The United Arab Emirates (UAE) labor law provides guidelines for standard working hours to ensure fair treatment for employees.

The standard workweek in the UAE is a maximum of 48 hours, typically translating to eight hours per day for six days, as per Federal Law No. 33 of 2021, Article 65.

There are exceptions and variations to these standard working hours. For instance, the UAE federal government follows a four-and-a-half-day workweek, with employees working eight hours from Monday to Thursday and four and a half hours on Fridays.

Working hours may also differ for certain industries. For example, some sectors like hospitality might allow for nine working hours per day.

During the holy month of Ramadan, working hours are reduced by two hours daily for all private sector employees, irrespective of the employee's religion.

The UAE weekend shifted from Friday-Saturday to Saturday-Sunday effective January 1, 2022.

In the UAE, the Labour Law (Federal Law No. 33 of 2021) provides guidelines for overtime work and compensation, ensuring the protection of employee rights.

Employers have the authority to request employees to work overtime, but the additional hours should not exceed two hours per day.

When employees work beyond standard hours, they are entitled to overtime pay. The calculation for regular overtime pay is as follows:

• Basic Salary x (12 / 365) x (Number of Overtime Hours) x 1.25 = Total Overtime Pay

This means that an employee receives their base salary for the regular working hours, with an additional 25% for each overtime hour.

There are also considerations for overtime work completed during specific times. The calculation for this type of overtime pay is:

• Basic Salary x (12 / 365) x (Number of Overtime Hours) x 1.50 = Total Overtime Pay

This results in a 50% increase in pay on top of the base salary for each overtime hour worked during these specific times.

However, shift workers, whose regular schedule includes these specific times, are exempt from the higher overtime pay provision. There's no minimum threshold for mandatory overtime hours mandated by law, but employers cannot exceed the two-hour daily limit.

If an employee works on their designated weekly rest day or a public holiday, they are entitled to either compensatory rest off for another full day or overtime pay calculated at the higher rate (150% of base salary per overtime hour).

It's important to consult the UAE Labour Law (Federal Law No. 33 of 2021) for comprehensive details and potential exceptions.

The UAE labor law places a high priority on worker well-being by mandating breaks during working hours. This is outlined in the Federal Law No. 33 of 2021 (UAE Labour Law):

Mandatory Breaks After Consecutive Work Hours

UAE law stipulates that employees cannot work for more than five consecutive hours without a break.

Minimum Break Duration

The combined duration of these breaks must be at least one hour.

Break Classification

The law doesn't specify how the one-hour break should be divided. This allows flexibility for breaks including:

• Meal breaks
• Rest periods
• Prayer breaks (for those who observe religious practices)

Employer Responsibility

The employer is obligated to ensure employees receive breaks as stipulated by law. Breaks are not counted as working hours.

Exceptions - Nature of Work

The Ministry of Labour can regulate break structures for specific industries with continuous work processes.

Key Points to Remember

• The UAE Labour Law prioritizes employee well-being by mandating breaks after a set period of continuous work.
• The law offers flexibility in how the one-hour break is structured to accommodate meal times, rest periods, and prayer breaks.
• Employers are responsible for ensuring employees receive breaks as mandated by law.

The UAE Labour Law (Federal Law No. 33 of 2021) recognizes the unique demands of night and weekend work. This law ensures fair treatment for employees who undertake these shifts.

Night shifts, although not specifically defined by the law, are commonly understood as work hours that fall between 10 pm and 4 am. Night shift work carries a higher overtime pay rate compared to regular hours. Employees working overtime during night shifts receive an additional 50% of their base salary for each overtime hour worked. However, the night/weekend overtime pay premium doesn't apply to employees whose regular work schedule already includes nights and weekends.

The UAE weekend officially falls on Saturday and Sunday. If an employee is required to work on their designated weekly rest day (typically Friday), they are entitled to either compensatory rest off for another full day or overtime pay calculated at the night/weekend rate (150% of base salary per overtime hour).

Employers have the authority to request overtime work, but it cannot exceed two hours per day, including nights and weekends. The Ministry of Labour can regulate specific industries with continuous night operations.