How overtime is calculated in each country
| Country | Overtime hour | Night | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia (Art. 107) | Actual hourly wage + 50% of basic | No extra premium | Monthly ÷ 30 ÷ 8 |
| UAE (Art. 19) | Basic + 25% | +50% (10 pm–4 am) | Basic ÷ 30 ÷ 8 |
| Qatar (Art. 74) | Basic + 25% | +50% (9 pm–3 am) | Basic ÷ 30 ÷ 8 |
| Kuwait (Art. 66) | Full wage + 25% | No extra premium | Wage ÷ 26 ÷ 8 |
| Egypt (Art. 121) | Wage + 35% | +70% (sunset–sunrise) | Not set by the law |
Example from the Saudi Ministry of Human Resources guide
Actual wage SAR 6,000 and basic 4,000: actual hourly wage = 6,000 ÷ 30 ÷ 8 = 25, basic hourly wage = 4,000 ÷ 30 ÷ 8 = 16.67. An overtime hour = 25 + (16.67 × 50%) = SAR 33.33, so 10 hours = SAR 333.33.
UAE example
Basic salary AED 6,000: hourly wage = 6,000 ÷ 30 ÷ 8 = 25, overtime hour = 25 × 1.25 = AED 31.25, and at night 25 × 1.5 = AED 37.5. So 10 overtime hours, 2 of them at night = (8 × 31.25) + (2 × 37.5) = 250 + 75 = AED 325.
Egypt example
Wage EGP 9,000 with the hourly wage ÷ 30 ÷ 8 = 37.5: a daytime overtime hour = 37.5 × 1.35 = EGP 50.63 at least, and at night 37.5 × 1.7 = EGP 63.75.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is overtime based on the basic or the total wage?
It depends on the country: in the UAE and Qatar on the basic only, in Kuwait on the full wage, and in Saudi Arabia the hour itself uses the actual wage while the 50% premium uses the basic. Egypt’s new law does not say, so your contract and company rules decide.
Can my employer give me leave instead of pay?
In Saudi Arabia, yes, with your consent; in the UAE a rest day or holiday worked can be compensated with a substitute day. Otherwise overtime is paid in money.
Is there a limit on overtime?
Yes: 2 hours a day in the UAE; 2 hours a day and 180 hours a year in Kuwait; no more than 10 working hours a day in Qatar; and in Egypt a normal working day may not span more than 10 hours including breaks, and with overtime you may not be at work more than 12 hours a day.
What about end-of-service pay?
Use the end-of-service calculator for Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait or Qatar.
Sources
- Saudi Arabia: Ministry of Human Resources, Labour Law Article 107, and the awareness guide on employers’ and workers’ rights (2025).
- UAE: Federal Decree-Law 33 of 2021 and MOHRE.
- Qatar: Labour Law No. 14 of 2004 (Supreme Judicial Council).
- Kuwait: Private Sector Labour Law No. 6 of 2010 (Arabic).
- Egypt: Labour Law No. 14 of 2025 (Arabic).