Qatar Overtime Pay Rules (2026): Rates, Formula & Worker Rights
Written by Usama Afzal, Founder & Editor, GratuityHisab. Last updated: October 2026. Based on the Qatar Labour Law; not legal advice.
Work more than 8 hours a day or 48 a week in Qatar and the extra hours are overtime: Qatar overtime pay law sets the price at your basic hourly wage plus 25% (1.25x). Your hourly wage is monthly basic ÷ 30 ÷ 8 — so on QAR 6,000 basic that is QAR 25/hour, a QAR 31.25 overtime rate, and QAR 625 for 20 overtime hours. Night hours (9 PM to 3 AM) and Friday work are paid even higher.
Qatar overtime pay: the short version
You stayed two hours late every day this week — what are those hours worth? Qatar overtime pay rules give you 1.25 times your basic hourly wage for every hour past the daily or weekly limit. The 25% premium is a legal minimum under Article 74 of Qatar Labour Law No. 14 of 2004.Normal hours are 8 per day and 48 per week (6 per day and 36 per week in Ramadan). Anything beyond that is overtime.
How Qatar overtime pay works: the 125% rule
- 1.25x your basic hourly wage — the hourly wage is your monthly basic salary ÷ 30 ÷ 8.
- Applies past the daily limit (8 hours, or 6 in Ramadan) and the weekly limit (48 hours, or 36 in Ramadan).
- Night hours (9 PM–3 AM) are paid at basic wage plus 50% (1.5x), except for shift workers.
- Friday work, your weekly paid rest day, earns a day off in lieu plus the rest-day wage — or basic wage plus 150%.
- Capped at 10 hours a day: total actual working hours must not exceed 10 (emergencies excepted).
Overtime pay is separate from your end-of-service award, not part of the gratuity base. See how gratuity is calculated in Qatar for what the gratuity formula uses.
Qatar labour law working hours: when overtime starts
Under Qatar labour law, working hours set the line where overtime begins. Article 73 fixes normal hours at 8 hours per day and 48 hours per week. During Ramadan, Muslim workers work 6 hours per day and 36 hours per week — so in Ramadan the 7th hour of the day is already overtime.
Two details workers miss: the prayer, rest and meal break must be at least one hour and is NOT counted in your working hours, and no worker may work more than 5 consecutive hours without a break. Both limits count independently: 9 hours on Monday is overtime for that 9th hour even if the week stays under 48, and passing 48 for the week makes the extra weekly hours overtime even at 8 a day.How to calculate Qatar overtime pay: the formula
The overtime calculation Qatar workers use most has three steps — hourly wage, plus 25%, times overtime hours. Here is the full Qatar overtime pay calculation on a real salary:Step-by-step Qatar overtime pay calculation
- Hourly wage: QAR 6,000 ÷ 30 ÷ 8 = QAR 25.00 per hour.
- Overtime rate: 25.00 × 1.25 = QAR 31.25 per overtime hour.
- Overtime pay: 20 overtime hours × 31.25 = QAR 625.00.
Qatar overtime pay table: what 10, 20 or 30 extra hours are worth
This table prices Qatar overtime pay at common basic salaries (monthly basic ÷ 30 ÷ 8 × 1.25):| Monthly basic | Hourly wage | Overtime rate (1.25x) | 10 OT hours | 20 OT hours | 30 OT hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QAR 4,000 | 16.67 | 20.83 | 208.33 | 416.67 | 625.00 |
| QAR 6,000 | 25.00 | 31.25 | 312.50 | 625.00 | 937.50 |
| QAR 8,000 | 33.33 | 41.67 | 416.67 | 833.33 | 1,250.00 |
| QAR 10,000 | 41.67 | 52.08 | 520.83 | 1,041.67 | 1,562.50 |
Night hours in Qatar: 9 PM to 3 AM at 150%
Night work has its own higher rate: hours between 9 PM and 3 AM are paid at basic wage plus 50% (1.5x your hourly wage) under Article 74 — except for shift workers, who follow separate shift rules.Example: on QAR 6,000 basic the hourly wage is QAR 25, so the night rate is 25 × 1.5 = QAR 37.50/hour. Ten night hours a month add QAR 375 on top of salary.Night hours that are also overtime cannot be paid below the overtime rate. Keep the payslip line showing the night premium — it is your proof.Friday: your paid weekly rest day in Qatar
Article 75 makes Friday the paid weekly rest day. Work it and the law gives you one of two outcomes: another day off in lieu plus your rest-day wage, or your basic wage plus 150% of it. Example: on QAR 6,000 the hourly wage is QAR 25, so a full 8-hour Friday at basic wage plus 150% is worth 8 × 25 × 2.5 = QAR 500 — before any overtime premium.Friday hours past the weekly limit are overtime too, attracting both the Friday premium and overtime rules. If your rest day is a different day by agreement, the same rules apply. Annual leave in Qatar is separate — do not let an employer swap your Friday for leave.Ramadan overtime in Qatar: the 6-hour day
In Ramadan, Qatar working hours for Muslim workers shrink to 6 hours per day and 36 hours per week (Article 73) — and the overtime threshold shrinks too: the 7th hour is overtime at 1.25x, though the same hour is normal in other months. Watch out: some employers keep the 8-hour roster in Ramadan and pay the extra two hours flat. Those hours are overtime at 1.25x — check your Ramadan payslips line by line.The 10-hour day rule you should know
Article 74 allows overtime only if your total actual hours for the day do not exceed 10 — except in emergencies: work to prevent gross loss, repair an accident, or lessen its effects.In practice: at most 2 overtime hours on an 8-hour day, 4 in Ramadan. If your roster regularly crosses the 10-hour line, the extra time is unlawful — not just unpaid. Document hours with payslips or attendance records.3 ways employers short-change overtime — watch out
- Coding overtime as a flat allowance. The most common trick: extra hours appear as a fixed ‘allowance’ at 1x or less instead of 1.25x. Qatar pays salaries through WPS, so WPS overtime records can expose the mismatch — keep payslips to prove your hours.
- Ignoring the shorter Ramadan day. Hours 7 and 8 in Ramadan are overtime at 1.25x, not normal hours.
- Skipping Friday and night premiums. Friday and 9 PM–3 AM hours have higher rates; one flat overtime line on the payslip usually means underpayment.
Qatar overtime pay: your 5-minute checklist
Before signing a final settlement, list unpaid overtime separately from gratuity and leave — run the overtime calculator first so you know your number, and read how to file an unpaid gratuity complaint in Qatar if money is missing.Sources
- Qatar Labour Law No. 14 of 2004, Articles 73–75 — Al Meezan legal portal, Qatar
- QatarDay — working hours and overtime guidance
- Multiplier — Qatar overtime and labour law guide
- Arnifi — Qatar labour law explainer
Related guides
- How gratuity is calculated in Qatar
- Worked gratuity examples in Qatar
- Annual leave in Qatar
- Qatar gratuity calculator
Frequently asked questions
What is the overtime rate in Qatar?
The overtime rate in Qatar is 1.25 times your basic hourly wage (your basic wage plus 25%). Article 74 of Qatar Labour Law No. 14 of 2004 fixes this rate for all hours beyond the daily (8 hours) or weekly (48 hours) limits. Your hourly wage is your monthly basic salary ÷ 30 ÷ 8 — so on QAR 6,000 the overtime rate is QAR 31.25 per hour.
How is overtime pay calculated in Qatar?
Overtime pay in Qatar = (monthly basic salary ÷ 30 ÷ 8) × 1.25 × overtime hours. Example: QAR 6,000 ÷ 30 ÷ 8 = QAR 25 hourly wage; × 1.25 = QAR 31.25 overtime rate; 20 overtime hours = QAR 625. Night hours (9 PM–3 AM) use the higher 1.5x rate, and Friday work carries its own premium.
What are the working hours in Qatar?
Normal working hours in Qatar are 8 hours per day and 48 hours per week (Article 73). During Ramadan, Muslim workers work 6 hours per day and 36 hours per week. The prayer, rest and meal break of at least one hour is not counted in working hours, and no worker may work more than 5 consecutive hours. Total hours including overtime may not exceed 10 per day.
Is overtime paid in Ramadan in Qatar?
Yes. During Ramadan the normal day shrinks to 6 hours, so the 7th hour of the day is already overtime, paid at 1.25x your basic hourly wage. If your employer keeps an 8-hour roster through Ramadan, the extra two hours each day are overtime — check your Ramadan payslips for the 1.25x line.
What is the night shift overtime rate in Qatar?
Hours worked between 9 PM and 3 AM are paid at your basic wage plus 50% (1.5x your hourly wage) under Article 74. Shift workers are the exception — they follow separate shift rules. On a QAR 6,000 basic salary, the night rate is QAR 37.50 per hour.
Work out your own amount
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More questions
- What is the notice period?
- How much annual leave, and how is it paid?
- Leaving before 1 year: what do you get?
- Company not paying? How to complain
Sources
This guide is based on the Qatar Labour Law (Law No. 14 of 2004). Labour laws are amended from time to time; for the latest version, always check the official gazette of Qatar.
