Compliant, on time, every single cycle
Payroll & WPS Services
Salary processing and Wage Protection System filing, kept current with MOHRE requirements — because payroll compliance failures in the UAE don't stay contained to a fine; they can block new work permits and visa renewals for your entire team.
WPS filing is monthly, tied directly to your salary payment date
Key facts
| WPS requirement | Mandatory salary filing through approved banks or exchange houses, monitored by MOHRE |
| Filing frequency | Monthly, tied to your salary payment date |
| Non-compliance risk | Fines, and potential blocks on new visa and work permit processing |
| Gratuity calculation | Governed by UAE labour law, calculated at the point service ends |
What this actually involves
The Wage Protection System exists to give MOHRE direct visibility into whether employees are actually being paid on time and in full, filed monthly through an approved bank or exchange house channel rather than simply trusted to employer self-reporting. A missed or delayed WPS filing is immediately visible to the regulator in a way many other compliance gaps aren't.
The consequences extend well beyond a straightforward fine. Non-compliance — whether a missed filing or salaries paid outside the permitted delay window — can restrict a company's ability to process new work permits or renew existing employee visas, turning a payroll administration lapse into a genuine operational constraint on hiring and retention.
End-of-service gratuity calculation, governed by specific UAE labour law formulas tied to length of service and reason for departure, needs calculating correctly at the point an employee's service actually ends — getting this wrong creates both a compliance exposure and, often, a direct dispute with the departing employee at exactly the point you'd prefer that relationship to end cleanly.
Is this actually relevant to you?
- Your business has UAE employees requiring monthly WPS-compliant salary processing
- You've had a WPS filing issue before, or want to ensure it never happens given the visa-processing consequences
- You need accurate end-of-service gratuity calculations for departing employees, done correctly the first time
- You're scaling your headcount and want payroll to keep pace without becoming a monthly fire drill
Our process, step by step
Payroll calculation
Salary, allowances and deductions calculated accurately each cycle, reflecting any changes promptly.
WPS filing
Monthly submission through the approved WPS channel, on schedule, every cycle without exception.
Gratuity & final settlement
Calculated correctly per current UAE labour law at the point of an employee's departure.
Compliance monitoring
Ongoing tracking to catch any filing or payment timing issue before it becomes a MOHRE-visible problem.
Scope of work
Payroll costs post directly into your bookkeeping and MIS reports, and end-of-service provisions carry through to your IFRS financial statements and corporate tax return.
The gaps that lead to visa-processing blocks
- Assuming a slightly delayed salary payment is a minor administrative issue, when it can trigger WPS non-compliance flags with real visa-processing consequences.
- Calculating end-of-service gratuity incorrectly, creating both a compliance issue and a dispute with a departing employee at the worst possible moment.
- Not adjusting payroll processes promptly when headcount scales, leading to errors or delays as manual processes strain under increased volume.
Related accounting and bookkeeping services
Monthly accounting, reporting and year-end statements from one team — ready for audit and tax filing.
Related guides from our team
Practical explanations of the rules behind this service, written by our chartered accountants.
Common questions
What happens if we miss a WPS filing?+
Penalties apply, and repeated or prolonged non-compliance can restrict new visa and work permit processing for the company — a real operational risk that extends well beyond a simple fine.
Do you calculate end-of-service gratuity too?+
Yes — calculated per current UAE labour law provisions at the point an employee's service ends, correctly reflecting length of service and departure circumstances.
How does WPS work if we pay salaries in a currency other than AED?+
WPS filing requirements are specific about currency and payment channel — this needs confirming against current MOHRE requirements for your specific payroll structure.
Can WPS non-compliance affect visa renewals for employees who were paid correctly?+
Company-level non-compliance can affect the business's overall ability to process visas, potentially impacting employees beyond just the specific payroll issue in question.
Do free zone employees need WPS filing too, or is it mainland-only?+
WPS applies broadly across the UAE labour market, including most free zone employees — this needs confirming against your specific free zone's requirements.
How far in advance should we set up payroll for a new hire?+
Payroll and WPS registration should be set up as part of the employee's onboarding process, ahead of their first salary payment date, not retrofitted after the fact.
Payroll and WPS filing taking more time than it should, or worried about a compliance gap?
Tell us your headcount and current process — we'll scope a managed payroll service that never misses a filing.