UAE Overtime Calculator Widget
Calculate overtime under the UAE labour law: at least 25% on top of the basic hourly wage, 50% for hours between 10 pm and 4 am, and 50% for work on the rest day when no substitute day off is given - with the 2-hour daily limit stated.
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<iframe src="https://a2z.tools/embed/w/uae-overtime-calculator" title="UAE Overtime Calculator by A2Z Tools" width="100%" height="760" style="border:0;width:100%" loading="lazy" allow="clipboard-write"></iframe>
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<div data-a2z-widget="uae-overtime-calculator" data-height="760"></div> <script async src="https://a2z.tools/embed.js"></script>
Adds a small script (what it does) that sizes the widget to fit its content, loads it lazily and keeps it isolated from your page's CSS.
Works with
How it works
Article 19 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 sets overtime pay as the basic hourly wage plus at least 25%. Overtime between 10 pm and 4 am earns at least 50% on top, except for shift workers, and an employee who works on the weekly rest day is entitled to a substitute day off or the day's wage plus at least 50% of the basic wage. Overtime may not exceed two hours a day, and total hours may not exceed 144 in any three weeks. Because overtime is calculated on the basic wage - allowances are excluded - and the law does not fix how a monthly basic becomes an hourly rate, the widget asks for the basic hourly wage directly instead of assuming a divisor. The premiums are minimums; a contract or company policy can pay more.
Calculation method
- Normal overtime pay = basic hourly wage x 1.25 x hours
- Night overtime (10 pm - 4 am, not shift workers) = basic hourly wage x 1.5 x hours
- Rest-day work (no substitute day) = basic hourly wage x 1.5 x hours
- Limits: 2 overtime hours a day; 144 working hours in 3 weeks
Worked examples
Normal overtime
Inputs: Basic AED 50/hour; 10 hours
Result: AED 625
50 x 1.25 x 10.
Night overtime
Inputs: Basic AED 50/hour; 4 hours between 10 pm and 4 am
Result: AED 300
50 x 1.5 x 4.
Security guard on a rotating roster
Inputs: Shift worker; basic AED 25/hour; 6 hours between 10 pm and 4 am
Result: AED 187.50 at +25%
Shift workers do not get the 50% night premium: 25 x 1.25 x 6.
Hotel kitchen steward
Inputs: Basic AED 18/hour; 12 normal overtime hours in a week
Result: AED 270
18 x 1.25 x 12.
Statutory minimums only. Contracts, company policy and free-zone rules can give more.
Limitations
- Needs the basic hourly wage; how a monthly basic converts to an hourly rate depends on the contract.
- Sector exceptions set by Cabinet decision and free-zone employment regulations are not modelled.
- Public-holiday work is not covered.
- Compressed-week arrangements and flexible-hours contracts registered with MOHRE are outside its arithmetic.
Where publishers use it
- An HR policy page in a company handbook
- A payroll provider's help centre
- A workers' rights blog explaining the night premium
- An Arabic labour-law explainer
- A facilities-management company explaining overtime to cleaners and guards on rosters
- A hospitality group's staff handbook for banquet and kitchen teams
- A construction contractor's site office explaining weekend shifts to labourers
Questions
How is overtime paid in the UAE?
At least 25% above the basic hourly wage for normal overtime, and at least 50% above it for overtime between 10 pm and 4 am, under Article 19 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021.
Is overtime based on the basic or the total salary?
The basic wage. Allowances such as housing and transport are not part of the overtime base.
What about work on the rest day?
The employee gets a substitute day off, or the normal day's wage plus at least 50% of the basic wage for that day.
How many overtime hours are allowed?
No more than two hours a day, and total working hours may not exceed 144 in any three weeks, except in the cases the law allows.
How do I find my basic hourly wage?
Divide the monthly basic wage on your payslip by the normal hours your contract or roster sets for a month. The law does not fix that monthly figure, so use your own contract rather than a number from a website.
Is there a limit on overtime hours?
Yes: overtime may not exceed two hours a day, and total working hours may not exceed 144 in any three weeks, apart from the exceptions the Decree-Law allows for urgent work.
Do Emiratisation or MOHRE rules change overtime for nationals?
No. The overtime premiums in Federal Decree-Law 33/2021 apply equally to Emirati and expatriate private-sector workers registered with MOHRE; Emiratisation targets affect hiring quotas, not the 25% and 50% premiums.
Rules and official sources
Every legal or regulatory figure this widget uses is listed here, with the official page it was read from. The widget reads them from A2Z's rule file for United Arab Emirates; when a rule changes, the widget changes with it.
| Rule | Official source | In force from | Last verified | Next review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overtime pay Basic hourly wage + at least 25%; + at least 50% between 22:00 and 04:00 (not for shift workers); rest-day work earns a substitute day off or + at least 50% of the basic wage for that day. Overtime at most 2 hours a day; total hours at most 144 per 3 weeks. |
Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 (official text) UAE Legislation portal (uaelegislation.gov.ae) - Art. 19 |
2 Feb 2022 | 6 Oct 2026 | 4 Apr 2027 |
| Which entitlements use the basic wage Basic wage excludes allowances and in-kind benefits. Gratuity, overtime and the payout for unused leave on exit are all calculated on the basic wage. |
Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 (official text) UAE Legislation portal (uaelegislation.gov.ae) - FDL 33/2021 Art. 1 (Basic Wage), Art. 19(2), Art. 51(5); leave payout on exit: Cabinet Resolution 1/2022 Art. 19(2) |
2 Feb 2022 | 6 Oct 2026 | 4 Apr 2027 |
| Maximum normal working hours 8 hours a day or 48 hours a week; the Cabinet may vary this by sector. |
Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 (official text) UAE Legislation portal (uaelegislation.gov.ae) - Art. 17(1), 17(2) |
2 Feb 2022 | 6 Oct 2026 | 4 Apr 2027 |
Sources
- Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 (official text) - UAE Legislation portal (uaelegislation.gov.ae) . Art. 19. Verified 2026-10-06.
Cite or recommend this tool
If you reference this tool in an article, course or documentation, these formats are ready to copy. They are optional - nothing is added to your site unless you paste it.
A2Z Tools UAE Overtime Calculator https://a2z.tools/embed/uae-overtime-calculator
<a href="https://a2z.tools/embed/uae-overtime-calculator">A2Z Tools UAE Overtime Calculator</a>
[A2Z Tools UAE Overtime Calculator](https://a2z.tools/embed/uae-overtime-calculator)
UAE Overtime Calculator by A2Z Tools - https://a2z.tools/embed/uae-overtime-calculator
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