Payroll approval and wage payment are separate checks
A completed salary calculation is only one stage in paying employees correctly.
| Stage | Check before proceeding | Evidence to keep |
|---|---|---|
| Employee changes | Confirm starters, leavers, approved pay changes and leave before calculating salaries. | Employment records and an authorised change list. |
| Payroll review | Compare gross pay, deductions and net pay with the previous run; explain exceptions. | Reviewed payroll and approval of variable amounts. |
| WPS or other applicable payment route | Confirm the employer’s requirements, provider format, funding and responsible uploader. | Approved payment instructions and provider submission records. |
| Payment confirmation | Resolve rejected employee records and reconcile payment results with approved payroll. | Acceptance or rejection notices and payment confirmations. |
For employers covered by MOHRE Resolution 0340 of 2026, the preceding month’s wages are due on the first day of the month. Confirm your employer’s applicable rules before setting cut-offs.
Before the first payroll run, we confirm employee records, approval responsibilities and the applicable payment arrangements. Your business authorises salary changes, funds payments and remains the employer.
Control the information before calculating pay
We establish an employee master record and a change log covering starters, leavers, salary amendments and approved variable amounts. Attendance, leave, commissions, expenses and deductions are processed according to the agreed source records and applicable rules. A draft payroll highlights unusual movements for review before approval. Late changes follow a documented correction process rather than being inserted into a payment file without a fresh check.
Identify the applicable payment requirements
WPS requirements depend on the employer and applicable authority. Article 1 of MOHRE Ministerial Resolution No. 0340 of 2026 sets the first day of each Gregorian month as the wage-payment due date for the preceding month. We confirm the relevant arrangements for your workforce when setting the payroll calendar; older payment-timing assumptions should not be carried forward without review.
Where payment-file preparation is included, we agree the bank or provider format, responsible uploader and evidence needed to confirm acceptance. Preparing a file is different from funding and executing the transfer. Exceptions, rejected records and off-cycle payments need a named owner so that a completed payroll calculation is not mistaken for completed wage payment.
Keep payroll, HR and payment approvals connected
The scope can include payroll journals, employee-level schedules and reconciliations between approved payroll and payment evidence. Final-settlement calculations are assessed using the applicable employment arrangements and supporting records. Contract changes, disputes, immigration administration, pension registration and legal advice are separately identified. Sensitive employee information should be shared only through the agreed access and document process, with permissions limited to those performing or approving the work.
Documents and records to prepare
Tick the records you already have. The final request depends on your entity, the period and the work agreed. Please do not send financial records through this website.
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Related reading: A financial setup checklist for a new business in Dubai or Abu Dhabi.
How the work starts
Set up the controls
We confirm the workforce, payment arrangements, calculation inputs and responsible approvers, then agree the payroll calendar and employee-data handover.
Collect approved changes
Your designated contact submits employee movements and variable-pay instructions. We identify missing evidence and clarify changes before preparing the draft payroll.
Calculate and review
We calculate the agreed amounts and explain exceptions. Management checks employee changes and authorises the final payroll before payment instructions are released.
Reconcile and record
We prepare the agreed accounting outputs and compare payroll with payment evidence. Rejections and corrections are tracked for the employer to resolve.
What affects the scope and fee?
- Employee count and number of employing entities
- Salary structures and variable-pay complexity
- Payroll frequency and off-cycle runs
- Payment-file and reconciliation requirements
- Historic payroll corrections or system setup
We set out the deliverables, responsibilities and fee in the proposal. Work outside that scope is discussed before it is added.
Payroll services FAQs
Does outsourcing payroll transfer employer responsibility?
No. The employer remains responsible for employment decisions, accurate information, approvals, funding and wage payment. We perform the calculations and administrative work included in the agreement. A clear division of duties helps prevent gaps between HR records, approved payroll and the actual payment made to employees.
Can you prepare WPS files?
Payment-file preparation and checks can be included after we confirm the employer’s applicable arrangement and the bank or payroll-provider format. The proposal states who uploads, funds and authorises the instruction. We also identify who checks acceptance and handles rejected records; generating the file alone does not complete the payment process.
Do all free-zone employers follow the same payroll process?
Do not assume that every employer follows identical arrangements. We check the licensing authority, workforce and payment requirements that apply to your business. Your payroll process must reflect those facts as well as employment terms. Specific legal interpretations or disputes are referred for the appropriate employment-law advice.
How are bonuses, overtime and deductions handled?
Your authorised contact provides approved instructions and the supporting attendance, policy or contractual records. We assess the calculation basis within the agreed scope and flag unclear items. Amounts are not added or deducted simply because they appeared in last month’s spreadsheet; changes should be traceable to a responsible approval.
Can you calculate a departing employee’s settlement?
Yes, where included in the engagement and supported by the relevant employment records. We establish the applicable arrangement, service dates, salary components, leave balance and approved adjustments. Any disagreement about entitlement or a disputed termination needs separate legal consideration; payroll calculation does not decide the underlying employment dispute.
What happens if we submit changes after approval?
We record the change, assess its effect and agree whether a revised payroll or a separate adjustment is appropriate. A changed payment instruction requires the relevant approval again. The process should preserve both the original and revised records so that management can explain what changed and reconcile the eventual payment.
Sources and further reading
Original page research: 5 October 2026. Service comparison and preparation checklist updated: 9 October 2026. Requirements can change; check the linked authority guidance for the latest position.
- MOHRE: Ministerial Resolution No. 0340 of 2026 concerning the Wage Protection System
- UAE Government: payment of salaries and wages
