UAE Overtime Calculator
Calculate overtime pay in the UAE and Dubai from your basic salary and hours: normal, night (10 pm to 4 am), rest day and public holiday. Decree-Law 33 of 2021, Articles 19 and 28, checked October 2026.
- Basic hourly rate
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- Overtime (x1.25)
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- Night (x1.5)
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- Rest day or holiday
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Estimate only. Not legal advice. The rates are legal minimums, so your contract may pay more.
How to calculate overtime in the UAE
- Hourly wage = basic monthly salary ÷ 30 ÷ normal hours per day. The law bases overtime on the basic wage but gives no divisor; ÷ 30 is the usual convention.
- Normal overtime: hourly wage × 1.25 (at least 25% extra, Article 19(2)).
- 10 pm to 4 am: hourly wage × 1.5 (at least 50% extra, Article 19(3)). Shift workers excluded.
- Rest day: another rest day, or the day's full wage (with allowances) plus at least 50% of the basic wage for the day (Article 19(4)). With no allowances that is × 1.5.
- Official holiday: same rule (Article 28(2)). See the public holiday pay calculator.
Limits: 2 overtime hours a day and 144 working hours every 3 weeks, except to prevent serious loss or accident (Article 19(1)). Board members, supervisors with employer powers, sea crews and some shift work are exempt (Executive Regulations, Article 15).
- • Hourly rate: 6,000 ÷ 30 ÷ 8 = AED 25.00
- • 10 overtime hours: AED 312.50
- • 4 night hours: AED 150.00
- • 2 rest day hours: AED 75.00
With basic × 12 ÷ 365: AED 24.66 an hour, total AED 530.14. With allowances bringing the total wage to AED 9,000, each rest day hour pays AED 50.00 instead of AED 37.50.
Overtime calculation in Excel
Put basic salary in A2, normal hours per day in B2, overtime hours in C2, night hours in D2 and rest day hours in E2. The first two formulas assume no allowances; with allowances, use the last row for rest day hours.
| Result | Formula |
|---|---|
| Hourly wage | =A2/30/B2 |
| Overtime pay | =A2/30/B2*(C2*1.25+D2*1.5+E2*1.5) |
| Same, 12 ÷ 365 method | =A2*12/365/B2*(C2*1.25+D2*1.5+E2*1.5) |
| Rest day hours with total wage in F2 | =E2*(F2/30/B2+0.5*A2/30/B2) |
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate overtime in the UAE?expand_more
Hourly wage = basic monthly salary ÷ 30 ÷ normal hours per day. Multiply it by 1.25 for each normal overtime hour and by 1.5 for hours between 10 pm and 4 am (Decree-Law 33 of 2021, Article 19). Rest days and public holidays pay the full wage plus 50% of the basic (Articles 19(4) and 28(2)).
Is overtime paid on basic or total salary?expand_more
Normal and night overtime are on the basic wage (Article 19(2) and (3)). Work on a rest day or public holiday is different: you get the wage for that day, which includes allowances, plus at least 50% of the basic wage for the day (Articles 19(4) and 28(2)).
How many overtime hours are allowed?expand_more
Up to 2 hours a day, and no more than 144 working hours in total every 3 weeks, except to prevent serious loss or an accident (Article 19).
What is the overtime rate on a rest day or public holiday?expand_more
You get another rest day, or the day's full wage plus at least 50% of the day's basic wage (Article 19(4) for rest days, Article 28(2) for official holidays). With no allowances that is 1.5 times the basic. On a AED 6,000 basic and AED 9,000 total, a full 8-hour rest day pays AED 400.00.
Do I divide by 30 or use 12 ÷ 365?expand_more
The law gives no divisor. Dividing by 30 is common. Some payroll systems use basic × 12 ÷ 365, which pays slightly less: AED 24.66 an hour instead of AED 25.00 on a AED 6,000 basic. The calculator lets you choose.
Does Ramadan change overtime?expand_more
Normal working hours are cut by 2 hours in Ramadan (Executive Regulations, Article 15), so overtime starts 2 hours earlier.
Do shift workers get the night rate?expand_more
No. The 50% night rate excludes shift workers (Article 19(3)).
Source
UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations: Article 1 (wage and basic wage), Article 19 (overtime, night work and rest days) and Article 28 (official holidays), and the Executive Regulations (Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022), Article 15 (working hours and exemptions). The hourly divisor is a convention, not in the law, and Articles 19(4) and 28(2) are written per day, so pricing rest day work by the hour is our convention too. Always confirm with MOHRE or a qualified adviser. Checked against the official text in October 2026; the rest day and holiday rule re-read in the Arabic text on 24 October 2026.
Read the official text:Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 (UAE Legislation portal) · Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022, Executive Regulations (UAE Legislation portal)