UAE Salary Deduction Calculator
Enter what your employer deducts this month and see whether each deduction, and the total, is within the legal limits. Decree-Law 33 of 2021, Article 25, checked October 2026.
- Total deducted
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- Most that may be deducted
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- 50% limit
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- Pay left after deductions
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Estimate only. Not legal advice. If a deduction looks unlawful, raise it with your employer first, then with MOHRE. To see your net pay for the month, use the payroll calculator.
The 8 deductions allowed by UAE labour law
Article 25(1) says no amount may be deducted from the wage except in these cases. Article 25(2) adds that the total of several deductions may never exceed 50% of the wage.
| Clause | Reason | Limit on AED 10,000 |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | Loan repayment, written consent, no interest | Within the 50% total |
| (b) | Overpaid amounts | 20%: AED 2,000 |
| (c) | Pension, social security and insurance contributions | As the law on them sets |
| (d) | Savings fund approved by the Ministry | Within the 50% total |
| (e) | Welfare scheme you agreed to in writing | Within the 50% total |
| (f) | Fines under the approved sanctions list | 5%: AED 500 |
| (g) | Court-ordered debts | A quarter: AED 2,500 (alimony may be more) |
| (h) | Damage caused by your fault | 5 days' wage: AED 1,666.67 a month |
A AED 3,000 loan repayment, AED 1,500 of overpaid salary and AED 1,100 of pension contributions are each within their own limit, but together they make AED 5,600.00. That is AED 600.00 over the 50% limit of AED 5,000.00.
The day's wage for the damage limit is monthly wage ÷ 30, the usual convention; the law does not give a divisor.
Frequently asked questions
What can an employer deduct from salary in the UAE?expand_more
Only the eight cases in Article 25: loan repayments, overpaid amounts, pension and insurance contributions, savings fund payments, welfare scheme instalments, fines under the approved sanctions list, court-ordered debts and damage you caused. Nothing else may be deducted.
What is the maximum salary deduction in the UAE?expand_more
When there is more than one deduction, the total can never be more than 50% of the wage (Article 25(2)). Some reasons also have their own lower limit, such as 20% for overpaid amounts and 5% for fines.
Can my employer deduct for damage I caused?expand_more
Only if the damage came from your fault or from breaking the employer's instructions, and at most 5 days' wage a month. Anything more needs the approval of the competent court (Article 25(1)(h)).
Can my employer charge interest on a salary advance or loan?expand_more
No. Loan repayments may be deducted only with your written consent and without any interest (Article 25(1)(a)).
Is the limit based on basic or total salary?expand_more
Article 25 refers to the wage, which the law defines as the basic wage plus allowances (Article 1). This calculator uses your total monthly wage.
Can unpaid leave or absence be called a deduction?expand_more
No. Pay for days not worked is simply not due: unpaid leave (Article 33) and absence after leave (Article 34). Those days are not limited by Article 25. Use the unpaid leave calculator for them.
Source
UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations: Article 25 (cases of deduction from the worker's wage) and Article 1 (definition of wage). The monthly-to-daily divisor is a convention, not in the law. Always confirm with MOHRE or a qualified adviser. Checked against the official text in October 2026.
Read the official text:Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 (UAE Legislation portal)