What salary deductions are actually allowed under UAE labour law?

UAE labour law allows deductions from wages only in specific, defined circumstances rather than at the employer's discretion. Permitted categories typically include recovering a loan or advance the employer gave you (within limits and on agreed terms), recovering amounts paid to you by mistake, deductions required by law or a court or for contributions the law mandates, and recovering the cost of damage you are responsible for where the proper process is followed. Any deduction you have validly agreed to in writing may also apply, provided it does not breach the law. Crucially, the law caps the total proportion of your wage that can be deducted in a given period so you keep a basic livelihood — confirm the current limit with MOHRE. Deductions outside these grounds — arbitrary penalties, unexplained shortfalls, or charging you for the employer's own costs — are not lawful. Keep your contract and payslips so you can match every deduction to a valid reason. If a deduction does not fit, you can compare verified UAE employment lawyers on LEXAI before filing a MOHRE complaint.