From 1 June 2026 the UAE salary cycle is governed by Ministry of Human Resources & Emiratisation (MOHRE) Ministerial Resolution No. 340 of 2026. It repeals Resolution No. 598 of 2022 and makes the Wage Protection System (WPS) rules noticeably stricter.
One due date: the 1st of the month
Wages for a calendar month must be paid no later than the 1st of the following month. Anything later officially counts as delayed. The old 15-day grace period is gone: the SIF file has to reach the bank in advance so that salaries land in employees' accounts by the 1st.
The 85% compliance threshold
An employer is deemed compliant when at least 85% of the total wage bill is transferred through WPS by the due date. A worker is deemed paid when they receive at least 85% of their entitled wage — provided the difference comes from lawful deductions (Art. 25 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33/2021). The worker keeps the right to claim the balance.
The sanctions calendar for late wages
| Day of month | MOHRE measure |
|---|---|
| from the 1st | electronic monitoring of wage payments |
| from the 3rd | notifications and warnings to the employer |
| from the 6th | suspension of new work permits |
| from the 12th | administrative fine and downgrade to category 3 — for a repeated violation within 6 months |
| from the 17th | automatic labour dispute registration (25+ workers; for construction, transport, security, cleaning and recruitment — counted across same-owner establishments) |
| from the 22nd | executive payment instrument or collective dispute, precautionary attachment of assets, travel ban for the person in charge, and referral to the Public Prosecution on repeat (50+ workers) |
Who is excluded from WPS
Article 4 takes out of WPS (for as long as the ground applies):
- workers with a wage claim referred to court — within the amount and period of the claim;
- workers with an active absconding report;
- workers whose liberty is restricted by the authorities (with MOHRE notified);
- workers on approved unpaid leave (with supporting documents);
- seafarers — upon the establishment's request;
- employees of foreign branches paid outside the UAE — upon request and approval;
- holders of mission work permits of up to 3 months;
- fishing boats and taxis owned by UAE citizens, banks and financial institutions, places of worship.
Wage payment may be delegated to a third party (Art. 5), but the employer remains responsible for paying on time.
What this means for an employer
- generate the SIF file at the end of the month and submit it to the bank before the 1st;
- make sure at least 85% of the wage bill goes out by the due date;
- mark Article 4 workers as excluded — WPS.guru has an "Excluded from WPS" flag in the employee card;
- switch reminders on: the service emails you on the 1st if the file is still missing, and again before the work permit block.
For reference only, not legal advice. Primary source: the official text of Resolution No. 340/2026 (PDF, MOHRE).