UAE Overtime Pay Rules: What You're Owed for Extra Hours

June 29, 2026 · 1 min read · Employment & Gratuity

Working extra hours in the UAE comes with legally mandated premium pay — but the rate depends on when those hours fall, which trips a lot of employees up. Here's the breakdown.

Calculate your overtime pay

Enter your salary and hours to see what you're owed.

Use the tool

Two different premiums

Under Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, overtime is paid at:

25% above your normal hourly wage for extra hours worked during the day
50% above your normal hourly wage for extra hours worked between 9pm and 4am

Working out your hourly wage

Your hourly wage is generally derived from your basic monthly salary divided by the standard working days and hours in a month (commonly approximated as 30 days × 8 hours). Multiply that hourly figure by 1.25 or 1.5 depending on when the overtime falls, then by the number of extra hours worked.

Limits on overtime

The law also caps how much overtime an employer can require — generally no more than 2 extra hours per day, except in specific circumstances defined by the law. If you're regularly working far more than that, it's worth reviewing your contract and the relevant Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation guidance.

Frequently asked questions

Does overtime pay apply to all employees in the UAE?

Certain senior management and supervisory roles may be excluded from overtime entitlement under specific conditions in the law — check your contract and job classification.

Is Friday work automatically overtime?

Working on your official weekly rest day is generally compensated at a higher premium or with a substitute rest day plus pay, separate from the standard daily overtime rules.