Working hours in the UAE

The government of the UAE has a set of established rules for the working hours of an adult in the UAE.

If you are working or plan to work in the UAE, it is important to now about the rules set by the government in terms of working hours. Here are some important points to keep note of:

Working hours

• The maximum normal hours shall be eight a day or 48 a week. The hours of work may be increased to nine hours a day in hotels, cafes, commercial establishments and any other operations where the increase of hours is authorized by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.

• The daily working hours can be reduced due to arduous and unhealthy operations by the order of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.

• The period where the worker is travelling between his/her home and place of work shall not be considered and included in the working hours.

• The normal hours of work should be reduced by two hours during the month of Ramadan.

• No worker should work for more than five consecutive hours without a break that includes rest, meals and prayer amounting in aggregate to not less than one hour. In the case that work is organized in the form of day and night shifts or in operations where continuous working is necessary for technical and economic reasons, breaks must be assigned in accordance to the terms set by the order of the minister.

Overtime laws

• When a worker is required to work over the required number of hours, any period worked in excess shall be treated as overtime, for which the worker should receive a compensation equal to that corresponding to the workers normal hours or work, plus a supplement of at least 25 percent of the remuneration.

• If a worker is required to work overtime between 9 p.m. and 4 a.m., he/she shall be entitled in respect of such overtime to the remuneration stipulated for his/her normal hours of work, plus a supplement of at least 50 percent of the remuneration.

Official leaves and rest days

Friday is a rest day for all workers in the UAE except daily wage workers.

If a worker is required to work on a Friday, they should be granted another day or receive a basic remuneration for his/her normal hours of work, plus a supplement of at least 50 percent of the remuneration.