Gulf HR and payroll, explained plainly
Guides for founders and HR leads at small companies in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and the wider Gulf. Every legal number is tied to its official source and a last reviewed date. More articles are available in Arabic.
WPS in the UAE: the SIF file, deadlines and penalties explained
UAE Wage Protection System guide: the SIF file line by line, the salary due date under Resolution 340 of 2026, and what happens if you pay late.
Saudi Arabia · PayrollMudad and WPS in Saudi Arabia: the bank file, the upload window and common rejections
How the Saudi Wage Protection System works: the bank payroll file, the 30-day Mudad upload window since 1 March 2025, reminders and common rejections.
Saudi Arabia · GOSIGOSI contributions after the July 2024 Social Insurance Law: rates, new entrants and who pays what
GOSI rates in 2026: who counts as a new entrant under the 2024 Social Insurance Law, the yearly pension step-up, the 45,000 cap and who pays what.
UAE · End of serviceUAE end of service gratuity: how it is calculated under Decree-Law 33 of 2021
How UAE gratuity works under Article 51 of Decree-Law 33 of 2021: 21 and 30 day rates, basic salary, the two year cap, part time rules and worked examples.
UAE and Saudi ArabiaRamadan working hours: what UAE and Saudi law actually say
Ramadan working hours for the private sector: two hours less per day in the UAE, a 6 hour day for Muslim workers in Saudi Arabia, plus breaks and overtime.
Buying guideHow to choose HR software in the Gulf: the checklist to use before you sign
A practical checklist for choosing HR software in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf: Arabic RTL, WPS, GOSI, Hijri dates, holidays, weekends and data hosting.
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Arabic readers: the full set of articles, including UAE and Saudi leave types, the Saudi end of service award and Gulf weekends, is on the المدونة.
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