Know exactly when salaries must be paid through the Wage Protection System (WPS) to stay compliant with MOHRE. Avoid the AED 5,000 per-employee fine.
UAE salaries must be paid through the Wage Protection System (WPS) within 15 calendar days of the salary due date, so an end-of-month salary is due by the 15th of the next month. Missing the deadline risks an AED 5,000 fine per employee, then work-permit suspension after one month (MOHRE rules).
The Wage Protection System (WPS) is a mandatory electronic salary transfer system introduced by the UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE). It ensures employees receive their wages on time through an authorised financial institution.
Salaries must be uploaded to WPS within 15 calendar days from the date wages are due. For most companies that pay at the end of the month, this means the WPS deadline falls on the 15th of the following month.
| Salary due date | WPS deadline |
|---|---|
| 31 January (end of month) | 15 February |
| 28/29 February | 15 March |
| 31 March | 15 April |
| 25th of month (mid-month payday) | 9th of following month |
| Delay | Consequence |
|---|---|
| Salary overdue beyond WPS deadline | AED 5,000 fine per employee |
| Salary unpaid for 1 month after due date | Suspension of new and renewal work permits |
| Salary unpaid for 2+ months | Criminal referral; MOHRE may require company closure |
All private sector companies registered with MOHRE in the UAE mainland must comply. Companies inside Free Zones may be subject to the Free Zone authority's own WPS scheme; check with your specific free zone authority (e.g. JAFZA, DMCC, DIFC each have their own requirements).
WPS covers monthly salaries only. End-of-service gratuity is a separate obligation and is not processed through WPS; it must be paid directly to the employee upon leaving. However, consistent WPS history is checked by MOHRE in labour disputes including gratuity non-payment claims.
Employers must pay salaries through the Wage Protection System (WPS) within 15 calendar days of the salary due date. For salaries due at the end of the month, the WPS deadline is the 15th of the following month.
The MOHRE penalty is AED 5,000 per employee. If wages remain unpaid for one month, work-permit renewals are suspended; after two months, criminal referral and company-closure measures may follow.
All private-sector establishments registered with MOHRE in the UAE mainland must comply. Free Zone companies may follow their own authority’s scheme (e.g. JAFZA, DMCC, DIFC), so check your specific free zone.
A Salary Information File (SIF) is a structured text file in a MOHRE-specified format listing employee names, Emirates ID or Unified ID, bank details and salary amounts. Payroll software or your bank generates it automatically.
MOHRE guidance generally requires submission before the holiday. To be safe, process WPS at least 2–3 working days before the deadline.
No. The full contractual salary must be paid through WPS. Any amount below the contracted figure is flagged as a shortage and counts as non-compliance.
Yes. The 2022 Labour Law reform introduced formal part-time and flexible contracts; employees on all contract types must be paid through WPS.
If you miss the WPS deadline for 50 employees, the fine is AED 5,000 × 50 = AED 250,000, on top of possible work-permit suspension.
Last reviewed 2026-06-30. Wurxa keeps these tools aligned with current UAE Labour Law and MOHRE guidance. For binding advice on a specific case, consult a licensed UAE labour-law professional.
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