UAE Basic Salary Calculator
Work out your basic salary, housing and transport from your total package. No UAE law sets the basic salary percentage; your contract does. Your basic decides your gratuity, overtime, job loss insurance and leave cash-out.
- Housing
- AED 3,000.00
- Transport
- AED 1,000.00
- Other allowances
- AED 1,000.00 (10%)
- Daily wage (total / basic)
- 333.33 / 166.67
- Hourly wage (total / basic)
- 41.67 / 20.83
What this basic salary pays
- Gratuity after 5 years: AED 17,500.00
- Gratuity after 10 years: AED 42,500.00
- Job loss insurance (ILOE): AED 3,000.00 a month
- Overtime per hour: AED 26.04 (normal day), AED 31.25 (night)
- Rest day or holiday per hour: AED 52.08 (full wage + 50% of basic)
- Unused leave: AED 166.67 a day, AED 5,000.00 for 30 days
Illustration only. Your contract sets your real split. Use the amounts from your contract or payslip for the other calculators. To work out a month's net pay, use the payroll calculator.
What percentage of salary is basic in the UAE?
No law sets it; your contract does. Decree-Law 33 of 2021 defines the basic wage as the wage in the contract, without allowances (Article 1), and no article sets a minimum share. Salary guides usually quote 40% to 60% of the package. On the same package, the share changes what you are paid.
On a package of AED a month (AED)
| Basic share | 40% | 50% | 60% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic salary | 4,000 | 5,000 | 6,000 |
| Gratuity after 5 years | 14,000 | 17,500 | 21,000 |
| Overtime an hour | 20.83 | 26.04 | 31.25 |
| ILOE a month | 2,400 | 3,000 | 3,600 |
| Unused leave on exit, a day | 133.33 | 166.67 | 200 |
| Sick leave, a full-pay day | 333.33 | 333.33 | 333.33 |
Gratuity: foreign workers with a year or more of service (Article 51). ILOE: after 12 months subscribed, not on resignation. Sick leave uses the full wage, so it stays the same.
How to calculate your basic salary
- Check your contract. It must state the wage with its benefits and allowances (Executive Regulations, Article 10). Your payslip usually shows the basic too.
- From a percentage: basic = total package × basic %. AED 10,000 × 50% = AED 5,000.
- From the allowances: basic = total − housing − transport − other allowances. AED 10,000 − 3,000 − 1,000 − 1,000 = AED 5,000.
- Daily basic: basic ÷ 30 = AED 166.67. The law does not give the divisor; 30 is the usual convention.
What uses basic salary and what uses the full wage
| Payment | Based on | Law |
|---|---|---|
| End of service gratuity (foreign workers) | Last basic wage | Article 51 |
| Overtime | Basic wage | Article 19 |
| Job loss insurance (ILOE) | 60% of the average basic salary of the last 6 months | Ministerial Resolution 604 of 2022, Article 7 |
| Unused annual leave on exit | Basic salary | Exec. Regs Article 19 |
| Annual leave you take | Full wage | Articles 1 and 29 |
| Sick leave | Full wage: 15 days full pay, 30 days half pay | Article 31 |
| Notice allowance | Last wage received (basic plus cash allowances) | Articles 1 and 43 |
| Working a rest day or public holiday | Full wage for the day plus 50% of the basic | Articles 19 and 28 |
Use your figures in the gratuity, overtime, ILOE, leave salary, sick leave and notice period calculators. Renting in Dubai? Check the rent increase calculator before you renew. Planning a loan? See what instalment fits your salary with the EMI calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What percentage of salary is basic in the UAE?expand_more
No law sets it; your contract does. Salary guides usually quote 40% to 60% of the package. A higher basic raises your gratuity, overtime, job loss insurance payout and leave cash-out.
How do I calculate my basic salary?expand_more
Multiply your total package by the basic percentage in your contract, or subtract the allowances from the total. AED 12,000 at 60% basic is AED 7,200.
Where can I find my basic salary?expand_more
In your employment contract, which must state the wage with its benefits and allowances (Executive Regulations, Article 10). Payslips and HR records usually show it too.
What does my basic salary affect?expand_more
Gratuity, on your last basic wage (Article 51); overtime (Article 19); job loss insurance, 60% of your basic (Ministerial Resolution 604 of 2022, Article 7); and unused leave paid when you leave (Executive Regulations, Article 19).
What uses my total salary instead?expand_more
Sick leave (Article 31), annual leave you take (Article 29), the notice allowance (Article 43) and the day’s pay for working a holiday (Article 28). The law defines wage as basic plus cash allowances (Article 1).
How are the daily and hourly wages worked out?expand_more
Daily wage = monthly amount ÷ 30. Hourly wage = daily wage ÷ normal working hours a day. The law does not give these divisors; this is the usual convention.
Source
UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021: Article 1 (wage and basic wage), Articles 19 and 28 (overtime, rest days and holidays), 29 (annual leave), 31 (sick leave), 43 (notice) and 51 (gratuity); the Executive Regulations (Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022), Articles 10 (contract) and 19 (leave); Ministerial Resolution No. 604 of 2022, Article 7 (job loss insurance). No article sets a split between basic salary and allowances. Checked against the official text on 7 November 2026 (ILOE resolution: 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) · Ministerial Resolution No. 604 of 2022 on the Unemployment Insurance Scheme (Arabic, PDF)