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Normal hours and when overtime starts
The standard working day in the UAE private sector is eight hours, or 48 hours a week, under Article 17 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021. Anything above that is overtime, and it is capped at two extra hours a day unless the work is needed to prevent a serious loss or accident. The Executive Regulations add a ceiling of 144 hours in any three-week period. Some roles are exempt from overtime altogether: senior managers and supervisors, people whose contracts give them authority over staff, seafarers, and preparatory or supplementary workers. If that is you, the numbers here will not apply.
The 125% and 150% rates
Article 19 sets the pay. For ordinary overtime you receive your basic hourly wage plus 25 percent, which is the 125 percent rate. For overtime worked between 10pm and 4am the supplement rises to 50 percent, the 150 percent rate, unless you are a shift worker whose schedule already covers those hours. Work on your weekly rest day, under Article 21, entitles you to either a substitute day off or your basic hourly wage plus 50 percent. Your basic hourly wage is your monthly basic divided by 30 days and then by eight hours, which is the convention the calculator uses; on AED 6,000 basic that is AED 25 an hour, so ten ordinary overtime hours should appear as AED 312.50 on your payslip.
How to check your payslip
Overtime should appear as a separate line, not folded into a flat allowance. Keep a simple record of the hours you actually worked, including the start and finish times for anything after 10pm, because disputes usually come down to whose record is more credible. If your employer says overtime is included in your salary, that is only lawful if your contract states it clearly and the total still meets the legal minimum for the hours worked. Unpaid overtime is one of the most common MoHRE complaints, and the complaint is free to file.
Visa overstay fines
Separately from your pay, if your residence or visit visa expires and you stay past the grace period, the UAE charges a unified fine of AED 50 for every day of overstay, whatever the visa type. The grace period depends on your situation, typically 30 days after a residence visa is cancelled and shorter for visit visas, so the calculator asks for the days beyond your grace period rather than guessing it. Fines are paid at immigration or at the airport on departure, and unpaid fines can block a new visa. If you have just left a job, the 30-day window is the one to watch.