- Home
- UAE WPS
UAE Wage Protection System (WPS)
How WPS works in the UAE in 2026 — the new 1st-of-month salary deadline, the 85% rule, SIF files and fines from AED 1,000 to 50,000 — with free tools to stay compliant.
New rules in force since June 2026 · Ministerial Resolution No. 340 of 2026
WPS compliance tools
- WPS SIF generator & validator
Create and validate Salary Information Files in your browser — data never leaves your device.
- WPS fine calculator
Check the late-salary consequences and fine exposure under the new June 2026 rules.
New rules 2026 - Salary calculator
Structure basic salary vs allowances before you build your WPS payroll file.
UAE WPS at a glance (2026)
- 1stWages due on the 1st of the following month (MR 340/2026)
- 85%Minimum share of wages transferred via WPS by the due date
- AED 1,000Fine per worker for late WPS payment (capped at 20,000)
- AED 5,000Fine per worker for false WPS data (capped at 50,000)
- Day 2–21Enforcement escalates from warnings to permit bans
- SIFSalary Information File — the standard WPS payroll file
In this article
How UAE WPS works in 2026
The Wage Protection System routes every private-sector salary through MOHRE-approved banks and exchange houses so the ministry can confirm workers are paid in full and on time. Each pay cycle, the employer submits a SIF (Salary Information File) in the exact MOHRE format.
- Deadline: since June 2026 (MR 340/2026) wages are due on the 1st of the following month, with no grace period.
- 85% rule: at least 85% of total wages must be transferred via WPS by the due date for the establishment to count as compliant.
- Fines: AED 1,000 per worker for late payment (max 20,000) and AED 5,000 for false data (max 50,000) — estimate your exposure here.
- Escalation: warnings from day 2, work-permit suspension from day 5, and asset attachment / travel bans by day 21.
Missing the deadline is costly and fast to escalate — the safest path is a payroll process that closes and files the SIF before the 1st every month.
Questions, answered.
The Wage Protection System is a UAE electronic salary-transfer system, overseen by MOHRE and the Central Bank, that ensures private-sector employees are paid the correct wages on time through approved banks and exchange houses. Employers submit a Salary Information File (SIF) each pay cycle.
Under Ministerial Resolution No. 340 of 2026 (in force since June 2026), wages for each month are due on the 1st day of the following month — with no weekend, holiday or banking-cutoff allowance. The previous 15-day grace period was removed. At least 85% of total wages must be transferred through WPS by the due date.
Under Cabinet Resolution No. 21 of 2020, failure to pay wages through WPS on time carries a fine of AED 1,000 per worker (capped at AED 20,000), and entering false WPS data is AED 5,000 per worker (capped at AED 50,000). Enforcement escalates by day: warnings from day 2, work-permit suspension from day 5, and asset attachment / travel bans from day 21.
A SIF (Salary Information File) is the standardized file employers submit through WPS containing each worker's salary details. It must follow the exact MOHRE format to be accepted by the bank or exchange house — our free SIF generator builds and validates it in your browser.
Certain establishments are exempt (for example fishing boats and public taxis owned by individual citizens, banks and places of worship), along with specific worker categories. DIFC and ADGM companies fall outside MOHRE's WPS entirely. Always confirm your specific case against the official MOHRE guidance.
Still have a question?Talk to us
