UAE Overtime Calculator
Updated November 2026 · Free · No sign-up
Calculate UAE overtime pay — the 125% standard rate, 150% for night hours (10 PM-4 AM), rest-day compensation, and the 2-hour daily cap the Labour Law sets.
Quick answer: UAE overtime = basic hourly rate + 25% (normal hours) or +50% for OT between 10 PM and 4 AM. Rest-day work earns a substitute day off or +50%. Hourly rate = basic ÷ 30 ÷ 8 — on AED 6,000 basic, an OT hour pays AED 31.25 (37.50 at night).
The Labour Law OT Rules (Arts. 17-19)
| Situation | Rate |
|---|---|
| OT beyond normal hours (8/day, 48/week) | Basic hourly +25% |
| OT falling 10 PM-4 AM (non-shift workers) | Basic hourly +50% |
| Working the weekly rest day | Substitute rest day OR basic hourly +50% |
| Daily cap | Max 2 OT hours/day except per regulated necessity |
| Hourly base | Basic ÷ 30 ÷ 8 (basic salary, not gross) |
| Ramadan | 2-hour daily reduction for those observing; OT math rides the reduced schedule |
Worked Examples
Example 1 — standard month. AED 6,000 basic → hourly 25.00. 10 normal OT hours × 31.25 = AED 312.50.
Example 2 — night work. Same 10 hours between 10 PM-4 AM: × 37.50 = AED 375 (shift workers on rotating schedules have carve-outs — check contracts).
Example 3 — Friday worker. 8 rest-day hours: substitute day off, or 8 × 37.50 = AED 300. The choice formally sits with the employer, but unpaid-and-unsubstituted rest days are MOHRE-claimable.
Who's Excluded
- Senior managerial/supervisory roles with hiring authority (Cabinet-resolution categories).
- Certain sectors with Ministry-approved alternative schedules.
- Free-zone contracts generally mirror these rules; DIFC/ADGM have their own employment laws with different OT positions (often none for professionals).
Claiming Unpaid OT
Keep your own hours log (apps, punch screenshots, duty rosters) — WPS salary records + rosters decide MOHRE cases. Claims reach back one year under the limitation period, so chronic unpaid OT should be raised early. Unpaid OT also belongs in the final settlement; departing is often when workers finally claim it.
Employer Notes
OT computes on BASIC (cheaper than gross — by design), but the 2-hour cap and the night band are compliance lines inspectors check. Common violations: flat "OT included in salary" clauses without identifiable OT compensation (void where they defeat the entitlement), and timesheets that stop at 8 hours while gate logs say otherwise. The gross-vs-basic structure of a package changes OT cost the same way it changes gratuity.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is overtime calculated in the UAE?
Basic hourly rate (basic ÷ 30 ÷ 8) + 25% for normal OT, +50% for OT between 10 PM-4 AM — capped at 2 OT hours/day except regulated cases.
What is the OT rate for working on my rest day?
A substitute rest day, or pay at basic hourly +50% — the employer chooses, but must provide one of the two.
Is UAE overtime on basic or gross salary?
Basic salary only — like gratuity and leave encashment, allowances are excluded from the OT base.
Who is not entitled to overtime in the UAE?
Senior managers/supervisors per the executive regulations, some sector schedules — and DIFC/ADGM professionals under those zones' own laws.
What is the maximum overtime in the UAE?
Two hours per day as the general cap; totals must keep within the law's working-hours protections.
How do I claim unpaid overtime?
Document hours (rosters, logs), raise internally, then MOHRE — claims look back up to a year, and unpaid OT belongs in your final settlement.
✓ Formula verified • Last updated: November 3, 2026