Three things decide your overtime pay
Every Gulf labour law builds overtime from the same three parts, but fills them in differently. First, an hourly rate: the monthly wage divided by the days in a month and the normal hours in a day. Saudi law says a month is 30 days unless the contract says otherwise, and Kuwait divides the salary by the days actually worked, so a six-day week gives about 26. The other four laws leave the divisor open, and 30 days is the common practice. Second, a premium on top of that rate, usually 25% for ordinary overtime and more for nights, rest days or holidays. Third, the wage the premium is measured on. That third point moves the result most, because allowances are often a third or more of a Gulf package.
Basic wage or total wage, country by country
The UAE, Qatar and Oman measure overtime on the basic wage, the contract salary without housing, transport and other allowances. Kuwait uses the normal wage, which its Article 55 defines to include allowances and other regular payments, and Bahrain's Article 54 uses the wage due, which its Article 1 also defines to include allowances. Saudi Arabia mixes the two: Article 107 pays the hourly wage, which under Article 2 means the actual wage with allowances, plus 50% of the basic hourly wage. That is why the calculator asks for a basic figure in some countries, a total figure in others and both for Saudi Arabia.
The same salary in six countries
Take a basic wage of 6,000 and a total wage of 9,000 in local currency, an 8-hour day and 10 hours of ordinary overtime in a month. In the UAE, Qatar and Oman the hourly basic rate is 6,000 รท 30 รท 8 = 25, so each overtime hour pays 31.25 and the month 312.50. In Saudi Arabia the actual hourly wage is 9,000 รท 30 รท 8 = 37.50; adding half the basic hourly rate (12.50) gives 50 an hour, or 500. Bahrain pays 37.50 + 25% = 46.875 an hour, or 468.75. Kuwait divides by 26 working days: 9,000 รท 26 รท 8 is about 43.27, plus 25% about 54.09, so roughly 540.87. Same pay packet, quite different overtime.
Nights, rest days and public holidays
Night premiums exist in four of the six laws and start at different hours: 10 pm to 4 am in the UAE, 9 pm to 3 am in Qatar, 9 pm to 5 am in Oman and 7 pm to 7 am in Bahrain, each at 50% where the law sets it. Saudi Arabia and Kuwait set no separate night rate. Work on a rest day or holiday is priced per day in most laws. The UAE adds at least 50% of the daily basic wage, Oman 100%, Bahrain 150% of the day's wage, Kuwait 50% on a rest day and double pay on an official holiday. Qatar pays a rest day at the basic wage plus at least 150%, while its holiday work follows the hourly overtime rule. In Saudi Arabia every hour worked on a holiday or Eid day counts as overtime. Several laws let the worker take another day off instead, and in Bahrain the worker chooses.
Ramadan and the limits on overtime
All six countries shorten the working day in Ramadan. Saudi Arabia, Oman and Bahrain set the shorter hours for Muslim workers: 6 a day and 36 a week in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, 6 a day and 30 a week in Oman. Qatar sets 6 a day and 36 a week, Kuwait 36 hours a week, and the UAE portal u.ae says hours fall by 2 a day. The laws also cap overtime: 2 hours a day in the UAE and Kuwait (with 180 hours a year in Kuwait), a 10-hour working day in Qatar and Bahrain, and 12 hours in all in Oman, where the worker must also agree. The calculator does not stop you entering more, but it reminds you of the limit for the country you choose.
Before you rely on the figure
The laws set minimums. A contract or company policy can pay more, for example overtime on the full wage in the UAE, and that higher rate then applies. Some workers fall outside the hours rules altogether, such as senior managers with employer powers, and domestic workers are covered by separate laws. Check the rules cards with the calculator for the exact articles behind each rate and the date we read them. If your UAE overtime is part of a wider question about your monthly pay, the UAE salary calculator on this site handles allowances, unpaid leave and pension in one place.