When is salary considered late?

The UAE government's private-sector guidance says wages are due from the first day of the month after the period specified in the contract. If no period is specified, an employee must be paid at least monthly. It states that an employer is considered late if payment is not made within the first 15 days after the due date, unless the contract establishes a shorter period.

Review the current official payment-of-wages guidance (opens in a new tab). The page also explains the Wage Protection System and links to salary-complaint routes.

Document the situation

Keep private copies of:

  • Employment contract and signed offer
  • Payslips and bank records showing expected and actual payment dates
  • Written messages about the delay
  • Attendance or work records
  • Any promise of a revised payment date

Do not store your only copies on a work device or work email account. Keep the record factual: amount due, contractual date, actual date and the employer's written explanation.

Ask in writing

A concise message creates a useful record:

“My salary for [pay period], due on [date], has not reached my account. Please confirm the amount outstanding and the payment date.”

Avoid accusations you cannot substantiate. If several payments are missing, list each separately.

Use the correct official route

For covered private-sector employment, the official UAE portal directs workers with salary concerns to MoHRE or its salary-complaint service. Employment categories and authorities differ, so confirm whether MoHRE, a free-zone authority or another body governs your contract.

If a dispute escalates, review the UAE government's labour-dispute guidance (opens in a new tab) and seek qualified help where needed. Do not resign impulsively or stop attending work based only on an online article; those steps can have contractual consequences.

Help others assess pay reliability

Payment timing is an important workplace condition. WorkHabibi publishes patterns only after enough people report them and does not display contributor names or exact dates.