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Overtime calculator for
UAE & GCC payroll

Enter a basic salary and the hours worked. The calculator applies the correct statutory premium for daytime, night, and rest-day overtime, and adjusts the threshold during Ramadan.

⚠️ Important — please read before using this figure

This calculator is provided for general guidance and estimation only. It applies statutory minimum formulas and does not constitute legal, tax, financial, or accounting advice. Statutory rates, ceilings, thresholds, and formulas are amended periodically in every GCC market, and your contract, entity, jurisdiction, and individual circumstances all change the outcome. Always cross-check any figure independently against the current law and your signed employment contract, and obtain advice from a qualified legal or payroll professional before acting on, communicating, paying, or relying on any amount shown here. AmalOps accepts no liability for any loss, claim, or dispute arising from use of this tool or reliance on its output.

Your details
Your contract and policy determine which applies. Basic is the statutory reference.
Outside standard hours, before 10pm — 25% premium.
50% premium.
50% premium, where a substitute rest day is not given.
Standard day drops from 8 to 6 hours, so the overtime threshold moves.
Overtime payable
Fill in the fields to calculate.
⚠️ Estimate only — cross-check before use. Statutory rates change and individual circumstances vary. This is not legal or financial advice. Verify against current law and the employment contract, and take professional advice before relying on, paying, or communicating this figure. AmalOps accepts no liability for reliance on this output.
How It Works

How UAE overtime
is calculated

Overtime is the most frequently miscalculated element of UAE payroll, and the reason is that three separate decisions are involved: what counts as overtime, what salary base the premium applies to, and what limits apply.

The premium rates

Under Federal Decree-Law 33/2021, the baseline overtime premium is 25% above the normal hourly wage. Where overtime falls between 10pm and 4am, the premium increases to 50%. Work performed on a designated rest day entitles the employee either to a substitute rest day or to a premium of 50%.

The hourly rate

The hourly rate is derived by dividing the monthly wage by 30 days and then by the standard daily hours. The calculator uses 8 hours normally and 6 during Ramadan, which is why the same hours produce a higher figure in Ramadan: contracted hours fall while monthly salary does not, so the derived hourly rate rises.

Which salary base

This is where most errors originate. The statutory reference is the employee’s wage as defined in law, and organisations differ on whether that means basic salary only or a broader base. Because basic salary is often around half of a GCC package, the choice can change the cost by a factor of two. Whatever position you take, it must match the contract and be applied consistently across the workforce.

Caps matter as much as rates

The law limits total working time including overtime, and exceeding the cap is a breach regardless of whether the employee consented or was paid correctly. Caps should be enforced at the approval step rather than reported after payment. For the full treatment, see our guide to overtime under UAE labour law.

Stop calculating this by hand

Overtime that calculates
itself, correctly

AmalOps applies named overtime rules per employee group, enforces daily caps at approval, and switches Ramadan hours automatically as a calendar event.

See AmalOps Payroll
Common Questions

Frequently asked
questions

What is the overtime rate in the UAE?+
The baseline premium is 25% above the normal hourly wage. Overtime worked between 10pm and 4am attracts 50%. Work on a designated rest day entitles the employee to either a substitute rest day or a 50% premium.
The statutory reference is the wage as defined in law, and in practice organisations apply either basic salary or a broader base depending on their contracts and policy. Because basic salary is frequently around half of a GCC package, the difference is substantial, so the position must be documented and applied consistently.
Working hours reduce by two hours during Ramadan, which moves the overtime threshold: a seven-hour day may generate overtime where it previously did not. Because monthly salary is unchanged while contracted hours fall, the derived hourly rate also rises.
Yes. Total working time including overtime is capped, with limits on hours in a given day and constraints on consecutive days of extended work. Exceeding the cap is a breach even where the employee agreed and was paid the correct premium.
Certain roles and sectors are subject to different arrangements by ministerial decision, and some senior or supervisory positions may be treated differently. Confirm the position for the specific role rather than assuming universal application.
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