UAE Overtime Calculator
Calculate your overtime pay on the basic wage — instantly, per UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Article 19
Overtime calculator
Quick answer
In the UAE, overtime is paid on the basic wage only. Your basic hourly rate is basic monthly salary ÷ 30 ÷ your daily working hours. Daytime overtime is paid at 125% of that rate; overtime worked between 10 pm and 4 am is paid at 150%; and work on your weekly rest day or a public holiday is paid at 150% (or compensated with a day off). Normal hours are capped at 8 a day / 48 a week, and overtime should not exceed 2 hours a day.
At a glance
- Wage base
- Basic salary only
- Daytime overtime
- 125% (×1.25)
- Night (10pm–4am)
- 150% (×1.50)
- Rest day / holiday
- 150% or a day off
- Law
- Decree-Law 33/2021, Art. 19
How the hourly rate is derived
Overtime pay starts from your basic hourly rate. The widely used method — aligned with MOHRE practice — is: basic monthly salary ÷ 30 days ÷ your normal daily working hours. For an AED 6,000 basic salary on an 8-hour day, that is 6,000 ÷ 30 ÷ 8 = AED 25 per hour.
Only basic salary feeds this calculation. Housing, transport and other allowances are excluded from overtime, exactly as they are from gratuity.
The three overtime rates
- •Daytime overtime (beyond normal hours on a working day): the hourly rate + 25%, i.e. ×1.25.
- •Night overtime between 10:00 pm and 4:00 am: the hourly rate + 50%, i.e. ×1.50 (shift workers are an exception).
- •Weekly rest day or public holiday work: the hourly rate + 50% (×1.50), or the employer may grant a compensating day off instead.
How overtime pay is calculated
- 1
Find your hourly rate
Basic monthly salary ÷ 30 ÷ normal daily hours (usually 8).
- 2
Pick the right multiplier
1.25 for daytime overtime, 1.50 for night (10pm–4am) or rest-day/holiday work.
- 3
Multiply by hours
Hourly rate × multiplier × overtime hours for each category.
- 4
Add the categories
Sum daytime, night and rest-day overtime for your total overtime pay.
Worked examples
AED 6,000 basic, 3 daytime overtime hours
- Hourly: 6,000 ÷ 30 ÷ 8 = AED 25
- 25 × 1.25 × 3 = AED 93.75
AED 6,000 basic, 4 night hours (10pm–4am)
- Hourly: 6,000 ÷ 30 ÷ 8 = AED 25
- 25 × 1.50 × 4 = AED 150
Frequently asked questions
Is overtime calculated on basic or gross salary in the UAE?
On the basic wage only (Federal Decree-Law 33/2021, Art. 19). Housing, transport and other allowances are excluded from the overtime calculation.
What is the overtime rate in the UAE?
Daytime overtime is 125% of the basic hourly rate. Overtime between 10 pm and 4 am is 150%. Work on a weekly rest day or public holiday is 150%, or the employer grants a compensating day off.
How do I calculate my hourly rate for overtime?
Divide your basic monthly salary by 30, then by your normal daily working hours (usually 8). For example, AED 6,000 ÷ 30 ÷ 8 = AED 25 per hour.
How much overtime can I be asked to work?
Normal hours are capped at 8 a day or 48 a week, and overtime should not exceed 2 hours a day unless it is necessary to prevent a serious loss.
Is Friday or rest-day work paid extra?
Yes. Work on your weekly rest day is paid at 150% of the basic hourly rate, or the employer must give you another day off instead.
Does this overtime calculator apply in Dubai and the free zones?
Yes. The overtime rates in Federal Decree-Law 33/2021 apply through MOHRE across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and every emirate, and to most free zones. The two financial free zones — DIFC and ADGM — run their own employment laws and do not set the same statutory overtime premiums, so check your contract if you work there.
Need help managing EOSB for your team?
Get a free HR software recommendation from our partners.
No spam. Unsubscribe any time.