Security guards often work more than the legally permitted number of hours. All employers who insist that employees work excess hours are breaking the law. Pawan Singh / The National
Security guards often work more than the legally permitted number of hours. All employers who insist that employees work excess hours are breaking the law. Pawan Singh / The National
Security guards often work more than the legally permitted number of hours. All employers who insist that employees work excess hours are breaking the law. Pawan Singh / The National
Security guards often work more than the legally permitted number of hours. All employers who insist that employees work excess hours are breaking the law. Pawan Singh / The National

Ramadan 2022: ‘Am I entitled to overtime pay during the holy month?’


  • English
  • Arabic

I work as a security guard for a large company. Despite working 12 hours a day during Ramadan, I am not being paid extra for working overtime.

Can I ask the management of my company to pay me overtime during the holy month? RP, Dubai

RP works for a large private company that should be aware of the labour rules and working hours during Ramadan.

These rules apply to all employees and, as explained in a previous column, the law states that all employees should work two hours a day less during the holy month.

Federal Law 33 of 2021, known as the new Labour Law, which came into effect on February 2, states in Article 17: “The maximum normal working hours for workers shall be eight hours per day, or 48 hours per week.”

The Labour Law also specifies the overtime limits and payment rates.

The rules regarding overtime also apply during Ramadan, so if staff are asked to work longer hours than are normal during this month, they should be paid overtime.

Employees can be asked to work up to two additional hours per day, or a maximum of 144 total working hours every three weeks. The overtime should be paid at the normal rate plus an increase of 25 per cent of the gross salary, including any allowances.

If an employee is asked to work additional hours from 9pm to 4am, the payment should be increased by 50 per cent of standard pay, unless they usually work shifts as part of their standard contract of employment.

The only exception to this is for senior and managerial staff, who are not legally entitled to overtime payments. However, all employers are expected to be considerate during Ramadan.

I have come across several cases in which security guards work more than the legal number of hours. This is not right.

All employers who insist that employees work excess hours are breaking the law if they do not pay them overtime. Individuals can raise a case against them with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE).

The ministry will take an especially dim view of a company that does not follow UAE law in terms of Ramadan working hours.

A real estate company employed me on January 14. They promised me that my visa has been processed, but I found out this is not true.

I now have overstay fines totalling Dh5,000. What can I do about this? SN, Dubai

Any company that takes on an employee but fails to apply for a visa at the outset is breaking the law.

Even if the individual is on a spouse or parent visa, the employer must apply for a work permit. Any individual who does not have a residency visa and work permit is working illegally and has no protection in law.

I have received similar letters in the past and it seems to be far too common for some real estate agents not to apply for a visa until someone has been with them for a few months.

The government is very clear about this situation. It issued Federal Decree Law No 7 for 2007, which amended the Immigration Law and increased the potential fine for employers who fail to obtain proper visas and permits for employees from Dh10,000 per worker to Dh50,000. This is unchanged.

Any individual who does not have a residency visa and work permit is working illegally and has no protection in law
Keren Bobker,
senior partner, Holborn Assets

In addition to this fine, employers can receive an additional Dh50,000 fine from the MoHRE. If an employer repeats the offence, the fines can increase.

A foreign company owner could face criminal proceedings, be deported or served with a lifetime ban. If the owner is a UAE citizen, they can receive a jail sentence.

Without a residency visa SN is not a legal employee and is responsible for any overstay fines that have accrued.

The employer will know this and has put SN in an unfair position because he has no recourse to a legal complaint without a residency visa. It also means he is not beholden to an employer and is not subject to, or protected by, UAE Labour Law.

My husband sponsors me and I don’t have a job. Can I open a bank account?

His bank said I cannot open an account, but is that really the case? AS, Ras Al Khaimah

Any resident adult can open a bank account in the UAE, whether they have an income or not. Most banks offer a non-salary account, although they are not all publicised. These usually offer a debit card and online banking but no credit facilities.

The LIV account from Emirates NBD and the Mashreq Neo Students and Housewives account are probably the easiest to set up because you can do it through their apps, without visiting a branch.

Keren Bobker is an independent financial adviser and senior partner with Holborn Assets in Dubai, with more than 25 years’ experience. Contact her at keren@holbornassets.com. Follow her on Twitter at @FinancialUAE

The advice provided in our columns does not constitute legal advice and is provided for information only

F1 The Movie

Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Rating: 4/5

Tearful appearance

Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday. 

Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow. 

She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.

A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

Gothia Cup 2025

4,872 matches 

1,942 teams

116 pitches

76 nations

26 UAE teams

15 Lebanese teams

2 Kuwaiti teams

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GOLF’S RAHMBO

- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)

UAE central contracts

Full time contracts

Rohan Mustafa, Ahmed Raza, Mohammed Usman, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Sultan Ahmed, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid

Part time contracts

Aryan Lakra, Ansh Tandon, Karthik Meiyappan, Rahul Bhatia, Alishan Sharafu, CP Rizwaan, Basil Hameed, Matiullah, Fahad Nawaz, Sanchit Sharma

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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MATCH INFO

Red Star Belgrade v Tottenham Hotspur, midnight (Thursday), UAE

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Skewed figures

In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458. 

The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
Updated: April 17, 2022, 5:00 AM`