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HR services

HR and payroll services in Dubai

Running a team in Dubai means keeping payroll, permits and insurance in step with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE). We handle the human resources (HR) paperwork, from Wage Protection System (WPS) payroll files to labour contracts, Involuntary Loss of Employment (ILOE) checks and work permit applications.

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Overview

What WPS is and what changed in 2026

WPS is MOHRE's electronic salary system. Employers registered with MOHRE pay salaries through a bank, exchange house or other WPS agent, and the payment record lets MOHRE see that staff are paid in full and on time.

Ministerial Resolution 340 of 2026 replaced Resolution 598 of 2022 on 1 June 2026. Under the new rules, wages for a month are due by the 1st of the following month, and the compliance threshold rose to 85% of total wages due. Because these changes are recent, we check the latest MOHRE guidance whenever we set up your payroll calendar.

WPS is one part of HR compliance. The same team usually needs labour contracts on MOHRE, work permits for new hires, ILOE subscriptions, health insurance and, for larger companies, Emiratisation targets. We bring all of these into one checklist so nothing depends on someone remembering.

Who it's for

Who our HR services suit

  • 01

    Small companies without an HR team

    Owners who run payroll themselves and want permits, contracts and WPS kept on schedule by someone who knows the MOHRE systems.

  • 02

    Growing teams hiring from abroad

    Companies bringing staff into the UAE who need work permits, medical tests and contracts handled in the right order.

  • 03

    Companies with 20 or more staff

    Businesses that may fall under Emiratisation targets and need headcount records ready whenever MOHRE asks.

  • 04

    New companies setting up payroll

    Recently licensed companies that need MOHRE registration and a WPS route in place before their first payroll.

Our part

What we do, and what we don't

Clear boundaries, so you know exactly what you're paying for and who decides each step.

Included

  • A monthly payroll calendar built around the WPS due date
  • Preparing the Salary Information File (SIF) from payroll figures you sign off
  • Work permit applications on MOHRE for new hires
  • Typing and submitting labour contracts and contract changes
  • ILOE subscription checks and reminders for your staff
  • Help comparing and arranging employee health insurance with licensed insurers
  • Emiratisation headcount tracking against current MOHRE targets

Not included

  • Holding or transferring salary funds; payments run through your bank or WPS agent
  • Employment law advice or representation in labour disputes
  • Recruitment, interviewing or staff training
  • Deciding permits, contracts or penalties, which rests with MOHRE
Documents

What we'll need from you

  • Trade license and your MOHRE establishment details
  • Employee list with passport, visa and Emirates ID details
  • Signed salary details for each employee, including basic salary and allowances
  • Your WPS agent or bank details and any existing payroll file format
  • Offer letters or job descriptions for new hires
  • Current health insurance policy details, if you have one
  • UAE PASS access for the authorised signatory, where MOHRE requires it

Extra documents depend on each employee's nationality, job title and visa status.

Fees and timing

Two fees, shown separately

  • Government fees, paid at cost

    Government fees for work permits, contracts and other MOHRE services are set by MOHRE and paid at cost. Our service fee is quoted in writing before work starts and always shown separately.

  • Global Sky PRO service fee

    Quoted in writing before we start, so you know the full cost up front.

  • Timing

    Payroll work follows the WPS due date each month. Permit and contract timing depends on MOHRE's review and on how quickly documents and signatures reach us.

Process

How it works, step by step

Each step shows who does what, so you always know where things stand.

  • You
  • Global Sky PRO
  • Authority

  1. Step 1: Share your team and payroll details

    You

    Send your trade license, staff list and salary structure, and tell us which bank or agent runs your WPS payments.

  2. Step 2: Build your compliance calendar

    Global Sky PRO

    We map WPS due dates, permit renewals, ILOE status and insurance renewals for each employee into a single schedule.

  3. Step 3: Prepare files and applications

    Global Sky PRO

    Each month we prepare the payroll file for your sign-off, and as needed we type contracts and work permit applications on MOHRE.

  4. Step 4: Approve and pay

    You

    You approve the figures and release salaries through your bank or WPS agent, so your funds never pass through us.

  5. Step 5: MOHRE records and decides

    Authority

    MOHRE records WPS payments and decides on permits and contracts. For hires from abroad, the medical test and contract follow after arrival.

  6. Step 6: Follow up and report

    Global Sky PRO

    We follow up any MOHRE query, flag the next deadlines and keep a record of what was filed for each employee.

Good to know

Details that save time

ILOE, health insurance and other rules employers ask about

Every private-sector employee, free zone staff included, has to hold ILOE cover. It costs the employee AED 5 or AED 10 a month, set by basic salary band, and anyone who fails to subscribe faces an AED 400 fine. Business owners who are investors in their own company, and domestic workers, are exempt. The duty sits with the employee, yet a quick check at onboarding saves trouble later, and we confirm the scheme's current rules because they have been updated since launch.

Health cover is the other employer duty that often catches companies out. Dubai makes employers insure their staff, and the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) can impose a fine of AED 500 per person for every month an employee goes without cover. Employers in Sharjah and the Northern Emirates have had to provide and pay for health insurance since 1 January 2025. Our insurance services page explains how we help you arrange it.

Emiratisation and hiring from abroad

Private companies with 50 or more employees have been required to raise their Emirati headcount by 2% a year, towards a target of 10% by the end of 2026. Selected companies with 20 to 49 employees, in sectors named by MOHRE, must employ two Emiratis. Targets are set by resolution and can change, so we confirm the current rule for your size and sector.

For staff hired from outside the UAE, the employer applies for the MOHRE work permit online using UAE PASS. After the employee arrives, the medical fitness test and the labour contract follow, and the residence visa is then issued by the immigration authority. We confirm the current MOHRE steps each time you hire, and our employment visa service covers that stage in detail.

Payroll mistakes that trigger MOHRE action

Many WPS issues come from small gaps between payroll, contracts and the salary file.

  • Releasing salaries after the 1st of the following month
  • A salary in the WPS file that doesn't match the labour contract
  • Paying part of the team outside WPS
  • Forgetting to update the contract after a pay rise or role change
  • Relying on an outsourced payroll provider without checking its dates, since the employer stays responsible
FAQs

HR & WPS services: your questions

Short answers here. Your situation may differ, so ask us before you decide.

Still have a question?

An adviser replies during opening hours, Mon–Sat 10:00–21:00.

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What is WPS in the UAE?

WPS is the Wage Protection System, MOHRE's electronic system for private-sector salaries. Employers registered with MOHRE pay staff through a bank, exchange house or other WPS agent, which lets MOHRE confirm that wages are paid in full and on time. Late or incomplete payment can lead to action against the employer. We prepare the payroll file and keep your WPS calendar on track.

What changed in the WPS rules in 2026?

Ministerial Resolution 340 of 2026 replaced the 2022 rules on 1 June 2026. Wages for each month are now due by the 1st of the following month, and the compliance threshold rose to 85% of total wages due. Enforcement steps can begin soon after a missed due date. We confirm the latest MOHRE guidance and align your payroll date with it.

Do free zone employees need ILOE?

Yes. The Involuntary Loss of Employment scheme applies across the private sector, and free zone employees are covered by it. Each employee pays a monthly premium of AED 5 or AED 10 according to basic salary, and not subscribing can lead to an AED 400 fine. Investors who own their business and domestic workers are exempt. We check each new hire's subscription during onboarding.

Do you run payroll for my company?

We prepare your payroll paperwork, not your payments. Each month we build the salary file from figures you approve, check it against contracts and the WPS rules, and remind you of the due date. You release salaries through your own bank or WPS agent, so your money never passes through us. Accounting entries and payslips can stay with your accountant.

Does my company need to meet Emiratisation targets?

It depends on your size and sector. Companies with 50 or more employees have been raising Emirati headcount by 2% a year towards 10% by the end of 2026, and selected companies with 20 to 49 employees in named sectors must employ two Emiratis. Smaller companies generally fall outside the targets. We confirm the rule that applies to you and keep your records ready.

What happens if an employer pays salaries late under WPS?

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) sends alerts from the second day after the due date and can suspend new work permits from day 5. From day 11 an administrative fine can apply, with reclassification for repeat violations. From day 16, labour disputes can be registered automatically for affected staff. From day 21, measures can include enforcement orders, asset attachment, a travel ban on the person in charge and, for repeat cases, referral to the Public Prosecution.

Source: u.ae: payment of wages in the private sector

Which employees are exempt from WPS in the UAE?

Ministerial Resolution No. 340 of 2026 exempts employees whose wage complaint is before the courts, those under a work abandonment report, those whose liberty is restricted by an authority, staff on documented unpaid leave, seafarers by ministry decision, staff of foreign companies paid abroad, and holders of mission permits of up to three months. Banks, financial institutions, places of worship, and fishing boats and taxis owned by UAE nationals are exempt as employers. Other MOHRE-registered companies pay through WPS.

Source: u.ae: payment of wages in the private sector

How is end-of-service gratuity calculated in the UAE?

After one year of continuous service, a private-sector employee earns 21 days' basic salary for each of the first five years and 30 days' basic salary for each year after that, capped at two years' wages. It is based on the last basic salary, days of unpaid absence are not counted, and part-time staff receive a pro-rata amount. All end-of-service dues must be paid within 14 days of the contract ending. We check the gratuity figure when preparing a leaver's final settlement.

Source: UAE Government portal: end of service benefits in the private sector

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Work permits, WPS and labour matters are decided by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE). We prepare and submit on your behalf. Last reviewed 31 October 2026 by the Global Sky PRO team.

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