Compare · UAE · Dubai
Best HR software in Dubai (2026)
Our pick for Dubai is Peoplo.ai: AI agents prepare payroll, onboarding, exits and claims, it is designed to support WPS salary files, gratuity and DEWS for DIFC staff, and prices start at AED 300 a month. Bayzat fits if you want insurance and cards too, ZenHR for Saudi Arabia as well, and Zoho Payroll for the lowest starting price.
Written by the Peoplo.ai team · Last updated 3 November 2026. Peoplo.ai wrote this page and lists its own product first. Facts about other products come from their public pages, with the date we checked them.
Quick picks
Key facts for Dubai
- Under Ministerial Resolution No. 340 of 2026, in force since 1 June 2026, salaries in Dubai are due on the first day of the following month and at least 85% of wages must be paid on time. Source
- Mainland, DMCC and Jebel Ali employees earn end-of-service gratuity of 21 days' basic salary a year for the first five years, then 30, capped at 2 years' wages. On a basic of AED 10,000 after 7 years that is AED 55,000. Source
- DIFC employers pay DEWS instead of gratuity: 5.83% of basic salary a month for under five years' service and 8.33% from five years, AED 583 or AED 833 on a basic of AED 10,000. Source
- DMCC and the Jebel Ali Free Zone both require their companies to pay salaries through the WPS. Source
- Emiratis working in Dubai pay 11% into the GPSSA pension, and mainland companies with 50 or more staff must grow the Emirati share of skilled jobs by 2% a year or pay AED 10,000 a month for each Emirati not hired in 2026. Source
At a glance
The fifteen products side by side
| Product | Best for | AI | WPS salary files | Arabic | Free trial | Price | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.Peoplo.ai | Companies that want AI agents to prepare HR and payroll work, and groups with UAE and Indian companies. | AI agents that prepare the work | Designed to support WPS salary files | Arabic in the app (beta) | Free trial | AED 12 per employee a month before VAT, for at least 25 employees | 3 November 2026 |
| 2.Bayzat | You want group health insurance, corporate cards and payroll from one provider. | AI assistant, AI reporting and a Knowledge Hub | SIF files, with real-time MOL number checks | Not described on the pages we checked | Demo | Not published; quoted in a demo | 28 October 2026 |
| 3.ZenHR | Your main operation is in Saudi Arabia, or you run HR across several MENA countries. | Five AI skills; says it works with any LLM | Says it generates WPS and bank files | Arabic and English | Demo | Quoted per organisation | 28 October 2026 |
| 4.NeuralHR | You also run payroll in Saudi Arabia, or want an AI interviewer for high-volume hiring. | Seven named AI co-workers and an AI HR Supervisor | WPS file to MOHRE | Self-service in English and Arabic | Demo | USD per user: web HRMS $10, AI HRMS from $22.99 a month | 28 October 2026 |
| 5.Zoho People and Zoho Payroll | Small teams that want low published AED prices, or already use Zoho Books. | Not described on the UAE pages we checked | Auto-generated SIF files | Not described on the pages we checked | 14 days | Zoho Payroll from AED 35 a month for 5 employees, billed yearly | 3 November 2026 |
| 6.greytHR | You want low published prices and mainly need payroll, leave and attendance. | NAVOS, described as an agentic AI assistant | Says it generates WPS SIF files | Not described on the page we checked | 7 days | $50 a month for the first 10 employees, plus $2 per extra employee | 3 November 2026 |
| 7.Darwinbox | Groups that want one HR platform across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait. | Darwinbox Cortex | Native WPS SIF files | Not described on the pages we checked | Demo | Not published | 3 November 2026 |
| 8.gulfHR | GCC groups with 500 or more employees that want a long-established regional HRMS. | AI screening in hiring and predictive analytics | Automated WPS files with IBAN checks | Arabic language support | 30-day pilot for 500+ employees | Quoted after a demo | 3 November 2026 |
| 9.Paylite | GCC companies that want a Dubai-based HRMS with payroll rules for nine Middle East countries. | AI hiring tools, appraisal insights and payroll anomaly detection | Automated WPS, SIF and EIF files | Not described on the page we checked | Demo | Quoted on request | 3 November 2026 |
| 10.Menaitech | Companies that want a fully bilingual Arabic and English HR system from a regional vendor. | Not described on the UAE page we checked | WPS-compliant SIF files for UAE banks | Fully bilingual Arabic and English | Demo; a freemium option is linked | Quoted by headcount, modules and compliance needs | 3 November 2026 |
| 11.Ramco | Large employers that want UAE payroll consolidated with payroll in many other countries. | Chia AI assistant and BInGO analytics | WPS-ready salary information files | Not described on the UAE page we checked | Demo | Not published | 3 November 2026 |
| 12.Yomly | Larger companies running salaries in several countries; its page talks of 500 to 5,000 employees. | Not described on the page we checked | WPS-compliant SIF files | Arabic and English | Demo | Not published | 3 November 2026 |
| 13.Zimyo | Companies that want Arabic and English payslips side by side and AI agents for HR and payroll. | Zim AI agents and an AI assistant | WPS salary files every payroll run | Arabic and English payslips, right to left | Free forever plan | Quoted in AED | 3 November 2026 |
| 14.Elate HRMS | UAE companies that want a locally focused HR and payroll product built around UAE payroll practice. | Not described on the page we checked | WPS-ready payroll and SIF file preparation | Not described on the page we checked | Demo | Not published | 3 November 2026 |
| 15.Odoo | Companies that already run Odoo for accounting or operations. | "Agentic AI" listed on its Custom plan | WPS report in .sif format | Not described on the pages we checked | Free trial; one app free | Published per user on odoo.com, in your local currency | 3 November 2026 |
From each vendor's own public pages, on the date shown. "Not described" means we did not find it on the pages we checked, not that the product lacks it.
How we chose
Six things that matter to a UAE HR team
We picked HR and payroll products that UAE companies often compare, and read each one's own product, pricing and help pages. We did not test competitors' software, and we do not take payment for a place on this list.
UAE payroll
WPS salary files and end-of-service for mainland, DIFC and ADGM employees, as each vendor describes them.
AI that does real work
Does the AI prepare work, such as a payroll check or an exit settlement, and who approves the changes it proposes?
Prices you can see
Are prices published, and in AED, before you talk to sales?
Arabic and English
Can employees use the product in Arabic, right to left?
Security you can check
Certifications held today, not on a roadmap.
More than one country
UAE and other entities, such as India or Saudi Arabia, in one account.
Peoplo.ai is first because it is our product, and we say so. The others follow, grouped by who they suit; we did not score them against each other. Each card says what that vendor's own pages show, and when we checked.
The list
The fifteen products, one by one
1 · Our pick
Peoplo.ai
An agentic HRMS. AI agents prepare payroll checks, onboarding plans, exit settlements and claims, and changes to pay, tax, people records and money always wait for a person. Designed to support WPS salary files and end-of-service for mainland, DIFC and ADGM employees.
Best for: Companies that want AI agents to prepare HR and payroll work, and groups with UAE and Indian companies.
What stands out
- AI agents prepare payroll checks, onboarding plans, exit settlements and claims, and important changes are written to an audit log: who did what, and when.
- Prices published in AED, AED 12 per employee a month for at least 25 employees, with AI agents included.
- End-of-service for mainland, DIFC (DEWS) and ADGM employees, and UAE and Indian companies in one account with one sign-in.
Worth checking
- Arabic in the app is in beta.
- Payroll for Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait is coming soon. Saudi Arabia is not covered.
- Built for SOC 2 and GDPR, with no SOC 2 certificate yet.
- Price
- AED 12 per employee a month before VAT, for at least 25 employees
- Free trial
- Free trial
- WPS salary files
- Designed to support WPS salary files
- Arabic
- Arabic in the app (beta)
2
Bayzat
A UAE HR, payroll, finance and insurance platform that says more than 4,000 companies use it. It calls itself "UAE's first fully automated payroll solution".
Best for: You want group health insurance, corporate cards and payroll from one provider.
What stands out
- HR and payroll alongside corporate cards, cross-border payments, and health and motor insurance.
- Says it converts payroll tables to SIF files and checks MOL numbers in real time.
- States ISO 27001:2022 and SOC 2 Type 2 certification.
Worth checking
- Prices are not published; they come through a demo.
- Approval of AI actions is not described on the pages we checked.
- Price
- Not published; quoted in a demo
- Free trial
- Demo
- WPS salary files
- SIF files, with real-time MOL number checks
- Arabic
- Not described on the pages we checked
Bayzat vs Peoplo.ai Bayzat payroll processing pageBayzat enterprise pageFrom Bayzat's public pages, checked 28 October 2026.
3
ZenHR
A "localized HR, payroll, and attendance system built for MENA", in Arabic and English, with country pages for Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan and Kuwait.
Best for: Your main operation is in Saudi Arabia, or you run HR across several MENA countries.
What stands out
- Mudad, Muqeem and GOSI integration for Saudi Arabia, and pages for six MENA countries.
- Says "Human oversight remains part of every decision" for its AI, and names Claude, ChatGPT and Gemini.
- States SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001.
Worth checking
- Prices are quoted per organisation; AI hiring and succession add-ons are priced separately.
- A record of what the AI did is not described on the pages we checked.
- Price
- Quoted per organisation
- Free trial
- Demo
- WPS salary files
- Says it generates WPS and bank files
- Arabic
- Arabic and English
ZenHR vs Peoplo.ai ZenHR home pageZenHR pricing pageFrom ZenHR's public pages, checked 28 October 2026.
4
NeuralHR
An Abu Dhabi-based "AI HR team for growing businesses", focused on the UAE and Saudi Arabia with India second, with seven named AI co-workers.
Best for: You also run payroll in Saudi Arabia, or want an AI interviewer for high-volume hiring.
What stands out
- UAE payroll with WPS, end-of-service, visa expiry tracking and GPSSA.
- Saudi Arabia (Mudad, GOSI, Qiwa, Nitaqat) and India in the same product.
- Mentions human approval on payroll actions.
Worth checking
- Prices are per user in US dollars; the mobile app is a $10 per user add-on, and AED prices are given in a demo.
- Its trust centre lists SOC 2 as on its roadmap.
- Price
- USD per user: web HRMS $10, AI HRMS from $22.99 a month
- Free trial
- Demo
- WPS salary files
- WPS file to MOHRE
- Arabic
- Self-service in English and Arabic
NeuralHR vs Peoplo.ai NeuralHR pricingNeuralHR AI co-workerNeuralHR trust centreFrom NeuralHR's public pages, checked 28 October 2026.
5
Zoho People and Zoho Payroll
Zoho sells HR (Zoho People) and a UAE edition of Zoho Payroll as separate products that work together. Zoho Payroll is included in the Zoho People Plus bundle.
Best for: Small teams that want low published AED prices, or already use Zoho Books.
What stands out
- Publishes AED prices: Standard AED 35, Professional AED 55 and Premium AED 75 a month billed yearly, each for 5 employees, plus AED 7 to 15 per extra employee. VAT extra.
- Gratuity worked out by contract type, separation type and free zone, and GPSSA and other GCC national pensions.
- Free employee app for iOS and Android, and links with Zoho People, Zoho Books and Zoho Expense.
Worth checking
- HR and payroll are separate products unless you buy the Zoho People Plus bundle.
- DIFC DEWS is not described on the pages we checked.
- Price
- Zoho Payroll from AED 35 a month for 5 employees, billed yearly
- Free trial
- 14 days
- WPS salary files
- Auto-generated SIF files
- Arabic
- Not described on the pages we checked
Zoho Payroll UAE pricingZoho: the UAE edition of Zoho PayrollFrom Zoho People and Zoho Payroll's public pages, checked 3 November 2026.
6
greytHR
A long-running Indian HR and payroll product that now sells in the Middle East, and says it generates WPS SIF files and handles gratuity and GPSSA.
Best for: You want low published prices and mainly need payroll, leave and attendance.
What stands out
- Gratuity, end-of-service and GPSSA across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait.
- Published prices and a seven-day free trial with a business email, with no sales call.
- Pricing listed in USD, AED, SAR, QAR, OMR, BHD and KWD.
Worth checking
- Arabic in the app is not described on the page we checked.
- Its AI assistant is promoted, but not described in the UAE article.
- Price
- $50 a month for the first 10 employees, plus $2 per extra employee
- Free trial
- 7 days
- WPS salary files
- Says it generates WPS SIF files
- Arabic
- Not described on the page we checked
greytHR: best HR software for mid-sized companies in the UAEFrom greytHR's public pages, checked 3 November 2026.
7
Darwinbox
An HR platform that calls its AI "Darwinbox Cortex", "The AI-Native HCM", and says it applies country rules for six GCC countries from one platform.
Best for: Groups that want one HR platform across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait.
What stands out
- Generates WPS SIF files from data already in the platform, and checks the 85% rule for each employee before the run is finalised.
- Onboarding passes new-hire data into payroll in the same platform, with no export step.
- Country rules for six GCC countries from one platform.
Worth checking
- Prices are not published.
- Gratuity, DIFC and ADGM are not described on the payroll page we checked.
- Price
- Not published
- Free trial
- Demo
- WPS salary files
- Native WPS SIF files
- Arabic
- Not described on the pages we checked
Darwinbox: UAE payroll and Resolution 340 (2 July 2026)Darwinbox home pageFrom Darwinbox's public pages, checked 3 November 2026.
8
gulfHR
A regional HRMS for Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, Oman, Jordan and Egypt, in business since 2003 by its own account.
Best for: GCC groups with 500 or more employees that want a long-established regional HRMS.
What stands out
- WPS file generation with IBAN validation and bank integration.
- Covers eight Middle East countries, including Saudi GOSI and Egypt tax.
- Lists free setup, migration and staff training.
Worth checking
- Prices are not published.
- Its AI is described for hiring and analytics, not for payroll.
- Price
- Quoted after a demo
- Free trial
- 30-day pilot for 500+ employees
- WPS salary files
- Automated WPS files with IBAN checks
- Arabic
- Arabic language support
gulfHR home pageFrom gulfHR's public pages, checked 3 November 2026.
9
Paylite
A cloud HRMS based in Dubai that calls itself the preferred HRMS for the GCC region, with compliance for the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon.
Best for: GCC companies that want a Dubai-based HRMS with payroll rules for nine Middle East countries.
What stands out
- Automated WPS, SIF and EIF file generation in a MoHRE compliance engine.
- UAE gratuity, full and final settlement and pension calculations.
- AI for job descriptions, CV screening, appraisal insights and payroll anomaly detection.
Worth checking
- Prices are not published; quotes are on request.
- Arabic in the app is not described on the page we checked.
- Price
- Quoted on request
- Free trial
- Demo
- WPS salary files
- Automated WPS, SIF and EIF files
- Arabic
- Not described on the page we checked
Paylite home pageFrom Paylite's public pages, checked 3 November 2026.
10
Menaitech
A regional HR and payroll product with sites for Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Kuwait and Qatar, offered in the cloud or, depending on requirements, on premises.
Best for: Companies that want a fully bilingual Arabic and English HR system from a regional vendor.
What stands out
- Generates WPS-compliant SIF files that work with UAE banks.
- End-of-service gratuity worked out under UAE labour law.
- Fully bilingual across interfaces and key workflows.
Worth checking
- Prices are not published.
- AI is not described on the UAE page we checked.
- Price
- Quoted by headcount, modules and compliance needs
- Free trial
- Demo; a freemium option is linked
- WPS salary files
- WPS-compliant SIF files for UAE banks
- Arabic
- Fully bilingual Arabic and English
Menaitech UAE FAQsMenaitech home pageFrom Menaitech's public pages, checked 3 November 2026.
11
Ramco
An enterprise payroll and HR product that says it covers 150+ countries and 500+ enterprise customers, with a UAE payroll page for Dubai.
Best for: Large employers that want UAE payroll consolidated with payroll in many other countries.
What stands out
- Gratuity worked out from basic salary, service and UAE end-of-service rules, and GPSSA contributions for UAE nationals.
- Chia answers payslip, WPS, GPSSA and leave questions, and BInGO builds real-time reports.
- Global payroll across 150+ countries, by its own account.
Worth checking
- Prices are not published.
- Its UAE page is written for large, multi-entity employers.
- Price
- Not published
- Free trial
- Demo
- WPS salary files
- WPS-ready salary information files
- Arabic
- Not described on the UAE page we checked
Ramco: payroll software in the UAE and DubaiFrom Ramco's public pages, checked 3 November 2026.
12
Yomly
A Dubai-based HR and payroll product that says it handles multi-country, multi-currency salaries and has more than 250 clients.
Best for: Larger companies running salaries in several countries; its page talks of 500 to 5,000 employees.
What stands out
- Gratuity and end-of-service under UAE labour law.
- Multi-country, multi-currency salaries; says it covers more than 50 countries.
- Arabic and English interfaces.
Worth checking
- Prices are not published.
- AI is not described on the payroll page we checked.
- Price
- Not published
- Free trial
- Demo
- WPS salary files
- WPS-compliant SIF files
- Arabic
- Arabic and English
Yomly payroll software pageFrom Yomly's public pages, checked 3 November 2026.
13
Zimyo
An HR and payroll platform with a Middle East site, priced in AED for the UAE, that describes agentic AI agents for HR and payroll.
Best for: Companies that want Arabic and English payslips side by side and AI agents for HR and payroll.
What stands out
- Generates UAE WPS files and Saudi Mudad salary files every payroll run.
- End-of-service pay under UAE, Saudi and Qatar law, including resignation, termination and tenure tiers.
- Arabic and English payslips and documents side by side, right to left.
Worth checking
- UAE prices are quoted, not published.
- Its customer count differs within the page (2,500+ and 1,500+).
- Price
- Quoted in AED
- Free trial
- Free forever plan
- WPS salary files
- WPS salary files every payroll run
- Arabic
- Arabic and English payslips, right to left
Zimyo Middle East home pageFrom Zimyo's public pages, checked 3 November 2026.
14
Elate HRMS
An HR and payroll product from Peniel Technology LLC, designed around UAE workforce and payroll practices for growing, multi-location teams.
Best for: UAE companies that want a locally focused HR and payroll product built around UAE payroll practice.
What stands out
- WPS-ready payroll workflows and SIF file preparation.
- Payslips, deductions, loans and gratuity in payroll.
- Built for multi-location teams in the UAE and the Middle East.
Worth checking
- Prices are not published.
- AI and Arabic are not described on the page we checked.
- Price
- Not published
- Free trial
- Demo
- WPS salary files
- WPS-ready payroll and SIF file preparation
- Arabic
- Not described on the page we checked
Elate HRMS home pageFrom Elate HRMS's public pages, checked 3 November 2026.
15
Odoo
A business suite with a payroll app and a UAE payroll setup in its documentation, covering WPS files, end-of-service and DEWS.
Best for: Companies that already run Odoo for accounting or operations.
What stands out
- UAE payroll documentation covers the WPS .sif report, end-of-service gratuity and DEWS.
- One app is free for unlimited users, and payroll sits inside a full business suite.
- Runs online, on Odoo.sh or on your own servers.
Worth checking
- The free plan covers one app; payroll with HR and accounting needs a paid plan.
- Studio and more than one company need the Custom plan.
- Price
- Published per user on odoo.com, in your local currency
- Free trial
- Free trial; one app free
- WPS salary files
- WPS report in .sif format
- Arabic
- Not described on the pages we checked
Odoo documentation: United Arab Emirates payrollOdoo pricingFrom Odoo's public pages, checked 3 November 2026.
Buyer's guide
What to look for at your size
Under 50 employees in Dubai
Published AED prices, a free trial and a WPS file from the first month. If you are in the DIFC, check DEWS from day one.
Shortlist
- Peoplo.ai
- Zoho Payroll
- greytHR
- Zimyo
50 to 250 employees
Several zones (mainland plus DMCC or DIFC), approvals, Emiratisation targets due on 30 June and 31 December, and end-of-service at scale.
Shortlist
- Peoplo.ai
- Bayzat
- NeuralHR
- ZenHR
- Paylite
250 to 1,000 employees
Many entities, banks and approval chains. Ask for a demo with your own data, including a WPS file for each establishment. Peoplo.ai publishes prices up to 2,000 employees.
Shortlist
- Peoplo.ai
- Darwinbox
- Menaitech
- gulfHR
Dubai head office for the GCC
Saudi, Qatari or Omani payroll as well as UAE. Ask which countries are live today.
Shortlist
- Darwinbox
- ZenHR
- Ramco
- NeuralHR
Compliance checklist
Rules your HR software should handle in Dubai
Eight questions to ask any vendor before you sign, for a company in Dubai.
- 1
WPS file per establishment
Does it make the salary information file (SIF) for every MOHRE establishment and every free-zone company you run?
- 2
Due date and 85%
Does it warn you before the first day of the following month and check that at least 85% of wages are paid on time?
- 3
Gratuity
Basic salary only, 21 and 30 days a year, the two-year cap, paid within 14 days.
- 4
DEWS
For DIFC staff, 5.83% and 8.33% of basic salary each month, switching at five years.
- 5
Free zones
DMCC and Jebel Ali companies on the WPS, with the federal gratuity rule.
- 6
GPSSA
Employee, employer and government shares for Emirati staff, with the salary floor and ceiling.
- 7
Emiratisation
The skilled Emirati share tracked against 30 June and 31 December.
- 8
Data
Where employee data is stored and how the vendor meets Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021. Peoplo.ai runs in one Microsoft Azure region, East US.
Sources · checked 31 October 2026
- UAE Government: payment of wages and the WPS, Ministerial Resolution No. 340 of 2026
- UAE Government: end of service benefits in the private sector
- DIFC: Employment Law, DIFC Law No. 2 of 2019, Article 66 (DEWS contributions)
- DMCC: Wage Protection System guideline
- Jafza: Wage Protection System for Jafza companies
- GPSSA: main features of Federal Law No. 57 of 2023
- UAE Government: employing Emiratis in the private sector
- UAE Government: data protection laws
By zone
Payroll rules by zone in Dubai
One Dubai group often has companies in several zones. Each card is the rule your HR software has to apply there.
Mainland Dubai
Licensed by MOHRE and governed by Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021. Salaries go through the WPS, due on the first day of the following month, and gratuity is 21 days' basic salary a year for the first five years, then 30, capped at 2 years' wages.
DIFC
The DIFC Employment Law (DIFC Law No. 2 of 2019) applies, and DEWS replaces gratuity for current service: 5.83% or 8.33% of monthly basic salary. Federal Emiratisation rules do not apply in the financial free zones.
DMCC
Federal labour law and the same gratuity as the mainland. DMCC's own guideline requires its companies to pay salaries through the WPS.
Jebel Ali Free Zone
Federal labour law and mainland gratuity. Jafza requires its companies to pay salaries through the WPS.
Other Dubai free zones
Only the DIFC and ADGM have their own employment laws, so other free zones follow the federal law. Check WPS arrangements with your free zone authority before the first payroll.
Emirati employees
Covered by the GPSSA pension instead of gratuity: 11% from the employee and 12.5% or 15% from the employer, depending on salary.
Worked examples
What the rules mean in Dubai, in dirhams
Calculated from the rules above, checked 31 October 2026. Your HR software should give the same answers.
Gratuity, mainland or DMCC
Basic AED 10,000 a month, 7 years: 105 days for the first five years plus 60 days for the next two, at AED 333.33 a day, comes to AED 55,000. The cap of AED 240,000 does not bite.
Gratuity, shorter service
Basic AED 8,000, 3 years: 63 days at AED 266.67 a day, AED 16,800. Paid within 14 days of the last day.
DEWS, DIFC
Basic AED 10,000: the employer pays AED 583 a month into DEWS while service is under five years, and AED 833 a month from five years. Nothing is paid as a lump sum for that service at exit.
GPSSA, Emirati employee
Salary AED 15,000 a month: employee AED 1,650, employer AED 1,875 and government AED 375. At AED 25,000 the employer share is 15%, AED 3,750.
UAE nationals
Emirati staff in Dubai: GPSSA and Emiratisation
What changes on the payslip and in the HR plan when you employ UAE nationals in Dubai.
GPSSA rates
Employee 11%; employer 12.5% below AED 20,000 a month and 15% from there, with the government adding 2.5% below that line. Contributory salary runs from AED 3,000 to AED 70,000.
Targets
Mainland companies with 50 or more staff grow the Emirati share of skilled jobs by 1% every half year, checked on 30 June and 31 December.
Smaller companies
Since 2025, companies with 20 to 49 staff in 14 named sectors must employ at least 2 UAE nationals.
The cost of missing a target
AED 10,000 a month for each Emirati not hired in 2026, up from AED 6,000 when the policy began in 2022.
Paying late
What happens when salaries are late under the WPS
Under Ministerial Resolution No. 340 of 2026, from the due date (the first day of the following month). A payroll check before the run is the cheapest way to stay off this list.
Day 2 after the due date
Alerts and warnings to the employer.
Day 5 after the due date
New work permits may be suspended.
Day 11 after the due date
Administrative fines; repeat breaches within six months move the company to the third category.
Day 16 after the due date
Labour disputes may be registered automatically, with wider permit suspension where 25 or more workers are affected.
Day 21 after the due date
Referral to public prosecution, asset attachment and travel bans may follow.
Hours and overtime
Working hours and overtime in Dubai
The federal rules for the private sector, which your HR software should turn into payroll lines.
Normal hours
Up to 8 hours a day or 48 a week in the private sector, 2 hours shorter each day in Ramadan on the same pay.
Overtime
At least 25% extra on the hourly wage, and as a rule no more than 2 hours of overtime a day. At an hourly wage of AED 25, an overtime hour is AED 31.25.
Night overtime
Overtime between 10 pm and 4 am is paid at least 50% extra, except for shift workers: AED 37.50 an hour at the same AED 25 rate.
Rest days
Work on a rest day earns another day off, or the day's pay plus 50%.
Midday break
From 15 June to 15 September, outdoor work under the sun stops between 12:30 pm and 3 pm. Fines are AED 5,000 for each worker, up to AED 50,000.
Cost
What HR software costs for 50 employees
Monthly, before VAT, on each vendor's published price where there is one.
Peoplo.ai
(n) => `AED ${Math.round(n).toLocaleString("en-US")}` a month before VAT: AED 300 for up to 25 employees and AED 1,200 for 100, with AI agents and hiring included.
Zoho Payroll
About AED 350 a month on Standard for 50 employees, AED 550 on Professional and AED 750 on Premium, on its published per-employee formula. HR is a separate product.
greytHR
About AED 477 a month for 50 employees on its published dollar price, at AED 3.6725 to the dollar.
NeuralHR
About AED 1,836 a month for 50 users on the web HRMS, or AED 4,222 with AI, at AED 3.6725 to the dollar.
Quoted
Bayzat, Darwinbox, ZenHR, Paylite, Menaitech, gulfHR, Ramco, Zimyo, Yomly and Elate HRMS quote or do not publish prices.
Does a Dubai company need different HR software for DIFC staff?
No, but it needs software that knows the difference. DIFC employees follow the DIFC Employment Law and get DEWS contributions instead of gratuity, while mainland, DMCC and Jebel Ali employees follow the federal law. One HR system should hold all of them, with the right rule applied to each person.
Check this in the demo: put one DIFC employee and one mainland employee on the same payroll, and ask the vendor to show DEWS on the first and the gratuity accrual on the second.
More on HR and payroll in Dubai
- Best HR software in the UAE
- HR software in Abu Dhabi
- HR software in the Northern Emirates
- Best payroll software in the UAE
- Best AI HRMS in the UAE
- Best HRMS for small business in the UAE
- UAE payroll guide
- UAE free zones: DIFC, ADGM, DMCC
- WPS payroll software
- UAE gratuity calculator
- HRMS buyer's guide
See Peoplo.ai run a payroll in Dubai
A 30-minute demo with your pay structure: the payroll check, the WPS salary file and an end-of-service settlement, ready for your approval.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers for companies in Dubai choosing HR software.
What is the best HR software in Dubai?
We think Peoplo.ai is: it publishes prices in AED (AED 12 per employee a month before VAT, for at least 25 employees), includes AI agents in the plan and is designed to support mainland, DIFC and free-zone payroll in one account. Bayzat suits companies that also want insurance and cards, NeuralHR many AI co-workers, ZenHR Saudi Arabia as well, and Zoho Payroll the lowest starting price.
What is the best payroll software in Dubai?
Look for WPS salary files for every establishment, gratuity on basic salary and DEWS for DIFC staff. Peoplo.ai is designed to support all three with a payroll check on every run; Zoho Payroll, Bayzat, Darwinbox and Paylite also describe WPS files on their pages.
Is gratuity paid to DIFC employees in Dubai?
Not as a lump sum for current service. DIFC employers pay 5.83% of basic salary a month into DEWS for under five years' service and 8.33% from five years. Checked 31 October 2026.
How is gratuity calculated in Dubai?
On the mainland and in free zones such as DMCC and Jebel Ali: 21 days' basic salary a year for the first five years, then 30, capped at 2 years' wages, on basic salary, worked out at monthly basic ÷ 30 a day. A basic of AED 10,000 after 7 years gives AED 55,000.
When must Dubai companies pay salaries through the WPS?
Since 1 June 2026, salaries are due on the first day of the following month, under Ministerial Resolution No. 340 of 2026, and at least 85% of wages must be paid on time. Checked 31 October 2026.
What happens if a Dubai company pays salaries late?
Under the new WPS rules: day 2 after the due date, alerts and warnings to the employer; day 5 after the due date, new work permits may be suspended; day 11 after the due date, administrative fines; repeat breaches within six months move the company to the third category; day 16 after the due date, labour disputes may be registered automatically, with wider permit suspension where 25 or more workers are affected; day 21 after the due date, referral to public prosecution, asset attachment and travel bans may follow.
Do DMCC companies have to use the WPS?
Yes. DMCC's Wage Protection System guideline requires its companies to pay salaries through the WPS. Jafza has the same requirement for Jebel Ali Free Zone companies.
Does Emiratisation apply in the DIFC?
No. Federal Emiratisation rules do not apply in the financial free zones, the DIFC and ADGM. They apply to mainland companies with 50 or more staff, and to companies with 20 to 49 staff in the named sectors.
How much does HR software cost in Dubai?
Peoplo.ai is AED 300 a month for up to 25 employees and AED 1,200 for 100, before VAT. For 50 employees, Zoho Payroll Standard is about AED 350 a month and greytHR about AED 477. Bayzat, Darwinbox and ZenHR quote.
Which Dubai HR software has AI agents?
Peoplo.ai has AI agents that prepare payroll checks, onboarding, exits and claims, and a person approves changes to pay, tax, records and money. NeuralHR describes seven AI co-workers, Zimyo Zim AI agents, and Darwinbox is reported to have more than 30 agents.
Which Dubai HR software works in Arabic?
Several products describe Arabic, including Zimyo (Arabic and English payslips), ZenHR, gulfHR, Menaitech and NeuralHR. Peoplo.ai has Arabic in the app in beta.
Can one HR system cover mainland Dubai, DMCC and the DIFC?
Yes, if it applies the right rule to each person: federal gratuity for the mainland and DMCC, DEWS for the DIFC, and a WPS file for each establishment. Peoplo.ai runs all three in one account.
What overtime rules apply in Dubai?
At least 25% extra on the hourly wage, 50% for overtime between 10 pm and 4 am except for shift workers, and as a rule no more than 2 hours a day.
Does the midday break apply in Dubai?
Yes, across the UAE. From 15 June to 15 September, outdoor work under the sun stops between 12:30 pm and 3 pm, with fines of AED 5,000 per worker up to AED 50,000.
How much does Peoplo.ai cost in Dubai?
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Where is employee data stored?
Peoplo.ai runs in one Microsoft Azure region, East US. Ask every vendor where it stores data and how it meets Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on personal data.
How did you choose these products?
They are the fifteen products in our UAE ranking, which UAE companies often compare, read on their own pages for WPS, AI, Arabic, prices and trials. Peoplo.ai is first because it is our product. This page adds the rules that apply in Dubai.