The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has unveiled strict new rules requiring private sector companies to pay employee salaries on the first day of every month starting June 1, 2026.

The move, introduced under Ministerial Resolution No. 340 of 2026, is part of a wider push to strengthen wage protection and improve labour compliance across the UAE.

Salaries must be paid on time

Under the new regulation:

• Salaries for the previous month must be transferred through the approved Wage Protection System (WPS) or another authorised payment platform.
• Any payment made after the due date will officially be considered delayed.

The ministry also stated that companies must provide proof and documentation confirming salary transfers.

What happens if companies delay salaries?

Authorities outlined escalating penalties that become more severe the longer salaries remain unpaid.

From Day 2:

• Companies enter electronic monitoring
• Warning notices are issued

From Day 5:

• Suspension of new work permits may begin
• Employers are formally notified to clear the unpaid wages

From Day 11:

• Administrative fines apply for repeat violations
• Companies may be downgraded to the third business classification category

From Day 16:

• Labour disputes may be automatically registered for workers
• More permit restrictions could follow, especially for larger companies and sectors such as:
  • Construction
  • Transport
  • Cleaning
  • Security
  • Recruitment services

From Day 21:

For companies employing 50 or more workers, repeated violations could lead to:

• Referral to public prosecutors
• Asset seizure orders
• Travel bans on company officials

When is a company still considered compliant?

The ministry clarified that businesses remain compliant if they transfer:

• At least 85% of total wages are on time

Employees also won’t be classified as unpaid if missing amounts are linked to legally documented deductions.

Some sectors exempt

The decision excludes:

• Short-term permits under three months
• Fishing boats
• Citizen-owned taxis
• Banks
• Places of worship

The UAE has long pushed for stronger worker protections, but this marks one of the toughest enforcement frameworks yet for salary delays.

Residents across the UAE are preparing for an extended holiday after authorities officially announced the Eid Al Adha break for both private and public sector employees.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation confirmed that private sector workers will receive a four-day paid holiday starting Tuesday, May 26, through Friday, May 29. Normal work will resume on Monday, June 1. A five-day paid holiday was announced earlier for public sector employees.

Moon sighting officially confirmed

The holiday announcement follows the UAE’s official confirmation of the Dhu Al Hijjah crescent moon sighting on Sunday evening.

Authorities said the sighting was verified through specialised committees and observatories using advanced astronomy technology, officially declaring Monday, May 18, as the first day of Dhu Al Hijjah 1447 AH.

As a result:

• Day of Arafah will fall on May 26
• Eid Al Adha will begin on May 27

Schools could enjoy up to 10 days off

There’s more good news for families.

The Ministry of Education confirmed that schools will close from May 25 to May 29 for the third-term midterm break, with classes resuming on June 1.

Private schools in Dubai will follow the same calendar, while some schools in Sharjah could see breaks stretching up to 10 days, including weekends.

Travel rush expected

With long weekends lining up for offices and students alike, travel demand is expected to surge as residents begin planning holidays, family gatherings, and Eid celebrations.

For many across the UAE, the countdown to one of the year’s biggest holidays has officially begun.

Thousands of parents across the UAE may finally have reason to relax after major clarifications to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) three-language framework eased fears of extra academic pressure on students.

The revised policy, set to take effect in the 2026–27 academic year, initially sparked concern among educators and families about how students in Grades 9 and 10 would meet the new language requirements.

What’s changing?

Under the updated structure, students entering Grade 9 from July 2026 will study three languages classified as:

• R1
• R2
• R3

The move is part of reforms linked to India’s National Education Policy 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023.

Why UAE schools feel relieved

According to UAE-based educators, CBSE has allowed overseas schools greater flexibility in implementing the system.

• R1 can be English
• R2 can be Hindi, Malayalam, Urdu, or Tamil
• R3 can be Arabic for UAE students
  

Importantly, R3 will not be board-examined, reducing stress for students. Only R1 and R2 will count toward Grade 10 board evaluations, while R3 will appear through internal assessment.

Earlier concerns had parents worried

One of the biggest fears was that students, especially non-Indian nationals studying in CBSE schools, might be forced to learn two Indian languages.

The recent clarifications have eased those concerns significantly, particularly for international schools and students of determination.

While schools say Arabic at R3 is manageable, some institutions are still worried about foreign-language offerings like French.

Full refund after re-evaluation

Meanwhile, in a major relief for thousands of Indian curriculum students across the UAE, CBSE has announced that Grade 12 students will receive a full refund if their marks increase after re-evaluation. The move comes as a student-friendly response following a wave of concerns shared by students on social media, many of whom felt their initial grades were lower than expected due to the board’s newly introduced On-Screen Marking (OSM) system.