Since 1 June 2026, wages in UAE private-sector establishments registered with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) are due on the first day of each Gregorian month, for the previous month. Any payment after that date counts as a delay. This comes from MoHRE Ministerial Resolution No. 340 of 2026 on the Wage Protection System (WPS), which also sets MoHRE's steps against late payers. Workers can still file their own MoHRE complaint.
Who this guide is for
This guide is for employees whose salary is late or missing, working for private-sector companies registered with MoHRE. It is based on the resolution text published by MoHRE in English, Article 22 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 (the Labour Law) and Article 16 of Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022.
If your employer is registered in a free zone, the DIFC or ADGM, check with that authority which wage rules apply. Domestic workers are covered by Federal Decree-Law No. 9 of 2022.
What changed on 1 June 2026?
Ministerial Resolution No. 340 of 2026 was issued on 12 May 2026 and came into force on 1 June 2026. It repealed the earlier WPS resolution, No. 598 of 2022. Its main rules are:
- One due date. The first day of each Gregorian month is the due date for the previous month's wages. Paying after that date is a delay (Article 1(1)).
- Payment through WPS. Establishments must pay through the WPS or another system MoHRE approves, and prove payment when asked (Article 1(2) and (3)).
- The 85% threshold. An establishment is treated as compliant if it transfers at least 85% of total wages due by the due date. A worker who receives at least 85% is not treated as unpaid if the difference comes from lawful deductions. This does not affect the worker's right to claim any amount still owed (Article 2).
- The employer stays responsible. An establishment can appoint someone else to pay wages, but it remains responsible if they do not (Article 5).
In a statement on 4 June 2026, MoHRE said the decision formalises existing procedures and does not add new substantive obligations for employers. The underlying duty to pay wages on time comes from Article 22 of the Labour Law.
What MoHRE does on each day of delay
Annex No. 1 to the resolution lists these measures. Several of the later steps apply only in certain cases, such as repeat violations, larger workforces or listed sectors. As of September 2026, the steps are:
| Day after the due date | Measure in the resolution | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| From the due date | Electronic monitoring | All establishments |
| From day 2 | Notifications and alerts to pay | Establishments that have not paid |
| Day 5 | New work permits suspended, with a warning to the owner | Establishments that have not paid |
| Day 11 | Administrative fine under Cabinet Resolution No. 21 of 2020, and moving the establishment to the Third Category | Repeat violations within six months |
| Day 16 | Automatic registration of an individual or collective labour dispute for affected workers, and suspension of work permits | Establishments with 25 or more workers, or employers in listed sectors (such as construction, transport, security and cleaning) with 25 or more unpaid workers across their establishments |
| Day 21 | An executive instrument for wages (fewer than 50 workers) or a collective dispute (50 or more), precautionary attachment, a travel ban on the person in charge, and notice to the Public Prosecution where an establishment of more than 50 workers repeats the violation within two consecutive months | Mainly establishments with 50 or more workers or group-owned employers in listed sectors, or where there is a risk to labour market stability |
The resolution does not state fine amounts. It refers to Cabinet Resolution No. 21 of 2020, so do not rely on fine figures quoted online. Check the current amounts with MoHRE.
The resolution also lists workers excluded from WPS monitoring (Article 4). They include a worker whose wage claim is already with the court, a worker with an active absconding report, and a worker on approved unpaid leave.
Do I still need to file a complaint?
In most cases, yes. MoHRE's automatic steps are aimed at the employer, and the automatic dispute registration on day 16 covers only some establishments. Your own complaint protects your claim for the exact amounts you are owed.
MoHRE guidance and Ministerial Resolution No. 782 of 2023 refer to filing within 30 days of the breach. Complaints are free through the MoHRE app, website or 600590000. Our unpaid salary checklist explains how to prepare it. Note that some older pages, including guidance written before June 2026, describe a different grace period. The 1 June 2026 resolution now applies.
If an employer keeps breaching its obligations, Article 45(1) of the Labour Law lets a worker leave without notice and keep their end-of-service rights. The worker must first inform MoHRE at least 14 working days before leaving, and the employer must have failed to fix the breach after MoHRE notified it. Take advice before relying on this.
Step by step
- Check the date. On the 2nd of the month, check whether last month's full wage has reached your account.
- Compare the amount. If you received less, compare the shortfall with lawful deductions. Our guide on salary deductions lists them.
- Ask in writing. Email HR to ask when you will be paid and keep the reply.
- Keep working unless advised otherwise. Stopping work can create a claim against you.
- Build a record. The unpaid salary action plan helps you set out each month and amount.
- Get free advice. Call MoHRE's Labour Claims and Advisory Call Centre on 80084.
- File your complaint. Do this within 30 days of the breach, and diary the date with the legal deadline organiser.
- Follow the referral. If MoHRE refers the dispute to court, our guide on court referral next steps explains what to do.
Documents checklist
- Employment contract showing the agreed wage
- Payslips for recent months
- Bank statements showing the date and amount of each salary credit
- Emails or messages with the employer about the delay
- Your month-by-month table of amounts owed
- Emirates ID and passport copy
- Any MoHRE complaint number or SMS
Common mistakes
- Waiting for MoHRE to act for you. The automatic steps target employers. File your own complaint within the time allowed.
- Relying on old rules. Pages written before June 2026 may describe the old WPS resolution.
- Quoting fine figures from social media. The resolution does not list amounts.
- Accepting a part payment without a note. If you accept less, confirm in writing that the rest is still owed.
- Walking out without advice. Leaving without notice has strict conditions under Article 45.
When to speak to a licensed lawyer
Speak to a lawyer if several months are unpaid, if the company has closed or the owner has left, or if you plan to leave without notice. Our guide on a closed company and unpaid salary covers that situation. The free case check can help you set out the facts first, and CaseDaleel can introduce an independent licensed professional only if you choose.
Frequently asked questions
When must my UAE salary be paid?
Under Resolution 340 of 2026, wages for each month are due on the first day of the next Gregorian month.
Is there still a 15-day grace period?
The current resolution sets the first day of the month as the due date and treats any later payment as a delay.
What does the 85% rule mean for me?
Your employer is treated as compliant if it pays at least 85% on time, but you keep the right to claim any balance owed.
Can MoHRE put a travel ban on the company owner?
The resolution lists a travel ban on the person in charge as a day-21 measure in certain cases, applied by the authorities, not on a worker's request.
Do I still need to complain to MoHRE?
Usually yes, because automatic dispute registration covers only some establishments, and complaints should be filed within 30 days.
Does the rule apply in free zones?
It applies to establishments registered with MoHRE, so free-zone, DIFC and ADGM workers should check with their own authority.
Where can I read the resolution?
MoHRE publishes Resolution 340 of 2026 on its Wage Protection System page.
Official sources
- MoHRE — Ministerial Resolution No. 340 of 2026 concerning the Wage Protection System (PDF)
- MoHRE — Wages Protection System
- MoHRE — New Wage Protection System decision adopts a gradual approach (news, 4 June 2026)
- UAE Government portal — Payment of wages
- UAE Legislation — Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (Arabic)
General information, not legal advice. CaseDaleel is not a law firm.