UAE Salary Per Day Calculator
Work out your daily and hourly wage from your monthly salary — useful for unpaid leave, deductions and overtime.
AED 0
Salary per calendar day (÷30 — UAE Labour Law method)
| Per working day | — |
| Per hour | — |
| Per week (approx.) | — |
| Per year | — |
Disclaimer: This calculator gives general estimates. Employers may use slightly different methods depending on your contract. For official deduction or leave-salary calculations, the UAE Labour Law 30-day method applies — confirm specifics with your HR department or MOHRE.
How Per-Day Salary Is Calculated in the UAE
“What is my salary per day?” sounds like a simple question, but in the UAE there are actually two correct answers, and knowing which one applies can save you from payroll disputes. This guide explains both methods, how unpaid leave deductions work, and how your hourly rate connects to overtime pay.
Method 1: The calendar-day method (÷30) — the legal standard
For most official calculations — unpaid leave deductions, leave salary, and end-of-service settlements — UAE payroll practice treats every month as 30 days, regardless of whether it is February or August:
Salary per day = Monthly salary ÷ 30
Example: Ahmed earns AED 6,000 per month. His per-day salary is 6,000 ÷ 30 = AED 200. If he takes 3 days of unpaid leave, his employer deducts 3 × 200 = AED 600 that month.
This is the figure our calculator shows as the main result, because it is the one used in deductions and settlements.
Method 2: The working-day method — your “real” daily earning
If you want to know what each day you actually work is worth, divide by the number of working days instead:
Salary per working day = Monthly salary ÷ (working days per week × 52 ÷ 12)
A 5-day week gives about 21.67 working days per month; a 6-day week gives 26. So Ahmed’s AED 6,000 salary is worth 6,000 ÷ 21.67 = AED 276.92 per working day on a 5-day schedule. This method is useful for freelance day-rate comparisons, costing projects, or deciding whether a job offer is competitive — but it is not what HR uses for deductions.
Your hourly rate
The UAE Labour Law sets normal working hours at 8 hours per day or 48 hours per week (reduced by 2 hours daily during Ramadan). Your basic hourly rate is simply your working-day rate divided by daily hours:
Per hour = Salary per working day ÷ 8
For Ahmed: 276.90 ÷ 8 ≈ AED 34.61 per hour.
Overtime rates — where the hourly rate matters
Overtime in the UAE is calculated on your basic salary hourly rate:
- Normal overtime: basic hourly rate + 25%.
- Overtime between 10 pm and 4 am: basic hourly rate + 50% (does not apply to shift workers).
- Working on your rest day: either a substitute rest day, or pay at basic hourly rate + 50%.
Overtime is generally capped at 2 hours per day. Note that some senior and managerial positions are excluded from overtime provisions.
Unpaid leave and salary deductions
When you take unpaid leave, the deduction uses the ÷30 method on your gross salary (basic + allowances), unless your contract says otherwise. Absence without approval can also be deducted the same way. If your payslip deduction looks wrong, recalculate it as: days absent × (monthly salary ÷ 30).
Gross vs basic — which number to divide?
- Use gross salary (basic + allowances) when calculating unpaid-leave deductions and your true daily cost of living.
- Use basic salary when calculating overtime and gratuity, because the law bases both on basic pay only.
Our calculator works with whichever figure you enter, so run it twice if you need both views.
Quick reference
| What you need | Formula |
|---|---|
| Per day (deductions, leave salary) | Monthly ÷ 30 |
| Per working day (5-day week) | Monthly ÷ 21.67 |
| Per hour | Per working day ÷ 8 |
| Normal overtime hour | Basic hourly × 1.25 |
| Night overtime hour (10pm–4am) | Basic hourly × 1.5 |
Frequently asked questions
Why does my company divide by 30 even in a 31-day month? Because UAE payroll practice standardises the month at 30 days for wage calculations. It works slightly in your favour in 31-day months and slightly against you in February — over a year it balances out.
Is Friday counted in unpaid leave deductions? If your unpaid leave spans your weekly rest days, employers commonly include them in the deduction period when they fall inside the leave block. Check your company policy, as practice varies.
My offer letter shows only a total salary. How do I know my basic? Ask HR for the salary breakdown before signing. The basic portion drives your gratuity and overtime, so a very low basic with high allowances reduces both. See our UAE Gratuity Calculator to understand the impact.
Do these calculations apply in free zones? Yes, in most free zones. DIFC and ADGM have their own employment regulations, so check your specific zone’s rules.
This guide is for general information only and is not legal advice. For disputes about wages or deductions, contact MOHRE on 600 590000.