What's new in UAE Labor Law (2025): Salary, Overtime and End-Off-Service Changes

2025-09-148 min read

What's new in UAE Labor Law (2025): Salary, Overtime and End-Off-Service Changes

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Learn UAE Labour Law Updates 2025 - Salary & Working Hours. Mentioned here are new labour laws and rules including end-of-service benefits, contract hours and minimum pay for expats in Dubai and other emirates.

Changes in UAE Labor Law 2025: Salary, Overtime and End-of-Serviceasyarak Inclusion

New Labour Law Changes in 2025 The UAE has announced major changes to the labor law that will have a direct impact on both employees and employers across the country.

Whether you are employed here in Dubai, in Abu Dhabi or elsewhere in the UAE  this changes how much money people will earn, how overtime is to be paid and also addresses end-of-service benefits for employees. Knowing these changes is important to keeping up with what kinds of benefits you can get and are there any compensation that rightfully belong to you.

Most staff seem to have difficulty with day of the week in Dubai labour law payroll regulations, for instance payment portions, time beyond regulation charges and gratuity deductions. Employers also have to tread carefully among these changes in order to avoid a legal slap and ensure employees continue trusting the company.

This post will take you through the UAE Labour Law Changes 2025  including salary bands, overtime payouts, end-of-service benefits and compliance to payroll. By the time you finish, you’ll have a strong understanding of how the new law impacts you  whether that means haggling over a contract, monitoring your pay stubs or tallying up your benefits.

UAE Labour Law Changes 2025 : Summary

UAE emulator!’ The UAE has been constantly modernising its labour laws to help ensure a transparent and equitable workplace for workers. The 2025 amendments consists of three categories or related pay increases; the first for wages, overtime, and end-of-service gratuities. These changes are to protect workers' rights, increase fairness and make it easier for employers to comply.

Payroll rules and regulations in Dubai have become more organized lately, where employers will be expected to issue clear salary statements and accurate calculations. Digitally held payroll records are recommended to promote transparency and minimize disagreements. Workers can now easily check their pay and employers face having to compensate employees for unpaid work.

Salary Changes Under UAE Labor Law 2025

Wages have been formalized in the UAE to a certain extent. The services’ 2025 updates define basic pay, including several pay increases and some provisions ensuring more transparency for servicemembers.If applicable, housing and travel allowances should be specified in the contract.

Employers are required to provide electronic pay slips which include all salary components including OT, allowances and deductions

This way workers can verify their earnings. This means that there are far fewer difficulties-to-understand pay issues and your workers can believe in what they are being paid.

So an AED10,000 a month employee might look like this for example :

  • Basic Salary: AED 6,000

  • Housing Allowance: AED 2,000

  • Transport Allowance: AED 1,000

  • Other Allowances: AED 1,000

“We don’t leave any dirham unturned; everything is by the books and in line with labor laws in the UAE.

The New Overtime Regulations: What You Need to Know

The overtime provisions of the new UAE Labor Law No. 14/2025 are now easier to understand. Workers who work over regular weekly hours must receive overtime pay at specific rates. Overtime is actually legislated (including night shift and weekend work), so it must be done.

Premium pay for overtime is reserved for full-time workers and certain job categories. [1] Employers are responsible for keeping detailed records of overtime, preferably using automated payroll solutions to maintain full transparency and legal conformity.

Workers must be vigilant to work up their time for this concept so that the proper wages are paid to them. This removes the uncertainty so workers know they can demand their hard-earned pay. The law will now offer employees protection while providing employers with a workable template for avoiding disputes.

End-of-Service Benefits Updates

Gratuity, or end-of-service benefits is an important part of UAE law. The 2025 amendments state that gratuity will be calculated based on period of service and final salary. Terminating, retiring, or resigning employees are eligible for a prorated portion of these benefits.

The arrangement also dictates what partial payments or early termination looks like. There is a process to calculate these properly that employers need to follow, and it can help to minimize conflicts.

For instance, if an employee serves three years in the company, then the end of service benefit calculation automatically calculates as per base salary and tenure. With digital records and clear messages, you can make sure that employees receive the benefits they expect without any confusion or delay.

Payroll Compliance and Dubai Labour Law Payroll Rules

The 2025 UAE labor law updates exert pressure on payroll compliance, and Dubai labour law payroll rules require precision and transparency. Companies must pay their employees through itemized, digital payslips indicating the basic salary, allowances, and deductions and overtimes payments.

Moreover, companies should account for legal audits and give their workers full visibility of their earnings. The digital approach has mutual benefits: employees feel comfortable about their compensation, while employers avoid penalties and maintain compliance. Employees should monitor their payslips and ask questions when any suspicious activity occurs. Structured payroll processes under clear communication lead to a satisfied workforce. 

How Technology Supports Payroll and Compliance

Employers can automate salary computation, overtime, and End of Benefits Service to avoid mistakes. Employees also can check online payslips and salary statements to verify every component of their payments. 

HR departments can also comply with labor legal requirements, reducing the risk of the law. The employees and the employers will benefit from the new statutory laws through transparency, accuracy, and confidence in the law. 

Impact on Employees and Employers

The employee will be treated fairly with transparent salary, defined overtime, and ESB entitlement. The employer will be able to comply with the law, hence less legal and increased workforce satisfaction. The reforms will increase the employee’s confidence in their employers, and employers will help maintain compliance. The 2025 law creates fairness and strength in the UAE job market that promotes economic growth.

Rights of Employees for Leaves and Working Hours

The UAE Labour Law Reforms 2025 have also further clarified employee leave and working hour entitlements. Annual leave, sick leave, maternity or paternity leave and the public holidays are the new defined things. The notice for applying leave and the hard copy or memorandum of instructions must be given to employees/ staff clearly to mitigate any unfairness.

The time we work is strictly controlled, and the requirements for a maximum number of weekly hours, as well as for breaks and days of break have now been made clear by the law.

Common Questions and Misunderstandings

Overtime, tips and wage law are subjects of many misconceptions.Some think that employers can arbitrarily lower the end-of-service benefit, or skip paying overtime wages, but this is clearly against the law.

Computerised payrolls are now compulsory to show transparency and there would be a lot more details of all components of salaries in the contract. The advice to staff is to check their contracts and keep an eye on pay slips and ask HR departments if they're unsure about any details. Knowing the law allows you not to fight and everyone gets what they are entitled to.

Tips for Negotiating Contracts under the New Law

Here are a few simple steps employers and employees can take to ensure they’re in compliance with the 2025 updates:

Check contracts of service to ensure remuneration, emolument and fringe benefits are properly stated.

  • Verify time and overtime to be properly compensated.

  • Use payslips in digital format and keep record of all the salaries.

  • Determine gratuity calculations based on length of service and final salary.

  • Go to the HR or legal counsel when you’re not sure.

Adhering to these ensure that the operations are in compliance with UAE labor law and employee job satisfaction is at its best.

Conclusion 

Workers who understand these changes have the best chance of getting every dirham they are entitled to, prevent disputes and make career decisions based on empowered choices. Benefits to the employer include clear payroll and pay policy, increased employee morale, reduced legal risk, etc. Keep informed, look at your contracts and welcome reforms that help keep you safe on the job.

FAQs

Q1: What are the key salary alterations, as per UAE labor law 2025?

Salaries will now have clearly defined basic pay, allowances and benefits on mandatory digital payslips.

Q2: How does the overtime work for employees in Dubai?

Overtime is any hours over and above the regular work week, and has extra pay for nights and weekends.

Q3: Can employers decrease end-of-service benefits?

No - gratuity is to be worked out on the basis of length of service and last basic without any conditional deduction.

Q4: Whay is Payroll compliance in UAE?

Employers must issue itemized, digital payslips and keep records for audits and employee verification.

Q5 : What do these changes mean for expatriates?

Expatriates now have a clearer set of rules on wages, overtime and end-of-service pay, with greater legal protection.