The UAE’s Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has launched a major upgrade to the Wage Protection System (WPS), introducing real-time digital integration that will transform how salaries are processed across the private sector and strengthen protections for millions of workers.
Developed in partnership with the Central Bank of the UAE, Al Etihad Payments and a group of accredited financial institutions, the revamped platform is designed to simplify compliance, enhance transparency and accelerate the UAE’s shift towards smart, paperless services. Participating partners include e& Group, Botim, Al Ansari Exchange, Lulu Exchange, GCC Exchange and Al Maryah Community Bank.
The WPS already covers more than 99 per cent of private sector employees with over AED35 billion in wages transferred each month.
The new version allows employers to manage payments directly through banks’ and exchanges’ digital platforms, with live data flowing between MoHRE and financial institutions via the Central Bank.
According to MoHRE, the system speeds up registration and verification, improves communication between companies and authorities and creates a more secure digital environment for salary transfers. Employers can now complete all wage procedures electronically, track payments accurately and ensure workers are paid on time as required under UAE labour law.
The statement described the upgrade as a major leap in wage governance, reinforcing compliance with the Federal Decree-Law on employment relations. The smart oversight framework is expected to reduce disputes over delayed or unpaid salaries, support a stable labour market and strengthen confidence in the national economy.
The system also generates detailed datasets to support planning and policy making and expands the range of financial institutions able to process WPS transactions, boosting speed and efficiency across the wage payment chain.
MoHRE said the enhanced WPS is a core part of the UAE’s Zero Government Bureaucracy Programme and reflects the country’s commitment to modern, transparent labour administration under the ‘We the UAE 2031’ vision.
UAE labour rules require private sector employers to pay wages monthly, in full and on time, through the Wage Protection System using approved banks, exchange houses or financial institutions.