on an 8-hour day, and the pay for 10 hours of overtime.
| Basic salary | Hourly basic pay | Overtime hour | Night hour | 10 hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AED 3,000 | AED 12.50 | AED 15.63 | AED 18.75 | AED 156.25 |
| AED 5,000 | AED 20.83 | AED 26.04 | AED 31.25 | AED 260.42 |
| AED 8,000 | AED 33.33 | AED 41.67 | AED 50.00 | AED 416.67 |
| AED 10,000 | AED 41.67 | AED 52.08 | AED 62.50 | AED 520.83 |
| AED 15,000 | AED 62.50 | AED 78.13 | AED 93.75 | AED 781.25 |
| AED 20,000 | AED 83.33 | AED 104.17 | AED 125.00 | AED 1,041.67 |
Limits on overtime in the UAE.
Up to 2 extra hours a day
Overtime is usually capped at two hours a day. The law allows more only to prevent a serious accident or loss, or to deal with one.
144 hours every 3 weeks
Normal hours and overtime together can't go over 144 hours in any three weeks. A normal week is 48 hours.
Shift workers
The extra 50% for night overtime doesn't apply to shift workers. Their overtime at night is paid at the normal overtime rate, at least 25% extra.
Shorter days in Ramadan
Private sector working hours usually drop by two hours a day in Ramadan, and MOHRE announces it each year. Hours past the shorter day count as overtime.
Pay overtime right, every month.
Leagrow Payroll works out overtime from attendance and pays it in the UAE pay run. Free for up to 10 people.
- Overtime worked out from attendance records
- Your own overtime policy: rate, hours a day and daily caps
- Paid in the pay run, with a WPS SIF file
- Payslips that show the hours and the rate
Keep exploring
More for payroll in the UAE.
Questions, answered.
How is overtime calculated in the UAE?
Work out your hourly basic pay (monthly basic salary ÷ 30 ÷ 8), then pay each overtime hour at that rate plus at least 25%. Overtime between 10pm and 4am gets at least 50% extra, except for shift workers.
How much is 1 hour of overtime on a AED 10,000 salary?
AED 52.08. A basic salary of AED 10,000 is AED 41.67 an hour (10,000 ÷ 30 ÷ 8), plus 25%. Ten hours of overtime come to AED 520.83.
Is UAE overtime based on basic or total salary?
Basic salary. Housing, transport and other allowances don't count, unless your contract says otherwise. Use the basic salary on your contract or payslip.
What do I get for working on my day off?
Another day off, or that day's pay plus at least 50% of it. The same applies to public holidays.
How many hours of overtime are allowed in the UAE?
Usually up to 2 hours a day, and no more than 144 working hours in total every three weeks. The law allows more only to prevent or deal with a serious accident or loss.
Is this calculator official?
No. It's a free estimate from Leagrow at the minimum rates in Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Article 19, checked on 26 October 2026. Your contract or company policy may pay more. For official guidance, see MOHRE.
Can Leagrow work out overtime for my team?
Yes. Leagrow Payroll works out overtime from attendance with your overtime policy, and pays it in the next UAE pay run with a WPS SIF file. It's free for up to 10 people, then $1 per person per month.
Get started for free.
Free for up to 10 people in every product. No credit card, and no sales call to get started.