Article 19 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 sets out how overtime works in the UAE private sector.
The rules
- Normal working hours are up to 8 a day or 48 a week.
- You can be asked to work up to 2 hours of overtime a day, except in cases the regulations allow.
- Overtime is paid on your basic wage plus at least 25%.
- Overtime between 10 pm and 4 am is paid on your basic wage plus at least 50%. Shift workers are treated differently.
- If you work on your rest day, you get another rest day, or the day's wage plus at least 50% of the basic wage.
Worked example
Basic salary AED 4,000. Hourly basic = 4,000 × 12 ÷ 365 ÷ 8 = AED 16.44.
- 10 hours normal overtime: 10 × 16.44 × 1.25 = AED 205.48
- 4 hours between 10 pm and 4 am: 4 × 16.44 × 1.5 = AED 98.63
Who is not covered
Some roles, including senior management and supervisory positions, are excluded from overtime pay by the Executive Regulations. Check your contract and job title.
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