Work out what your employer owes you for overtime under the UAE Labour Law. Enter your basic salary and the extra hours you worked, plus any rest days or public holidays you worked without getting another day off. The calculator applies the 125% and 150% rates from Article 19 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 and shows each line of the sum.
UAE Overtime Rates at a Glance
The law sets minimums. Your contract or company policy can pay more, but never less:
| Type of extra work | Minimum pay | Salary base | Law |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overtime on a working day | Hourly rate + 25% (125%) | Basic salary | Article 19 |
| Overtime between 10 PM and 4 AM | Hourly rate + 50% (150%) | Basic salary | Article 19 (not for shift workers) |
| Working on your rest day | Another day off, OR the day’s pay + 50% of basic for that day | Day’s pay on remuneration, premium on basic | Article 19 |
| Working on a public holiday | Another day off for each holiday day, OR the day’s pay + 50% of basic for that day | Day’s pay on remuneration, premium on basic | Article 28 |
The hourly rate is your basic monthly salary divided by 30, then by 8. Article 67 fixes the month at 30 days for every calculation under the Labour Law, and Article 17 sets the normal working day at a maximum of 8 hours (48 hours a week).
Worked Examples
These match the examples in our guide to overtime calculation under UAE labour law. Totals are rounded only at the end.
| Situation | Calculation | Overtime pay |
|---|---|---|
| Basic AED 6,000, 10 regular overtime hours | AED 25.00 an hour × 125% × 10 | AED 312.50 |
| Basic AED 8,000, 6 hours between 10 PM and 4 AM | AED 33.33 an hour × 150% × 6 | AED 300.00 |
| Basic AED 5,000, one rest day worked, no day off in return | Day’s pay AED 166.67 + 50% of daily basic AED 83.33 | AED 250.00 |
| Basic AED 4,500, 2 overtime hours during Ramadan | AED 18.75 an hour × 125% × 2 | AED 46.88 |
The rest-day example assumes the day’s pay is worked out on basic salary, which is how many payrolls do it. Read literally, Article 19 pays that day’s remuneration (basic plus allowances, as defined in Article 1) plus 50% of the basic salary. If your total salary is higher than your basic, enter it in the calculator to see the larger figure.
Limits on Overtime
Your employer can ask for overtime, but within limits. Overtime may not exceed two hours a day, and total working hours may not exceed 144 every three weeks (Article 19). You cannot be made to work more than two consecutive rest days, except as a day worker. You also cannot work more than five consecutive hours without a break of at least one hour in total, which does not count as working time (Article 18).
The implementing regulation can allow longer hours in specific cases and exempts some categories of worker from the working-hours rules (Article 20). Our overtime guide covers those exemptions and the reduced working hours in Ramadan.
If Your Overtime Is Not Paid
Raise the missing amount with HR in writing first, attaching your own record of the dates and hours. If it is still not paid, you can file a complaint with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation; our guide to filing a MOHRE complaint for unpaid salary walks through it. Unpaid overtime also belongs in your end-of-service claim, which our final settlement calculator lets you add as “other pay owed”.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is overtime calculated in the UAE?
Divide your basic monthly salary by 30 and then by 8 to get your basic hourly rate. Regular overtime is paid at that rate plus at least 25% (125%), and overtime between 10 PM and 4 AM at plus at least 50% (150%), under Article 19 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021.
Is UAE overtime calculated on basic or gross salary?
Overtime hours are calculated on basic salary only; housing, transport and other allowances are left out. Rest days and public holidays worked are different: the law pays that day’s remuneration, which includes allowances, plus 50% of the basic salary for the day.
What is the maximum overtime allowed in the UAE?
Two hours a day, so no more than 10 working hours in a normal day, and total working hours may not exceed 144 every three weeks (Article 19). The implementing regulation allows exceptions, but any extra hours worked must still be paid.
What do I get for working on my day off in the UAE?
Your employer must either give you another day off or pay you that day’s wage plus at least 50% of your basic salary for the day (Article 19). It is one or the other, not both. The same rule applies to public holidays under Article 28.
Do shift workers get the night overtime rate?
No. Article 19 says the 50% premium for overtime between 10 PM and 4 AM does not apply to workers on a shift system. Their extra hours still earn the regular 25% premium.
Does the 30-day rule apply in a 31-day month?
Yes. Article 67 of the Labour Law fixes the month at 30 days for calculations under the law, so the daily rate is always basic salary divided by 30, whatever the calendar month.
Official Sources
Disclaimer: this calculator gives an estimate for general information only and is not legal advice. It covers private-sector employees under the federal Labour Law and does not apply in the DIFC or ADGM, to domestic workers or to categories exempted by the implementing regulation. Rules checked October 2026.