Al Ansari Exchange sees 151pc surge in WPS payroll volumes after UAE salary rule shift
Employers adapt rapidly to first-day monthly salary disbursement requirement
DUBAI – The UAE’s private sector payroll landscape has witnessed a sharp operational shift following the implementation of new salary payment requirements effective from 1 June 2026.
Al Ansari Exchange, a leading remittance and foreign exchange provider and a subsidiary of Al Ansari Financial Services, recorded more than a 151 percent increase in the number of companies processing salaries through its Wage Protection System (WPS) platform on the first day of implementation.
The surge reflects rapid employer adjustments to comply with the revised national framework governing wage disbursement timelines across the country.
WPS surge
The increase coincided with Ministerial Resolution No. 340 of 2026, which mandates that all private sector establishments registered with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) must process employee salaries through the Wage Protection System by the first day of each month.
The system is jointly overseen by MoHRE and the Central Bank of the UAE, ensuring structured salary transfers, regulatory compliance and enhanced wage transparency across the labour market.
On the day the regulation came into force, employer activity on Al Ansari Exchange’s WPS platform more than doubled compared to previous processing cycles.
The heightened usage indicates a broad-based adjustment by companies across sectors as payroll departments aligned their internal systems with the new statutory deadline. The Wage Protection System continues to serve as a central mechanism for ensuring timely salary payments while supporting regulatory oversight and operational efficiency for businesses.
The latest figures underline how digital payroll channels are increasingly being adopted as standard practice, particularly as organisations seek streamlined compliance with evolving labour requirements. The transition has also reinforced the role of regulated financial service providers in facilitating wage distribution at scale.
Compliance drive
Commenting on the development, Ali Al Najjar, Chief Executive Officer of Al Ansari Exchange, said the ministerial resolution represents a significant step in strengthening transparency, accountability and employee protection within the UAE labour market. He noted that as employers adjust to the updated framework, demand for efficient payroll solutions continues to grow, with financial infrastructure playing a key role in enabling smooth compliance.
The company stated it remains focused on expanding its digital payment technologies and WPS capabilities to support businesses in managing salary disbursements under the revised structure, while further enhancements to payroll processing systems continue to be implemented across the network.