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Qatar overtime calculator
Overtime pay under the Qatar Labour Law: +25% for extra hours, +50% from 9 pm to 6 am, and Friday or public holiday work paid at the rest-day rate with another day off.
Overtime pay
Qatar overtime rules (Articles 73 to 78)
| Situation | Pay or rule | Article |
|---|---|---|
| Normal hours | At most 8 a day and 48 a week; in Ramadan 6 a day and 36 a week | 73 |
| Overtime after normal hours | Basic hourly wage + at least 25% (125%) | 74 |
| Work between 9 pm and 6 am | Basic hourly wage + at least 50% (150%), not for shift workers | 74 |
| Work on Friday (the rest day) | Another day off, and the basic wage + at least 150% | 75 |
| Work on Eid or another public holiday | Same as Friday | 78 |
| Daily limit | At most 10 working hours a day, except to prevent a gross loss or a dangerous accident | 74 |
| Two Fridays in a row | Not allowed, except for shift workers | 75 |
How to work out your overtime pay
- Hourly wage = basic salary ÷ 30 ÷ 8 (or ÷ 26 if your company uses it).
- Normal overtime = hours × hourly wage × 1.25.
- Overtime from 9 pm to 6 am = hours × hourly wage × 1.5.
- Friday or holiday work = hours × hourly wage × 2.5 as the law is written, and you get another day off.
Friday overtime: 150% or 250%?
This is where most pages disagree. Article 75 says the worker "shall be compensated for the rest day by another day, and be paid for such Work what is payable to him on the weekly rest day or the due Basic Wage plus an increment of at least 150% thereof". The basic wage plus 150% of it is 250%. The ILO booklet for domestic workers in Qatar works out similar wording in their law the same way: QAR 10 + QAR 15 = QAR 25 an hour. Some employers, calculators and worker guides read it as 150% in total, so this point is not settled. The calculator shows both, so you can compare with your pay slip.
Two points are clear either way. The extra pay is on the basic wage, and you are owed a replacement day off as well as the pay.
Overtime example (basic QAR 3,000, ÷ 30 ÷ 8 = QAR 12.50 an hour)
| Extra hours this month | Working | Pay |
|---|---|---|
| 20 normal hours | 20 × 12.50 × 1.25 | QAR 312.50 |
| 10 hours between 9 pm and 6 am | 10 × 12.50 × 1.5 | QAR 187.50 |
| 8 hours on a Friday | 8 × 12.50 × 2.5 | QAR 250.00 |
| Total | QAR 750.00 |
If your employer pays Friday at 150% in total, the Friday line is QAR 150.00 and the total QAR 650.00. With ÷ 26 instead of ÷ 30, the 20 normal hours come to QAR 360.58.
Overtime per hour by basic salary (÷ 30 ÷ 8)
| Basic salary | Hourly wage | Extra hour (125%) | 9 pm to 6 am (150%) | Friday (250%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QAR 1,000 | QAR 4.17 | QAR 5.21 | QAR 6.25 | QAR 10.42 |
| QAR 2,000 | QAR 8.33 | QAR 10.42 | QAR 12.50 | QAR 20.83 |
| QAR 3,000 | QAR 12.50 | QAR 15.63 | QAR 18.75 | QAR 31.25 |
| QAR 5,000 | QAR 20.83 | QAR 26.04 | QAR 31.25 | QAR 52.08 |
| QAR 10,000 | QAR 41.67 | QAR 52.08 | QAR 62.50 | QAR 104.17 |
QAR 1,000 is the lowest basic wage allowed since 20 March 2021.
Overtime in Ramadan
In Ramadan the normal day is 6 hours (Article 73), for all workers. If you keep working 8 hours a day, the 2 extra hours are overtime. Over 20 working days that is 40 hours: 40 × 12.50 × 1.25 = QAR 625.00 on a basic of QAR 3,000. The law does not say whether the hourly wage in Ramadan is worked out on 6 or 8 hours; the calculator keeps the normal-month hourly wage, so set "Normal hours a day" to 8.
Who is not covered
- People in senior positions that hold the employer's authority over workers (Article 76).
- Shift workers do not get the 9 pm to 6 am rate, and the Friday rules (Friday as the rest day, no two Fridays in a row) do not apply to them. They still get a paid weekly rest of at least 24 hours.
- Domestic workers, who come under Law No. 15 of 2017 instead.
Keep a record, and where to complain
Write down the date, start and end time of each extra hour, Friday or holiday you work. The employer must post the working hours and the rest day at the workplace (Article 77), and breaking the hours and overtime rules carries a fine of QAR 2,000 to 5,000 (Article 144). If your pay does not match, raise it with your employer first, then with the Ministry of Labour.
Overtime is not part of the basic wage, so it does not raise your Qatar gratuity. Working in the UAE? Use the UAE overtime calculator; its rates and night hours are different. All rules for Qatar are on the Qatar page.
Sources (checked October 2026): Qatar Labour Law No. 14 of 2004 (Al Meezan English text, AUC copy), ILO: Know your rights, domestic workers in Qatar (rest-day example), ILO: Qatar's minimum wage enters into force. Laws change, and the ministry or a court gives the final figure.
Questions
How is Friday overtime calculated in Qatar?
Article 75 says a worker who works on the weekly rest day gets another day off and is paid "the due Basic Wage plus an increment of at least 150% thereof". Read as written, that is 250% of the basic hourly wage. With a basic of QAR 3,000: 8 Friday hours × QAR 12.50 × 2.5 = QAR 250.00, plus a replacement day off.
Is Friday overtime 150% or 250% in Qatar?
The law says the basic wage plus at least 150%. Read as written, that is 250% in total. Some employers, websites and worker guides read it as 150% in total. The calculator lets you choose, and uses 250% unless you change it. Check your contract and pay slip.
What is the overtime rate in Qatar?
At least 125% of the basic hourly wage for extra hours (Article 74). Hours worked between 9 pm and 6 am earn at least 150%, except for shift workers.
Is overtime paid on the basic or the gross salary?
On the basic wage. Articles 74 and 75 both say "Basic Wage", and Article 1 defines it as the pay including only the annual raise, without the other allowances.
Divide by 30 or 26 to get the hourly wage?
The law does not say. Basic ÷ 30 ÷ 8 is the common practice, because the monthly wage also pays the Friday rest. Some companies use ÷ 26. The calculator lets you pick either.
How many overtime hours are allowed in Qatar?
Actual working hours must not pass 10 a day (Article 74), so at most 2 overtime hours on a normal 8-hour day, unless the work is needed to prevent a gross loss or a dangerous accident.
What are the working hours in Ramadan in Qatar?
At most 36 hours a week, 6 hours a day (Article 73). The law does not limit this to Muslim workers. Hours above 6 a day in Ramadan count as overtime.
Can my employer make me work every Friday?
No, unless you work shifts. Article 75 says a worker may not be employed on two Fridays in a row.
Is work on Eid or a public holiday paid as overtime in Qatar?
Yes. Article 78 gives 3 days for Eid al-Fitr, 3 for Eid al-Adha, 1 for Independence Day and 3 chosen by the employer, all with full pay. If you work on one of them, Article 75 applies: another day off and the Friday rate.
Are managers paid overtime in Qatar?
Not those in senior positions that hold the employer's authority over workers (Article 76). Guards, cleaners and some others are outside the 48-hour limit of Article 73. Their maximum hours are set by an order of the Minister, so check that order for when overtime starts.
Does this apply to domestic workers?
No. Domestic workers come under Law No. 15 of 2017 and their standard contract, not Law 14 of 2004. This calculator is for workers under the Labour Law.