UAE employers must pay all private sector employees through the Wage Protection System (WPS). Setting up WPS requires coordination between MOHRE, your UAE bank, and your payroll software. This guide covers the full setup process.
Step 1: Get Your MOHRE Establishment Card
You need a MOHRE Establishment Number before you can enrol in WPS. If you don’t have one, apply through the Tawjeeh portal (tawjeeh.ae) with your trade licence and office lease documents. Fee: AED 300. Takes 3–5 working days.
Step 2: Enrol in WPS at Your Bank
Contact your UAE business bank’s corporate banking team and request WPS enrolment. Required information: MOHRE Establishment Number, list of employees with their MOHRE labour card numbers, employee bank account details (IBAN), and company bank account details. Most banks complete WPS enrolment within 3–5 working days.
Step 3: Set Up Payroll Software
Choose WPS-compliant payroll software. Popular options in the UAE: Bayzat (full HR + WPS + insurance), Zoho Payroll (affordable, good for SMEs), SAP SuccessFactors (enterprise), or QuickBooks Payroll (integrated with accounting). The software generates a WPS-compliant SIF (Salary Information File) for bank submission.
Step 4: Process Monthly Payroll
Steps each payroll cycle: calculate salaries (basic + allowances – deductions), generate the SIF file from your payroll software, upload the SIF to your bank’s WPS portal (most banks have an online WPS file upload feature), confirm salary transfers, and the bank submits payment data to MOHRE. This must be completed by the 10th of each month.
WPS Compliance Tips
- Always pay on time — delays trigger MOHRE alerts
- Include all employees — even probationary staff must be on WPS
- Use the correct employee MOHRE ID numbers — mismatches cause rejections
- Keep payslips for each employee for at least 2 years