For eligible work on an official holiday, the federal rule generally provides either another rest day or the wage for that day plus at least 50% of the basic wage for that day. The actual official holiday, attendance and whether compensatory rest was provided must be verified.
Cash-alternative estimate when no compensatory rest day is provided
What it cannot determineWhether the day was officially declared or another benefit applies
Enter the facts you can verify.
Inputs remain in your browser. Keep the result with the contract, payroll records and dates that support each input.
Federal Article 28 uses the wage for the normal working day plus at least 50% of the basic wage for that day when the cash option applies. This model uses a 30-day payroll divisor and does not replace payroll or case review.
Formula used
Cash-alternative estimate = normal-day wage + at least 50% of the daily basic wage for each eligible official holiday worked, where the compensatory-rest option is not provided.
Assumptions to verify
- The date was officially declared as a paid public holiday for the relevant private-sector employee.
- The employee worked on that date and did not receive the compensatory-rest option.
- The monthly total wage and monthly basic wage entered are accurate.
What this result does not prove
- Whether an employment contract or policy gives a better benefit.
- Weekly rest-day claims that are not official public holidays.
- Disputed schedules, partial-day work or attendance evidence.
Confirm that the date was an official holiday
Do not build a claim from a generic calendar alone. Public-holiday dates can depend on official announcements, and the question is whether the date was an official paid holiday for the employee's work context. Save the relevant announcement or employer notice with the attendance record.
Check the compensatory-rest option first
The federal rule gives an alternative: another rest day, or the cash treatment described by the rule. If the employee received a valid compensatory day, adding the cash estimate automatically can double-count the entitlement.
Example: one holiday worked without a replacement rest day
Suppose total monthly wage is AED 9,000 and basic wage is AED 6,000. The simple daily amounts used by this tool are AED 300 total wage and AED 200 basic wage. The cash-alternative estimate is AED 300 + 50% of AED 200 = AED 400 for that eligible holiday day.
Evidence to reconcile
- The official holiday announcement or employer holiday circular.
- Roster, clock-in or timesheet proving work on that date.
- Payroll line showing any holiday payment.
- Leave or rota record showing whether a compensatory rest day was later provided.
For ordinary additional working hours, use the UAE Overtime Calculator instead.
Official sources
The links below are the primary references used for the rule or service described on this page. Check the live version before relying on a result.
Check the current official text, your contract, actual dates and records. Where facts are disputed, use the relevant authority or a qualified UAE professional.
Review official sources