Time & Attendance Software in the UAE

The UAE Wage Protection System (WPS) is a mandatory electronic salary transfer system operated by the UAE Central Bank and overseen by MOHRE (Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation). All private sector employers in the UAE must pay employee salaries through WPS by submitting a Salary Information File (SIF) to their UAE bank each month. Non-compliance results in fines starting at AED 1,000 per employee, licence suspension, and a block on visa processing. AITIME generates the WPS SIF file automatically from verified attendance and payroll data.

Biometric attendance in the UAE uses fingerprint scanners or facial recognition cameras — typically ZKTeco, Hikvision, or Dahua terminals — installed at office entrances, factory gates, or construction sites. When an employee arrives, they place their finger on the scanner or look at the camera, and the system records a time-stamped punch. AITIME integrates directly with these devices, pulling punch data into a cloud dashboard in real time so HR managers can see who is in and who is absent across all UAE locations instantly.

There is no specific UAE law mandating the use of attendance software, but UAE employers are legally required to maintain accurate attendance and payroll records under Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021. Given that WPS requires a monthly Salary Information File derived from payroll data, and that MOHRE can audit attendance records at any time, the practical reality is that robust attendance tracking is essential for any UAE business with more than a handful of employees.

Most UAE free zone companies are required to comply with WPS, though the specific requirements vary by free zone authority. Dubai free zones including JAFZA, DIFC, DAFZA, Dubai Internet City, and Dubai Media City all require WPS compliance. Abu Dhabi free zones ADGM and KIZAD similarly require WPS. Sharjah free zones SAIF Zone and Hamriyah Free Zone also mandate WPS for their registered companies. AITIME supports payroll exports formatted for all major UAE free zone authorities.

Under UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, the maximum working hours for UAE private sector employees are 8 hours per day or 48 hours per week. During the holy month of Ramadan, working hours are reduced by 2 hours per day for Muslim employees. Work beyond the standard hours is classified as overtime and must be paid at 125% of the employee's hourly rate. Work performed between 9 PM and 4 AM, or on the employee's designated rest day, must be paid at 150% of the hourly rate. AITIME tracks all of this automatically.