Payroll in the UAE

Payroll for a UAE company is the monthly work of calculating pay, issuing payslips and paying staff through the system the authorities expect. A company hiring its first employee also has to think about the labour contract, the work permit and the employee’s residence status, which are separate processes handled with the licensing authority. A free zone company follows its free zone’s rules as well as federal ones, so the same payroll question can have a different answer depending on the licence.

Before you hire, ask a firm whether it runs payroll or only advises, which payroll system it uses, how it handles end-of-service entitlements, and how it records leave and overtime. Ask what it needs from you each month and how much notice it needs for new starters and leavers. In a profile, look at the languages the team works in, because contracts and staff queries are often in Arabic or another language besides English. For the licensing steps, read the UAE country guide.

194 firms offer payroll in the UAE, made up of 123 accounting firms and 71 corporate services providers. The list leans towards medium firms more than other service pages do (119 small, 67 medium and 8 large network). Small and medium companies and startups are their most common clients. Browse Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Ajman, or send a free quote request.

Firms offering payroll in the UAE

Avyanco

Corporate services provider · Medium-sized firm

Dubai

  • Company formation
  • Accounting and bookkeeping
  • Tax compliance
  • +7 more

Languages: English

View profile of Avyanco

170 more firms offering payroll in the UAE

Frequently asked questions

Who runs payroll for a new UAE company?

Either the company itself, using its own software, or an outside firm that prepares the pay run and payslips each month. Ask who is responsible for errors, who approves the file before payment and how changes are communicated.

Is payroll the same in a free zone and on the mainland?

The employer must follow federal rules in both cases, and a free zone adds its own requirements for contracts, permits and visas. Ask a firm that has worked in your free zone how it manages the extra steps.

Do I need payroll if I am the only shareholder?

Only if the company pays you or others through its payroll. Owners often arrange their own visa and pay separately, so ask an adviser what applies to your licence type and how it should be documented.

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General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules, rates and fees change: check them with the official sources linked on this page or with a qualified adviser before you act.