WPS — Wage Protection System
Updated
WPS is the UAE Wage Protection System, the federal payroll-through-banks system that requires private-sector employers to pay employee salaries through approved banks. Operated by MOHRE.
What it does
Every salary payment to a MOHRE-registered employee must flow through a WPS-enabled UAE bank or exchange house, with monthly filings against the employer's registered payroll. Since 1 June 2026 wages are due by the 1st of each month; late payers face MOHRE warnings from day 2, suspension of new work-permit issuance from day 5 and, if the employer repeats the violation within six months, fines of AED 1,000 per affected worker (capped at AED 20,000) from day 11. WPS also protects the employee's ability to file a wage complaint with documented evidence.
Key facts
| Type | Federal payroll-protection system |
| Jurisdiction | UAE private sector (mainland and most free zones) |
| Operator | MOHRE |
| Late-payment trigger | Any payment after the 1st of the month (since 1 June 2026) |
| Employer penalty | Work-permit suspension from day 5; AED 1,000 per worker (max AED 20,000) from day 11 for a repeat violation within six months |
| Official portal | mohre.gov.ae |
Where WPS appears on this site
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