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.
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.
A Salary Information File (SIF) is a structured text file in a MOHRE-specified format listing employee names, Emirates ID or Unified ID, bank account details, and salary amounts. Your payroll software or bank typically generates this automatically.
If the 15th falls on a weekend or public holiday, MOHRE guidance typically requires submission before the holiday. To be safe, always aim to process WPS at least 2–3 working days before the deadline.
No. The full contractual salary must be paid through WPS. Any amount below what the employment contract states is flagged as a shortage and counts as non-compliance.
Yes. The 2022 Labour Law reform introduced formal part-time and flexible work 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, in addition to possible work permit suspension.
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