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How do I work out my hourly rate for overtime on a monthly salary in the UAE?

Asked by Anonymous·Jun 26, 2026·1 answers
I'm paid monthly and want to understand how my overtime hourly rate is derived.

This answer is AI-generated and editorially reviewed. It is general legal information, not legal advice — verify anything you act on with a licensed UAE lawyer. How LEXAI uses AI

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LEXAI

Editorially reviewed by LEXAI

Jun 26, 2026
When you are paid a monthly salary, overtime under the UAE Labour Law is calculated by first converting your wage to an hourly rate, then applying the overtime premium the law provides for the relevant hours. The starting point is your basic wage rather than necessarily your full gross package including all allowances, because overtime is generally calculated on the wage as defined by the law. From the monthly basic wage you derive a daily and then an hourly figure based on your normal working hours, and the overtime hours are paid at that hourly rate plus the statutory uplift, with a higher uplift for night hours and specific treatment for rest-day work. Because the precise definition of which wage components count, and the uplift percentages, are set by the Decree-Law and its executive regulations, confirm the exact method with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation before relying on a figure. If your employer's overtime calculation looks wrong, you can raise it with MOHRE. You can also compare verified UAE legal professionals on LEXAI to check your entitlement.
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