Emiratis working 8 to 32 hours a week now covered by UAE pension system

The UAE's General Pension and Social Security Authority (GPSSA) has expanded pension and social insurance benefits to include Emirati employees working part-time in both government and private sector organizations. Previously, coverage was only extended to full-time workers. Now, Emirati employees who work between eight and 32 hours per week, or one to four days per week, can be registered under the pension system, representing a range of 20 to 80 percent of full-time working hours.

Pensionable service and retirement benefits will be calculated proportionally based on the employee's actual working hours and the salary used for contribution calculations in each employment period. Employers are responsible for registering eligible Emirati part-time workers and updating the records of insured full-time staff who transition to part-time contracts via the GPSSA's Ma'ashi platform.

The authority introduced these changes to align with evolving labor market trends and to provide flexibility for employees balancing work with personal commitments, education or family care. This move ensures continuous coverage of insured Emiratis' service when they shift between full-time and part-time employment, safeguarding their long-term financial and social stability.