Living in the UAE comes with a handful of numbers worth knowing well. There is no income tax on salaries, so take-home pay is close to gross pay. Fuel prices change on the 1st of every month, so check them before you budget. Private sector hours drop by two hours a day in Ramadan, and one official holiday calendar covers both the public and private sectors. This guide gathers the calculators and recurring guides that help you budget, plan time off and stay connected, with each page updated as the official figures change.
- New job offer? Run it through the salary and gratuity calculators.
- Budgeting? Check this month’s fuel prices and your household bills.
- Planning leave? See the expected 2027 holidays and best long weekends.
Pay, tax and end of service
UAE salaries are not taxed, but how your package is split still matters. Gratuity, overtime and your ILOE category are all worked out on basic salary, not on allowances.
| Item | How it works |
|---|---|
| Income tax | None on employment income |
| ILOE insurance | AED 5 plus VAT a month, or AED 10 plus VAT above AED 16,000 basic |
| Pension, UAE nationals | 11% employee contribution under the 2023 pension law |
| Overtime | Basic hourly wage plus at least 25%, or 50% from 10 pm to 4 am |
| Gratuity, expatriates | 21 days’ basic pay a year for 5 years, then 30 days a year |
The calculators in this section turn those rules into numbers for your own salary, and they are the quickest way to compare two job offers that look similar on paper.
Monthly living costs
| Cost | What sets it | How often it changes |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel | The UAE Fuel Price Committee | Every month, from the 1st |
| Electricity and water | Your emirate’s utility, in slabs by usage | Fuel surcharge changes monthly |
| Dubai housing fee | 5% of annual Ejari rent, via DEWA | When your rent changes |
| Rent increases in Dubai | The official rental index | At renewal, with 90 days’ notice |
| Phone and internet | Your e& or du plan | When you change plan |
Fuel was the most volatile cost of 2026. Special 95 went from AED 2.33 a litre in February to AED 4.28 in October, which for a household filling a 60-litre tank every week meant roughly AED 446 more a month than in January. Our bills guide covers the other household costs that change through the year.
Working hours and holidays
The labour law sets a normal maximum of eight hours a day and 48 a week, reduced by two hours a day for the private sector during Ramadan. Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024 sets one holiday calendar for both sectors. Eid holidays are never moved, other holidays can be shifted to the start or end of the week, and a holiday that falls on a weekend is not transferred. Full-time employees also earn 30 days of paid annual leave for each year of service. Our 2027 holiday guide shows how to combine those days with the expected holidays for the longest breaks.
Staying connected
WhatsApp messaging works normally in the UAE, but WhatsApp voice and video calls do not, because internet calling must use services approved by the TDRA. Approved apps such as BOTIM, Zoom and Microsoft Teams fill the gap, and operator calling packs suit calls to landlines. Using a VPN to unlock blocked calling services can break the cybercrime law, which carries heavy fines, so the approved routes are the safer choice.
Your first month in the UAE
New arrivals face the same set of tasks in roughly the same order, because each one unlocks the next. Getting them done in sequence saves repeat visits and avoids paying for the same thing twice.
| Step | Why it comes here | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Residence visa and Emirates ID | Almost every other service asks for them | Emirates ID guide |
| 2. Mobile SIM in your name | Banks and government apps send codes to it | UAE telecom guide |
| 3. Bank account or salary account | Your employer needs it to pay you | UAE banking guide |
| 4. Tenancy registration and utilities | Electricity and water connect only after the lease is registered | UAE bills guide |
| 5. Health insurance check | Confirm your cover is active before you need it | Medical insurance status guide |
Keep digital copies of your passport, visa, Emirates ID, tenancy contract and salary certificate in one place on your phone, since you will be asked for them repeatedly in the first few months. The Emirates ID guide, telecom guide and medical insurance guide cover the steps that sit outside this section.
Every guide in this section
Calculators
- Salary and take-home pay calculator
- End of service gratuity calculator
- Dubai rent increase calculator
Monthly costs
Work and time off
- UAE public holidays 2027
- Ramadan working hours
- UAE labour law guide
Staying connected and money
- Is WhatsApp banned in the UAE?
- The cheapest international calls
- UAE banking guide
- The cheapest way to send money home
Frequently asked questions
Is there income tax in the UAE?
No. Employment income is not taxed. The main deductions from pay are ILOE insurance and, for UAE nationals, pension contributions.
When do UAE fuel prices change?
Every month. The UAE Fuel Price Committee announces new prices on the last day of the month, and they apply from the 1st.
How many days of annual leave do UAE employees get?
Full-time employees earn 30 days of paid annual leave for each year of service, or 2 days a month after six months in the job.
Are working hours shorter during Ramadan?
Yes. Private sector working hours are reduced by two hours a day during Ramadan, and government hours are set separately by circular.
Last verified: October 2026. Fuel prices, tariffs and holiday dates change, so each linked guide carries its own verified date.
Written by Roman Shah · Reviewed by the UAEexplained editorial team
Sources: Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, UAE Fuel Price Committee, UAE Cabinet, TDRA
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