In most cases, employees want to know about the working hours in the UAE. Both managers and HR professionals must know these rules to ensure compliance.
As from 2025, UAE rreplaced Federal Law No. 8 of 1980 and adopted the Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 which updated the country’s labor rules in the UAE.
Furthermore, with this , the new law clearly defines rules about private-sector employee’s working hours, when they need breaks, their overtime pay, and shifts on weekends.
Thus, this blog provides all the important details about working hours in the UAE.
Rules on Working Hours in UAE
Article 17 of the UAE Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33):
- Most private sector employees work 8 hours daily or 48 hours every week.
- For the hospitality, trading, and security sectors, employees work 9 hours a day.
- Also, in risky or hazardous occupations, employees work lesser hours.
- Although the law sets maximum working hours in UAE , individual company schedules may be different. In the UAE private sector, the normal workday goes from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, including short breaks.
Rest periods, Meals and Prayers
In addition, as stated in Article 18 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33, labour law in UAE the law requires all employers to provide appropriate rest periods during their working hours in the UAE.
According to regulations, this is how breaks are handled:
- Firstly, employees can work for 5 hours or more without getting some time off for meals or rest.
- Furthermore, the minimum break time is 1 hour without exceptions.
- Breaks don’t count as part of an employee’s working hours in the UAE unless they are free during that time.
- Thus, working positions that require shifts or all-day work may follow breaks different from the MOHRE’s standards.
Overtime Policy in UAE
As Article 19 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 states, UAE Labour Law describes exactly when employers require overtime and how they must pay for it.
The main overtime regulations in the UAE are explained here:
- If an employee’s working hours in the UAE is for a longer day or more than 48 hours a week, they are eligible for extra payment due to overtime.
- In addition, for working so many hours, the employeers should pay employees their usual pay along with a minimum of 25% more.
- Moreover, if a person works overtime from 10:00 PM to 4:00 AM, the pay rises. Thus, the employee gets their standard wage along with at least 50%, but not if they are working at night.
- Yet, employees have to consider that they should already be back home within two hours a day, unless otherwise needed to keep serious loss or accidents from happening.
There are also some other guidelines to keep in mind:
- Before doing overtime, the employer should approve it and supervise the employees.
- Therefore, the employer must always show extra overtime compensation on the employee’s monthly pay statement.
- Above all, according to UAE Labour law, penalties may be imposed on employers if they violate overtime regulations.
Rest Day Policy in UAE
Employers must provide at least one rest day to all the employees.
- UAE had moved its Friday-Saturday weekend to Saturday-Sunday weekend. This reform came on January 1, 2022.
- Working hours in UAE for public sector employees now start at 7:30 am and run till 3:30 pm on Friday.
- This change increased productivity by 88% in all government agencies.
Public holidays in UAE
he UAE Labour Law clearly defines rules about working on public holidays in the UAE.
- Article 74 of UAE Labour Law guarantees employees leaves with full pay on account of public holidays
In addition, Article 81 states that if under any circumstances employees had to work on public holidays they would receive:
- Employers must provide substitute leave and 50% of the daily wage
- Or, the payment of 150% of their daily wage
Find out more on public holidays in UAE.
Annual Leave Policy in UAE
In UAE, employees are given clear working hours and the Labour Law provides clear rules for employee’s annual leave to benefit their well-being and help them balance their work and personal lives.
Moreover, here are Special Provisions Relating to Annual Leave:
- An employee who has served for 1 year or more gets 30 days of annual leave. Employees who have completed 6 months up to a year are allowed 2 days of leave every month.
According to Article 29, employees are allowed to receive:
- They receive, to begin with, a basic salary.
- Any housing allowance and the leave pay.
Additional Leave Guidelines:
- Employees are allowed to carry forward their annual leave for the next year with the employer’s consent, but they must use it within 2 years.
- Employers must get an employee’s consent to carry forward their remaining annual leave for more than 2 years.
- Sometimes, in rare cases, a company may ask employees to work even during their leave days, but they must ensure fairness through either extra pay or another time off in return.
Compassionate Leave Policy
The UAE Labour Law does not entitle employees to get compassionate leaves for the death of family members.
Therefore, those workers who are working in the private sector, employers decide whether to grant such leave in the private sector. Additionally, employers can count compassionate leave as part of their annual leave.
Hajj Leave Policy
Muslims perform the annual pilgrimage of Hajj to Mecca. Moreover, Hajj represents one of the five pillars of Islam. It is a mandatory religious duty of all Muslims working in the UAE.
Overall , people who are financially and physically capable must carry out this sacred duty at least once in a lifetime. Thus, UAE Labour Law grants employees 30 days of unpaid leave for Hajj..
How Zimyo Helps in Compliance
Taking care of employees’ working hours, overtime, leave policies, and compliance with changes in the UAE Labour Law can appear difficult, though it really doesn’t have to be.
Using the all-in-one HRMS from Zimyo, businesses enjoy many useful features:
- Maintain proper records of how much time each worker works and in what shifts.
- Follow the laws of the UAE by setting up automation for overtime and leave hours.
- It’s easy to make payroll and payslips that comply with the law using this platform.
- Employees can review their available leave and schedule it.
- Remain compliance to new and evolved laws and rules to avoid disputes.
From managing a startup to directing employees in the UAE, Zimyo has got everyone up-to-date, efficient, and employee-friendly all the time.
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Conclusion
Everyone interested in joining the Emirates workforce should learn about the rights and responsibilities connected to their working hours in the UAE. According to the UAE Labour Law, employers treat employees fairly and companies continue to operate without issue during non-working hours.
FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions)
When are the permissible employee working hours in the UAE according to the law?
UAE’s Labour Law states that their working hours in the UAE should not work more than 8 hours per day or 48 hours per week. In some cases, like hospitality, workers may have to put in 9 hours.
Is Friday viewed as a weekend in the UAE?
No. Starting from January 1, 2022, the UAE made the weekends for its public sector employees Saturday and Sunday. Private companies have started using this method too.
What procedure is used to calculate overtime in the UAE?
Any worker who works over their normal schedule gets the standard hourly wage plus 25% more. During the times of 10 PM to 4 AM, an employee can receive extra pay of 50% unless they’re on shift duties.
Are employees allowed breaks in their daily working hours in the UAE?
Alternative system hours do not include breaks for rest, meals, or prayers (after working 5 hours in a row).
Can annual lleaves in UAE be carried over to the following year?
Yes. An employee is allowed to keep their annual leave from one year until the next with their employer’s consent, but it should be used in the next two years.
