Working On UAE National Day? You Must Get Extra Pay Or A Day Off

If you’re arranging your December duty roster, don’t assume a public holiday automatically means a day away from work. You may be asked to work, but your employer must still provide the compensation required by UAE law.

The UAE Government’s official calendar lists National Day on December 2 and 3 for the public and private sectors. Under Article 28 of the UAE private-sector Labour Law, covered workers receive official public holidays with full pay.

Which Foreign Workers Are Covered

The entitlement applies to all workers covered by the UAE private-sector Labour Law. That includes foreign workers as well as UAE nationals, so your nationality does not reduce your holiday entitlement.

Federal and local government employees, armed forces, police and security personnel are governed separately. Domestic workers are also outside this private-sector law, even if they are foreign workers, and follow separate domestic-worker rules.

If you work for a private company covered by the Labour Law and do not work on an official public holiday, you should receive full pay for that day. It should not be treated as an unpaid absence.

If Your Employer Requires You to Work

For every public holiday day worked, the employer must provide one of these forms of compensation:

• Another day off for that holiday day worked.
• The wage payable for a normal working day, plus an increase of at least 50% of the basic wage for that day.

The cash calculation uses two parts. The first is your normal day’s wage. The second is an extra amount equal to at least half of your basic wage for that day.

For example, if your supervisor tells you to report for duty on both listed National Day holidays, ask in writing whether you will receive two substitute days or monetary compensation. Keep the reply rather than relying only on a verbal promise.

How Overtime Is Treated

Hours beyond your normal working hours are overtime. The ordinary minimum is the hourly basic wage plus at least 25%.

Overtime worked between 10pm and 4am attracts an increase of at least 50%, except for shift workers. However, the official rules do not expressly explain whether the Article 19 overtime increase and Article 28 public-holiday increase must be added together for the same hours.

If your holiday shift also runs beyond your normal hours, record your exact start time, finish time and breaks. Ask MoHRE how both provisions apply before calculating a combined claim.

Keep Records Before Raising a Complaint

Save your employment contract, duty rosters, attendance records, payslips, leave-system entries, messages and written instructions requiring you to work. These records can show the holiday dates worked, your hours and what the company paid or promised.

First, write to payroll or HR and clearly identify the holiday shift and the missing substitute day or payment. Keep a copy of that request and any response.

If the issue remains unresolved, you may complain through the MoHRE website, application or Labour Claims and Advisory Call Centre at 80084. You can also read more practical employment information in the Gulf job guides.

You are not automatically entitled to nine consecutive days off around National Day. Extra days depend on approved annual leave, weekly rest days and your duty roster, with annual leave dates arranged according to work requirements and agreement with the worker.

Before your next holiday shift, save the roster and ask HR in writing how you will be compensated.