Monthly overtime allowance must not exceed 50% of basic salary or Dhs4,000, says UAE law

An employee who performs additional work beyond the official working hours will receive a cash allowance not exceeding 50 per cent of his basic salary and Dhs4,000 per month or will alternatively receive days added to his annual leave, according to article 42 of the executive regulations of law no. 8 for 2025 concerning human resources in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, issued by the Department of Government Enablement. He is entitled to one day for every eight hours of additional work.

The number of additional hours will be calculated after the employee has performed the working hours specified for him according to the work pattern assigned to him, provided that additional working hours per month will not exceed 80 working hours and four hours per day as a maximum.

Five conditions for entitlement to overtime pay

The executive regulations indicated that there are five conditions for the employee to be entitled to cash compensation or additional days for overtime work.

1. the employee must hold a position below supervisory positions.

2. the assignment must be issued in writing by the immediate supervisor who holds a supervisory position and must include the nature of the work to be performed by the employee and the number of working hours required to complete it.

3. the overtime work must not be part of the employee’s original duties that he performs during his original working hours.

4. the tasks assigned to the employee must not be the result of negligence or dereliction of duty on his part.

5. the overtime work assigned to the employee must be in accordance with the actual work needs.