Payment of salaries/wages

Report unpaid or delayed salaries

For any concerns or complaints regarding salary payment in the private sector, workers may contact Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) or register a salary complaint.

Wages are paid in accordance to Ministerial Resolution No. (340) of 2026 Concerning the Wage Protection System.

When should employers pay salaries?

All establishments registered with Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) must pay their employees’ wages on the due date through the ministry’s Wage Protection System (WPS). According to Ministerial Resolution No. 0340 of 2026 on the Wage Protection System (WPS) (PDF, 500KB) issued by Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, salaries for the previous month are due on the first day of each Gregorian month. Employers must transfer at least 85 per cent of the total wages due to their employees on time (where lawful deductions apply).

Measures for timely payment

The resolution sets out gradual measures for employers who delay salary payments. These begin from the second day after the due date and include electronic alerts, notifications, and continuous monitoring to encourage prompt payment of wages.

Minimum wages

There is no minimum salary stipulated in the UAE Labour Law. However, it includes general provisions requiring that wages must be sufficient to meet the basic needs of employees.

How should salaries/wages be paid?

Under the WPS, salaries of private sector employees will be transferred through banks, exchange houses or financial institutions authorised by the Central Bank of the UAE to provide the service.

The WPS was developed by the UAE Central Bank, enabling MoHRE to establish a database of wage payments in the private sector and monitor employers’ compliance with paying wages in full and on time.

Payment can be in Emirati Dirham, or in any other currency if it is agreed upon between both parties in the employment contract.

Penalties on companies for late or non-payment of salaries/wages

The table below lists penalties for companies failing to pay salaries/wages on the due dates:

Sr. No.	Timing of Procedure	Procedure	Targeted Establishments
1	Commencing from the due date and continuing until payment is proven	Electronic monitoring of the establishment to ensure its compliance with paying the wages of its workers.	All establishments.
2	Commencing from the second day following the due date and continuing until payment is proven or the next procedure is taken.	Sending notifications and alerts to non-compliant establishments to pay wages.	Non-compliant establishments.
3	On the 5th day following the due date.	Suspending the issuance of new work permits for the establishment, with notification to the owner of the reason for suspension and a warning to pay.	Non-compliant establishments.
4	On the 11th day following the due date.	Applying the administrative fine prescribed under the aforementioned Cabinet Resolution No. 21 of 2020 and reclassifying the establishment into the Third Category in accordance with the aforementioned Ministerial Resolution No. 209 of 2022.	Non-compliant establishments in the event of a repeated violation within six months.
5	On the 16th day following the due date.	Automatic registration of an individual or collective labour dispute for the affected workers, as the case may be. Suspending the issuance of work permits for the targeted establishments.	Non-compliant establishments employing twenty-five (25) workers or more in all sectors, as per the Ministry’s applicable regulations. Establishments owned by the same employer(s), where the total number of workers whose wages have not been paid in such establishments reaches twenty-five (25) workers or more, if the establishment’s activity falls within the sectors of construction, transport and storage, security services, cleaning services, recruitment agencies, or domestic worker recruitment offices.
6	On the 21st day following the due date.	Issuing an executive instrument for the payment of workers’ wages in establishments with fewer than fifty (50) workers, or initiating collective labour dispute registration procedures if the number of workers is fifty (50) or more. Initiating precautionary attachment procedures against the establishment. Imposing a travel ban on the person in charge of the establishment. Notifying the Public Prosecution and competent authorities, providing them with relevant information, documents, and data to take necessary legal action if the number of workers in the establishment exceeds fifty (50) workers, in the event of repeated violation within two consecutive months.	Non-compliant establishments employing fifty (50) workers or more shall be referred to the Public Prosecution in the event of repeated violation. Establishments owned by the same employer(s) (taking into account unity of ownership), where the total number of workers whose wages have not been paid in such establishments reaches fifty (50) workers or more, if the establishment’s activity falls within the sectors of construction, transport and storage, security services, cleaning services, recruitment agencies, or domestic worker recruitment offices. Where there exists a risk relating to the stability and regularity of the labour market, regardless of the size of the establishment.

Source: Ministerial Resolution No. (340) of 2026 Concerning the Wage Protection System.

Categories excluded from WPS compliance

The following categories of employees are excluded from the WPS:

those who filed a wage-related labour complaint that has been referred to the judiciary
those who have been reported absent as per a ‘work abandonment’ report
those whose freedom is restricted pursuant to an order or judgment issued by a competent authority, for the duration of such restriction during which work cannot be performed, provided that the ministry is notified and supporting documents are submitted in accordance with approved procedures, without prejudice to any wages or entitlements due to the worker
those who are on unpaid leave, provided that supporting documents are duly submitted to MoHRE
seafarers working on vessels, upon request by the establishment and in accordance with the ministry’s decision
foreign workers employed by foreign establishments or their branches within the UAE, who receive their wages outside the UAE, subject to the establishment’s request and the workers’ approval
workers holding mission work permits not exceeding three (3) months.

Additionally, the following categories of employers are excluded from the WPS compliance:

UAE nationals owning fishing boats
UAE nationals owning public taxis
banks and financial institutions
houses of worship.

*Text provided by MoHRE