Qatar Overtime Pay Calculator: Day, Night and Rest Day Rates
A calculator for the minimum overtime pay under Labour Law Articles 73 to 75: basic wage plus 25% on ordinary days, plus 50% from 9 pm to 6 am, and plus 150% on the weekly rest day.
Overtime is where small mistakes become big shortfalls, because the extra rate is applied to every hour, every month. The law sets minimum rates but gives no formula for your hourly rate, so employers use different ones. This page lets you check your payslip with your own numbers and shows the rule behind every line. The rates come from Articles 73 to 75 of Labour Law No. 14 of 2004 as read on Al Meezan for our overtime guide. It is an estimate, not legal advice.
Calculate your overtime pay
Enter your basic wage, or your hourly rate if you know it, then the hours you worked in each category this month.
The three minimum rates
| Situation | Minimum rate | Article |
|---|---|---|
| Overtime on an ordinary day | Basic wage rate plus at least 25%, so 1.25 times | Article 74 |
| Overtime between 9 pm and 6 am (not shift workers) | Basic wage rate plus at least 50%, so 1.5 times | Article 74 |
| Work on the weekly rest day | Another day off, plus basic wage plus at least 150%, so at least 2.5 times as worded | Article 75 |
The English wording of the rest day pay sentence is not easy to read, so check the figure with the Ministry or your contract if it matters. The calculator uses 2.5 times, which is the reading in our guide.
How the hourly rate is worked out
The articles do not say how to turn a monthly wage into an hourly one. The calculator uses basic wage divided by 30 days and then by your ordinary hours a day: 8 normally, or 6 in Ramadan, when Article 73 sets 36 hours a week. If your contract or payslip states an hourly rate, enter that instead. Ask HR in writing which method it uses.
A worked example
Take a worker with a basic wage of QAR 7,200 on 8 hour days. The hourly rate is 7,200 / 30 / 8 = QAR 30. In one month they work 10 hours of overtime on ordinary days, 4 hours between 9 pm and 6 am, and 8 hours on a rest day.
| Line | Working | Minimum amount |
|---|---|---|
| 10 hours ordinary overtime | 10 x 30 x 1.25 | QAR 375 |
| 4 hours night overtime | 4 x 30 x 1.5 | QAR 180 |
| 8 hours on the rest day | 8 x 30 x 2.5 | QAR 600 |
| **Total** | **QAR 1,155** |
What to check on your payslip
- Overtime shown on its own line, not folded into a flat allowance.
- The night rate applied to hours between 9 pm and 6 am.
- A replacement day off after work on your rest day. The calculator shows only the pay.
- Total daily hours. Article 74 caps actual working hours at ten a day, except where the work must continue to prevent a gross loss or dangerous accident.
Who is not covered
Article 76 says Articles 73, 74 and 75 do not apply to people in senior positions that give them the employer's authority over workers. Article 73 also excludes some groups, such as guards and cleaners, and categories the Minister sets. Public sector staff, juveniles and domestic workers have separate rules we did not fully check.
If your overtime is unpaid or short
Keep a record of your hours with dates and times, ask HR for an itemized statement, and if it is not fixed see how to file a labor complaint in Qatar and what to do when an employer is not paying salary. Our guides to salary deductions, weekly rest days and public holidays and the summer midday work ban cover related rules.
What we could not verify
- Whether later amendments or ministerial decisions changed Articles 73 to 75. Al Meezan showed the 2005 text with no amendment notice.
- The exact reading of the rest day pay sentence.
- How your employer converts a monthly wage to an hourly one.
Frequently asked questions
How is overtime calculated in Qatar?
Article 74 says overtime is paid at not less than the basic wage rate plus at least 25%, and at least plus 50% for work between 9 pm and 6 am. Work on the weekly rest day is paid at the basic wage plus at least 150%, with another day off, under Article 75.
How do I work out my hourly rate in Qatar?
The law gives no formula. A common approach, used by our calculator, is basic wage divided by 30 and then by your ordinary hours a day. Ask HR which method your employer uses.
How many hours of overtime are allowed a day in Qatar?
Article 74 says actual working hours may not exceed ten a day, unless the work must continue to prevent a gross loss or dangerous accident.
Sources & references
Agha Ali Abbas
Founder & Editor
More on Jobs
Explore everything you need to know about qatar jobs.
Related articles
How to Find a Job in Qatar: A Realistic Guide
Where roles actually get filled, what slows down the visa process, and how to avoid the mistakes that stall an offer.
In-Demand Jobs in Qatar: Sectors That Generally Hire Expats
The sectors that generally employ the most expats in Qatar, from healthcare and finance to tech and construction, with a note on how the 2026 gas disruption may affect energy hiring.
Qatar Labor Law: A Plain-English Guide to Your Rights as a Worker
What Qatar's labor law actually guarantees on hours, leave, overtime, and probation, explained without the legal jargon, plus where to go if your employer isn't following it.